Arlo's Christmas Stocking
(but he's happy to share) By Antje Karl A simple, stranded Christmas Stocking in aran weight yarn, knit from the top down.
Materials:
· 1o0m each aran weight yarn such as Drops Nepal in red (MC) and cream (CC) · 4.5mm circular needle or size needed to achieve a firm fabric · Darning needle · Crochet hook to make the loop
Gauge:
Gauge is not vital as long as you have a reasonably firm fabric.
Techniques usgd:
Knitting in the round Short row heel Stranded knitting Simple chart reading
@ Antje Karl 2013
This pattern is intended for personal use only and may not be reproduced without the express permission of the designer. Items made using this pattern may not be sold for profit.
Hbbreviations usgd:
MC main colour K2tog knit two together CC contrast colour SSP slip slip purl K knit K3tog knit three together P purl SSSP slip slip slip purl YO yarn over SSK slip slip knit sl slip/slipped
Somg notes on this pattern:
Charts for the lettering have not been provided. I recommend the following, but any letters 8-12 stitches high will work. Jean Greenhowe's ChristmasStocking chart (http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/charts/alphabet-chart.htm) Crossstitchletterchart (http://www.yarntree.com/035alph.htm) Stranded knitting can be tighter than plain stocking stitch. A good way to avoid this is to turn your sock inside out while on the colourwork section, so your floats run along the outside of the work and don't pull it in. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgU-1QiEWts Think about yarn dominance - you want the pattern to "pop" as much as possible. To achieve this, I find it easiest to knit holding one colour in each hand with the pattern colour in my left hand and the background colour in my right. Try to not have any floats longer than 5 stitches. The main pattern mostly avoids this, but in the hearts and if you have bigger gaps in your letters, try to "catch" the float with the background colour half way along. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jchmoQSseL4 · This pattern uses Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' short row heel. · To avoid presents snagging on the floats inside the stocking, line it with some felt or fabric.
# beg
Cast on 64 stitches in MC. Join in the round being careful not to twist the stitches. Knit 6 rounds in garter stitch (knit one round, purl one round). Begin knitting from Chart A. Knit 2 rounds in CC then knit text using a suitable alphabet chart (see note), working from the top down. Use Chart B to fill in the rest of the band. Knit 2 rounds in CC, then begin knitting from Chart C. Continue in stocking stitch until stocking measures 10" / 25cm or desired length to heel. K48 then continue to heel (this moves the beginning of the round so that the joins are on the back)
Heel
Work a short row heel in CC over 32 stitches as follows: Row 1 (RS):K31, turn Row 2 (Ws): YO backwards (bring yarn to back under needle, then over the top to the front), p30, turn Row3: YO, knit to paired st made by YO in previous row, turn. RoW4: YO backwards, purl to paired st made by YO in previous row, turn. Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until there are 10 unpaired stitches (12 sts between Yos) in the centre of the heel, ending with a RS row. Do not turn. Row 1 (RS): K1 (1st st of pair), correct mount of the YO (sl the YO purlwise, enter sl YO with the left needle from front to back, place on left needle), K2tog (the YO with the 1st st of next pair), turn. Row 2 (WS): YO backwards, p to paired st made by YO of previous row, p the first st of the pair, SSP (the YO with the 1st st of the next pair), turn. Row 3: YO, knit to the paired st made by YO of previous row , knit the 1st st of the pair, correct the mount of the next two YOs, K3tog, turn. Row 4: YO backwards, purl to next YO, sssp, turn. Row5: YO, knit to next YO, correct the mount of the next two YOs, K3tog, turn. Repeat Rows 4 & 5 until all the YOs have been worked, ending with a Row 4. Change to MC.
Foot
Begin working in the round again. YO, knit to next YO, K2tog (the YO on the heel "side" and the first st of the instep), k to last st of instep, k2tog (last st of instep and the YO on the heel "side"). 64 sts. Knit in stocking stitch for 4 V2" / 12cm from end of heel ( \~8" / 20cm overall)
Toe
Change to CC. Row 1:Knit Row 2: Instep - k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k1 Sole - k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of sole, k2tog, k1 Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until you have 20 sts left. Close the toe using a Kitchener stitch OR a three needle bind off.
Finishing
Make a loop using single crochet and two strands of yarn held double, approx \~6" / 15cm, and attach to topofsock. Weave in the ends and block. Hang on your fireplace and wait for Santa.
@ Antje Karl 2013
This pattern is intended for personal use only and may not be reproduced without the express permisson of the designer. Items made using this pattern may not be sold for profit.
