Skating or Skiing Stockings Pattern #2556

Sizes 8½ to 11

MATERIALS:
CHADWICK'S RED HEART SHETLAND FLOSS, 9 balls (1 oz. balls) for all sizes.
4 double-pointed steel needles No. 11.

GAUGE: 10 rnds make 1".

Starting at the top, cast on 116 sts loosely onto 3 needles (for all sizes). Join, being careful not to twist. Work in ribbing of k 2, p 2 until piece measures 11" in all. Now dec. as follows: 1st rnd: K 2 tog. Work in ribbing to within last 4 sts of rnd. Sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o. Place marker for seam. P 2. 2nd, 3rd and 4th rnds: K 1. Work in ribbing to within last 3 sts of rnd. K 1, p 2. 5th rnd: P 2 tog., p 1. Work in ribbing to within last 5 sts of rnd. P 1, p 2 tog., p 2. 6th, 7th and 8th rnds: P 2. Work in ribbing around, ending with p 4. 9th rnd: P 2 tog. Work in ribbing to within last 4 sts of rnd. P 2 tog., p 2. 10th, 11th and 12th rnds: P 1. Work in ribbing to within last 3 sts of rnd. P 3. 13th rnd: K 2 tog., k 1. Work in ribbing to within last 5 sts of rnd. K 1, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., p 2. 14th, 15th and 16th rnds: * K 2, p 2. Repeat from * around. Repeat these 16 rnds 3 more times (84 sts remain). Work straight in ribbing until piece measures 22" in all. Now repeat 1st to 16th dec. rnds incl. 4 times in all (52 sts remain).

To Start Heel: With 1st needle, knit across 12 sts; then slip the last 14 sts of previous rnd onto other end of same needle, thus keeping purl rib in center (for heel). Divide the remaining 26 sts on 2 needles for instep. Work back and forth over heel sts as follows: 1st row: Wrong side facing, sl 1, p 1 alternately across. 2nd row: Sl 1, k to end. Repeat these 2 rows alternately for 2½", ending with a purl row.

To Turn Heel: Sl 1, k 14, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., k 1, turn. Sl 1, p 7, p 2 tog., p 1, turn. Sl 1, k 8, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., k 1, turn. Sl 1, p 9, p 2 tog., p 1, turn. Continue in this manner, working 1 more st before decreasing on each row, until all sts have been worked, and 17 sts remain on heel needle. Knit 1 row. With 1st needle, pick up 21 sts along the left side of heel; with 2nd needle work in ribbing across the 26 instep sts; with 3rd needle, pick up 21 sts along right side of heel, and knit across 8 of the heel sts. Slip the remaining 9 heel sts onto the other end of 1st needle.

To Shape Instep: 1st rnd: Knit to 3 sts from end of 1st needle, then k 2 tog., k 1. Work in ribbing across the 2nd needle. On the 3rd needle, k 1, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., knit to end. 2nd rnd: Knit across 1st needle, work in pattern across 2nd needle, and knit across the 3rd needle. Repeat these 2 rnds alternately until 17 sts remain on 1st needle and 16 sts on 3rd needle. Now work around once more but dec. on 1st needle only (16 sts on each of the 2 heel needles). Work around straight, always working the 2nd needle in ribbing, until foot measures (from back of heel) 6½" for small size; 7½" for medium size; 8½" for large size—or 2½" less than desired length from back of heel.

To Shape Toe: 1st rnd: Knit to last 3 sts on 1st needle, then k 2 tog., k 1. On 2nd needle, k 1, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., knit to last 3 sts, then k 2 tog., k 1. On 3rd needle, k 1, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., knit to end. 2nd and 3rd rnds: Knit around. Repeat the last 3 rnds 5 more times. Then work only 1 rnd straight between dec. rnds until 24 sts remain in rnd. Weave sts together; or bind off, fold and sew.