SHEEPISH STOCKING
by Louise Lamarche A modern take on a country theme. This fairisle pattern is for the intermediate knitter as there are three yarns to carry across the sheep section. There is also some duplicate stitching for the bows and the red dots. There is sufficient space in the top border to knit in the name of the recipient. Knitted in the round from the top with a reinforced integrated border down to the toes grafted with a Kitchener stitch. There is a small amount of sewing required to attach the I-cord tab and fixing the inside border. Lining is recommended and instructions are provided if you wish to do so. Measures: Total length: 48cm Width: 20 cm 100 m (110 yds) WHiTE worsted - I have used Rowan Pure Wool Worsted Superwash shade 0101 100 m (110 yds) RED worsted - I have used Rowan Pure Wool Worsted Superwash shade 0136 90 m (100 yds) of green worsted 4 mm circular needle 100cm long Optional 4mm double pointed needles (DPN) Tapestry needle
NOTES:
BODY CHART: each row consists of 45 sts, therefore you need to knit each row twice from right to left. I suggest leaving long floats in the sheep section, tacking once when floats are longer than 18 sts. Knit the red bow sections in white, you will duplicate stitch later on. DECREASE ROW CHART and FOOT CHART: you only need to knit each row once from right to left. If you are lining the stocking, you will not need to weave in the ends.
INSTRUCTIONS:
With 4mm circular needle and red yarn, cast on 84 stitches. Place a marker and join to knit in the round. Knit 11 rows in jersey. Purl one row increasing by 4 sts, (P21, M1) x 4 = 88 sts. Follow BODY CHART - rows 1 to 61 = 90 sts Knit DECREASE CHART - one row = 82 sts Cut green and white yarn. Remove markers. HEEL FLAP: the heel flap is worked back and forth on 34 sts either on a circular needle or on DPNs. Join red coloryarn. R1: K17sts turn R2: sl1, purl 33 sts R3: sl1, knit to end R4: sl1, purl to end Repeat rows 3 and 4 six (6) more times . TURNING THE HEEL:R1: sl1, K18, ssk, K1, turnR2: sl1, P5, P2tog, P1, turnR3: sl1, K6, ssk, K1, turnR4: sl1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn Continue decreasing adding one more stitch before the decrease on each round until you have worked all stitches ending on a purl row = 20 sts. Cut red color yarn.
FOOT- JOINING LEG AND HEEL
FOOT CHART: with right side facing, join white color yarn and pick up 8 sts along right side of heel flap, knit next 10 sts , pm. Start row 1 of FOOT CHART: knit next 10 sts and pick up 8 sts along left side of heel, join green color yarn and continue knitting in pattern to end of row = 84 sts Knit FOOT CHART - rows 2 to 24 = 74 sts Cut green color yarn and knit one row with white color yarn as follows: \*K5, K2 tog\* repeat to end of row = 64 sts. Cut white yarn and join red color yarn. REMoVE MARKER. Knit 16 stitches, pm. Knit 32 sts, pm. Knit 32 sts to next marker. This will be the beginning of the round. With the magic loop method, divide your stitches evenly on both needles (32 each). Round 1: (K1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before marker, K2tog, K1) twice (once on each needle tip) Round 2: knit Repeat these two rounds until there are 8 sts on each needle tip.
Kitchener grafting:
1. Insert grafting needle purlwise in first stitch of front needle. Leave on needle. 2. Insert grafting needle knitwise in first stitch of back needle. Leave on needle. 3. Insert grafting needle knitwise in first stitch of front needle. Slide off. Insert grafting needle purlwise in next stitch of front needle. 4. Insert grafting needle purlwise in first stitch of back needle. Slide off. Insert grafting needle knitwise in next stitch of back needle. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to the end. Weave in ends.
LOOP TAB
Cast on 6 sts with green yarn. 1) Slip the stitches to the opposite end of the needle, the yarn will be attached to the last stitch. 2) Knit the 6 stitches, pulling tight on the first two stitches and grabbing the yarn from the last stitch. The knitting will roll up, that's why it becomes a cord. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for a total of 36 rows - about 14 cm.
FINISHING
Fold the top border to the inside and sew into place. Fold the I-cord in two to make a loop and sew the ends to the stitching line of the border.
DUPLICATE STITCH
;titch in red: bow ties on each sheep plus some red dots positioned in char Note that you will be doing this with the head of the sheep upside down so as to follow the "v" of the stitch. There are many videos on the subject. Here is one that is quite clear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE5X-sLq7X8 Following are written instructions on the technique with photos. I do find that the video is much more explicit. 1. Bring your needle from the back of the work to the front through the bottom point of a stitch, or a "v". Thread the needle across the stitch ABoVE the one you are duplicating 2. Insert the needle back into the bottom of the "v", the same place where you began and if you doing vertical duplicating, bring it up one "v" 3. Repeat for the next stitch. Start at its bottom point, sew across the stitch above it, and back down your starting place. If you want to duplicate vertically adjacent stitches, you'll have to sew under both the original stitch and the duplicate stitch
LINING
After blocking, lay the stocking flat on the lining fabric. Give it the desired shape, once lined the stocking will retain that shape. Cut one inch around the sides and bottom and even with the top. With fabric right side together, sew a 5/8 seam all around (machine stitch or backstitch), this will leave a bit of ease . Fold and press the top to the inside. Insert the lining into the knitted stocking wrong sides together. Adjust and slip-stitch the folded top to the stocking inner border.
Abbreviations
K knit K2tog knit two stitches together P purl P2tog purl two stitches together pm placemarker R row sl1 slip one stitch knitwise or purlwise ssk slip two stitches knitwise , bring back to left needle and knit together through back loop st(s) stitch(es) If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at: Lamarche.b@videotron.ca Copyright 2015
DECREASE ROW CHART - knit once
FOOT CHART - knit once - knit red spots in white - to be duplicated in red later on.
POSITION OF DUPLICATE STITCHES ON BODY- facing with heel on top left
