Historical Knitting Pattern: Soldier Socks (Railway Stitch) - Updated for Modern Knitters

THE SOLDIER SOCKS Also known as Gentleman's Socks in Railway Stitch

I found this pattern for “soldier socks" while trawling through the Australian newspaper archives on ANZAC Day 2013. It was published in August of 1914 as a pattern suitable for kniting socks to send to the troops in WWl. Though not the “offcial Red Cross pattern, no doubt many of these socks were lovingly made and bundled up for shipment across the seas. I found the original a bit tricky to follow, and so I have re-written it here to \*hopefully\* make this lovely historical pattern more accessible to the not-so-experienced knitter. I believe that this pattern was originally published in the 1880s, and is also included in Nancy Bush's bookKnittingVintageSocks.

REQUIREMENTS

★100g main colour [MC] 4ply or fingering weight sock yarn ★20g contrast [C] 4ply or fingering weight sock yarn ★Set of 4 2.75mm double pointed needles Abbreviations: K = knit, P = purl, K2tog = knit two stitches together, S1 = slip one stitch, psso = pass the slipped stitch over, skpsso = slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitchover START Cast on 81 stitches (A long tail or a cable cast-on works well). Divide stitches over three needles as follows: 30 stitches on needle 1, 25 on needle 2, and 26 on needle 3. Join for working in the round, taking care that your work is not twisted. The patterns for warm socks and mittens will be found useful and well made,and will contribute materiallytothecomfortof the troops.Heather yarn could be substituted for grey, though both are good standing colours. The keynote of all work done must be usefulness, not ornamentation .. Required, four ounces of grey hosiery yarn, half ounce of white yarn for the heel and toe,and four steel knitting needles, No. 15." httn://nla nov au/nla news-article25510054

KNITTING THE RIB

Now work in ribbing: K2, P1 for 24 rounds.

Page 1 of 6

This pattern translated by Evie-May Richardson -www.stitchitybits.blogspot.com.au Original pattern source: PATTERNSFOR RED CROSS WORKERS. (1914, August 26). The Brisbane Courier(Qld. : 1864 -1933), p. 9.Retrieved April 25, 2013,from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19979562

KNITTING THE LEG

Knit the next round in plain, kniting two stitches together at the end, and now there are 80 stitches in the round. The body of the sock is knitted in Railway Stitch, a six-round pattern repeat. A decrease is made in the calf of the sock, commencing at round 12 [chart on last page also shows first 25 rows of pattern]. Every 6th round is highlighted in the pattern to help you track your progress. The seamstitch is marked in blue.

WORKING THE HEEL

:The helflap is worked in rows (not rounds) using MC and C yarn. At thebeginning of each row, you willslip the first stich (knitwise on knit rows, and purlwise on purl rows).

Page3of6 This pattern translated by Evie-May Richardson - www.stchitybits.blogspot.com.au Original pattern source: PATTERNS FOR RED CROSS WORKERS.(1914, August 26). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 9. Retrieved April25, 2013,from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19979562

KNITTING THE GUSSETS

Using MC, pick up and knit 19 stitches along the right-hand side of the heel flap (i) then knit the first 10 heel stitches onto the same needle. Using a second needle, knit the across remaining 11 stitches and pickup and knit 19 stitches along the other side of the heel flap(i). Knit in pattern across the foot stitches (ii) as follows: (B1 round) K2, \*Knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, purl 1\*, to last two sts, k2 [There are now 29 stitches on needle one, 30 stitches on needle two,and 33stitches on needle three-92 stitches in the round.] (B2 round) Beginning on the first foot needle, k1, s1, k1, psso, knit plain to within 3 stitches of the end of the second foot needle, k2tog, k1, knit in pattern along the instep needle K2, \*Knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, purl 1\*, to last two sts, k2. (B3 round) Knit across all three needles

Continue decreasing every second round, always working plain on the foot needles (i) & (i), and keeping in pattern on the instep (needle i) until there are 66 stitches in the round. The patten repeat and a grid for tracking decreases is included below: SIX-ROW PATTERN REPEAT: 1. A1 K2, P1, K1, P2, [\*K1, P1, K1, P2\*] K2 2. A2 K2, P1, K1, P2, [\*K1, P1, K1, P2\*] K2 3. A3 Knit plain 4. B1 K2, P2, K1 P1, P1, [\*K1, P1, K1, P2\*] K2 5. B2 K2, P2, K1 P1, P1, [\*K1, P1, K1, P2\*] K2 6. B3 Knit plain GUSSET DECREASE GRID: ★★★

Continue working tll foot is the length required. [A total of 10 %2 patterns down the instep will be about right for an ordinary sized sock] GRID FOR CONTINUING PATTERN REPEATS

DECREASING FOR THE TOE

Using the grid below, knit 2 plain rounds with MC; 2 plain rounds with C; after which decrease at the beginning of the first foot needle and at the end of the second foot needle, and at the beginning and end of the instep needle every alternate round, working 2 rounds with MC and 2 rounds with C, til 4 MC and 4 C stripes are done, then 6 rounds all C stll decreasing. Slip the foot stitches on to one needle There will be 13 stitches on two parallel needles. Grafthe toe using Kitchener Stitch for a seamless finish. You can find good tutorials for working Kitchener Stitch on YouTube.

GRID FOR TOE DECREASE [66 →26 STITCHES]

Page 5 of 6 This patern translated by Evie-May Richardson - www.stitchitybits.blogspot.com.au Original pattern source: PATTERNS FOR RED CROSS WORKERS. (1914, August 26). The Brisbane Courier (QId. : 1864 - 1933), p. 9. Retrieved April25, 2013, from http:/nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19979562

CHART SHOWING ROWS 1 - 25 INCLUDING CALF DECREASE