Legging Drawers Pattern

MATERIAL-6 skeins of white Woolco Germantown Zephyr. No. 4 Woolco needles.

This is knit in 2 pieces, joined by a seam.

FOR EACH PIECE-Cast on 80 stitches; knit 2 plain, 2 purl, 4 times across the needle. The 5th time across, knit 2, purl 2, knit 1, throw over twice; narrow; purl 1, knit 2, purl 2, knit 1; repeat across the row. In working back, drop the throw-over thread to form holes for elastic.

Make 8 rows more, the same as first 4 rows.

Now knit 8 stitches; knit back on the 8 stitches; knit 16 stitches, knit back; knit 24 stitches, knit back; knit 32 stitches, knit back; knit 40 stitches, knit back; knit 48 stitches, knit back. Now knit back and forth entirely across, until there are 43 rows (not counting the 6 extra).

Then knit 15 rows, narrowing 1 at the beginning every time across. (There should be 50 stitches on the needle.)

FOR THE BASKET STITCH-Knit 3, purl 7, and repeat across the needle. In working back, purl 7, knit 3. Knit 3 rows this way. Then reverse the design. Knit until there are 11 blocks.

FOR THE BRAID AND FOOT-1ST ROW-*Knit 4, purl 3, knit 9, purl 3, knit 12, purl 3, knit 9, purl 3, knit 4.

2D Row-Knit 3, purl 1, knit 3, purl 9, knit 3, purl 1, knit 10, purl 1, knit 3, purl 9, knit 3, purl 1, knit 3.

Repeat 1st and 2d rows.

5TH ROW-Knit 4, purl 3; take another needle and knit 3 very loosely on to the work. Now knit 3 stitches with the 1st (or right hand needle). Put the extra needle, with its stitches, back of the 1st needle; knit 3 more with the 1st needle, and with the same needle knit off the 3 extra stitches (to form the twist). *Purl 3, knit 12, purl 3; repeat * between the twists. Purl 3, knit 4.

8TH ROW-Knit 3, purl 1, knit 3, purl 9, knit 3, purl 1, knit 10, purl 1, knit 3, purl 9, knit 3, purl 1, knit 3.

Repeat from the 1st* until there are 20 rows at the front.

INSTEP-Knit 31 stitches; slip the remaining 19 on to another needle; knit back 12 stitches on the 31, and leave the 19 on the 1st needle. Knit the 12 stitches now on the center needle back and forth until there are 10 rows. Knit 3 more rows, narrowing once every other time across.

With the needles left at the right side of the work, pick up the stitches at the adjoining side of the instep, and knit across the toe. Then with the needle at the other side of the work, pick up the stitches along the adjoining side of the instep portion, and knit across the toe. Then with the needle at the wrong side of the work, pick up the stitches along the adjoining edge of the instep, and with the right hand needle knit them off.

Knit back and forth until there are 6 ridges below the instep, and bind off.

Finish with straps of leather or rubber, and run narrow elastic through the holes made at the top.

Sew up each leg seam. Knit a square of 14 stitches and sew into the middle seam like a gusset.