As promised a while back - here is a tutorial to knit a Christmas stocking and then full it in the washing machine to turn it into a felted sock ready for hanging by the Chimney with care in anticipation of Santa Claus filling it.
This sock measures 13 inches with the cuff turned down, and is approximately 10 inches wide at the toe - plenty big enough and strong enough to fill with goodies. You could personalize it with a name, with applique, perhaps with embroidery. whatever you do, your sock will be unique and fun. So...knit on, and enjoy.
CHRISTMAS
SOCK – KNITTED AND FULLED
( fulling is a
process of shrinking or felting a knitted item)
Materials
– 2 balls 100% non-washable Worsted weight wool – two strands held
together.
Set of 5 double pointed needles , size 7 mm
Stitches
used: Knit Stitch (k), Purl stitch (p),Slip
one stitch (sl 1), Slip, slip, knit (ssk), Knit 2 together ( k2og)Purl two together (p2tog).
Instructions: Cuff and Leg- Cast on 56
stitches with two strands of the worsted wool held together.
Divide onto 4 needles as follows: Knit 14 onto needles #1, pick up needle # 2
and knit 14 stitches, pick up needle #3 and knit 14 stitches, pick up needle #4
and knit the last 14 stitches. Leave
your cast on tail end fairly long to note where your rounds begin and end.
Joining up your square:
Making sure there are no twists and your stitches are hanging straight,
bring needle #4 around to meet needle #1.
Next, transfer the first stitch on needle #1 onto the end of needle
#4, Now, take the last stitch on needle #4 over that transferred stitch and
place it on needle #1. You have
successfully joined your square and are ready to begin your knitting.
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: Purl
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 for 3 inches to give you a decent cuff
for your Christmas sock.
Round 3: Knit every round
until your Christmas stocking leg from the cast on edge measures 10-1/2 inches
finishing with needle #4 and ready to begin needle #1 .
Heel Flap:
Knit the 14 stitches on needle #1, turn. Now knit back and pick up 14 stitches from
needle #4 – 28 stitches on one needle.
Working back and forth only on these stitches, knit every row for 10
ridges. End with a wrong side row.
Heel:
Row 1: Knit to middle of row (14 St), knit 2, ssk, K1, turn
Row 2: sl 1 p5, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 3 sl 1, k6, ssk, k1, turn
Row 4, sl 1 p7, p2tog, p1 turn
Continue in this pattern, knitting or purling to the stitch
before the gap and then work over the
gap by ssk on the knit row or p2tog on the purl row
until you reach the end of the last purl row, ready to knit the next row. You
should have 16 stitches left on the needle and a lovely turned heel.
Gusset
Knit the first 8 stitches.
Pick up a new needle, knit the last 8 stitches. With the same needle pick up and knit 10 stitches
along the heel flap edge by picking up between the ridges. Knit across needles #2 and #3 as usual.
With a new needle, pick up and knit 10 stitches along the
other flap edge in the same manner, and
knit the 8 stitches waiting on the first needle. You are now back working in the round.
Round 1: With needle
#1 knit to last 3 st, k2tog, k 1, with needles #2 and #3 knit, Needle #4, k1,
ssk, knit to end.
Round 2: knit around
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 56 stitches remain - 14 stitches on each needle.
Round 3: knit around for 3-4 more inches.
Toe Shaping:
Round 1: K1, K2tog
around
Rounds 2, 3 and 4: knit around
Round 5: K2 tog around
Round 6: Knit
Round 7: k2tog around
Round 8: Knit.
Cut yarn, thread end through yarn needle, draw needle
through all stitches on needles, gently pull to close up the hole and fasten
off. Tail in all ends.
Fulling (Felting) Your Christmas Stocking
Machine wash your completed sock in hot water with soap – do
not leave the sock unattended in the machine – Just before the washing cycle is
complete, stop the machine, don’t let it
drain away all that lovely hot water and soap.
Check the state of the sock. You
might have to turn the dial back and put the sock through another wash cycle,
or part of a cycle before allowing it to rinse and spin. Once you are happy with the fulling process,
let the machine rinse and complete the cycle.
Air dry the sock.
Making a hanger : For a
crochet hanger, use one strand of your wool, chain 25. Attach the loop to the back of the rolled
cuff. You might also make a small piece
of twisted cord, or a nice piece of ribbon as a hanger.
Embellishing ideas: If you want to decorate your
Christmas sock, your imagination is your only limit. How about embroidering snowflakes on the
sock, or sewing buttons, beads and bells on the sock. Perhaps you could embroider a name on your
sock to personalize it so Santa won’t be confused. Personalizing your sock is half the fun ,so
enjoy…and have a very Merry Christmas!
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