The Stocking Story (Erins)

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 1 set d p needles No.6
• Bobbins

GAUGE: 5 sts - 1 inch 7 rows - 1 inch
ABBRIEVATIONS:
K - knit
P - purl
psso - pass slip st over knit st
dp - double point
Sl - slip

NOTES: Please read carefully before starting work.

NOTE 1: Be sure to check your stitch gauge. If you do not obtain the correct gauge with the size needles suggested, change to a larger or smaller size, as your knitting requires. The IMPORTANT THING to remember is that the size needles used does not matter, as long as your stitch gauge is correct.

NOTE 2: Be sure to work the colors exactly as designated in the chart, as there is sufficient yarn for your stocking, if the chart is followed carefully.

NOTE 3: When changing colors, always hold the color, which has just been worked, to the left and pick up the new color from underneath. This twists colors, so there are no holes.

NOTE 4: Use a separate bobbin for each color change, except where the color is used again after one or two stitches of another color. In these cases the color may be carried loosely across the back of work.

NOTE 5 - To personalize this stocking, Work desired name in first White stripe. Using the alphabet chart as a guide, block in name on chart before starting work.

DIRECTIONS:

Using two d p needles and Green, cast on 60 sts. K 2, P 2 in ribbing for 8 rows. Join White and following chart, work in stockinette st for 20 rows. Continue to follow chart, changing colors where indicated and working even until 42 rows of chart have been completed. On the next row dec 1 st each end of needle and repeat this dec every 12th row 3 times more. Work even on 52 sts until 84 rows of chart are completed. INSTEP: Following chart, K 39 sts, Sl last 13 sts on a holder. Turn and P 26 sts and Sl remaining 13 sts on another holder. Continue to work in stockinette st on 26 sts of instep until chart is completed. Sl these 26 sts on a holder. Sl 13 sts of each side of heel onto one needle, so that outer edges of sock are joined at centre of heel. HEEL: With right side facing you, join White and work in stockinette st on 26 sts for 13 rows. TURN HEEL: P 15, P 2 tog, P 1, turn; Sl 1, K 5, Sl 1, K 1, psso, K 1, turn; Sl 1, P 6, P 2 tog, P 1, turn; Sl 1, K 7, Sl 1, K 1, psso, K 1, turn; Sl 1, P 8, P 2 tog, P 1, turn. Continue in this manner, working 1 st more each time, until all sts have been worked, ending with a K row - 16 sts. Break off yarn. Join yarn at top right side of heel piece. Pick up and K l 2 sts along side of heel piece; K across 16 sts of heel; pick up and K 12 sts along other side of heel piece - 40 sts. SHAPE HEEL GUSSET: Row 1: Purl. Row 2: K 1, Sl 1, K 1, psso, K to last 3 sts, K 2 tog, K 1. Repeat these 2 rows until there are 26 sts on needle, ending with a K row. FOOT: SI last 13 sts just worked, from heel needle onto first needle; on second needle K across instep sts; on third needle K remaining 13 sts. centre of heel is now at the beg of each round. Join Red and K round and round for 16 rounds. Join Green and K 8 rounds. SHAPE TOE: Round 1 : On first needle K to last 3 sts, K 2 tog, K 1 ; on second needle K 1, Sl 1, K 1, psso, K to last 3 sts, K 2 tog, K l; on third needle K 1, Sl 1, K 1, psso, K to end of round. Round 2: Knit. Repeat these 2 rounds until there are 3 sts on each heel needle, ending with first needle. Put all heel sts onto one needle. Break off yarn, leaving a 12 inch end. Weave heel and instep sts tog.

TO WEAVE STITCHES:
Thread yarn in tapestry needle and hold the two d p needles tog, wrong sides touching. *Insert tapestry needle as if to K into first st of front needle, draw yarn through this st and slip off the d p needle; insert tapestry needle as if to P into next st of front needle, draw yarn through this st and let st remain on d p needle; insert tapestry needle as if to P into first st of back needle, draw yarn through this st and slip this st off the d p needle; insert tapestry needle as if to K into next st of back needle, draw yarn through this st and let st remain on needle; repeat from * until all sts have been worked off d p needles. Draw up all sts to same tension as knitted sts. Fasten off.

FINISHING:
Block stocking. Sew sequins and stars on trees and beads on wreath at points indicated by circles on chart. To sew on sequins, bring needle through sequin from back of work, put needle through small crystal bead and back through sequin to back of work. Sew ribbon on wreath. Seam back and sides of instep. Using all three colors tog, make a ch 9 inches long for cord. Sew cord at back seam and sew bells on end.

In 1948, my great Auntie Charlotte gave my Aunt Sue a beautifully knitted Bernat stocking for her first Christmas. Auntie Charlotte went on to knit stockings for Aunt Susan's brothers and sisters, my dad among them. As each of my aunts and uncles got married, she knitted stockings for their spouses as well.
When Auntie Charlotte's health deteriorated, she passed the Bernat pattern and the tradition on to my grandmother who carried it on by knitting stockings for each of her twelve grandchildren—including me--and our spouses as we have gotten married one by one.
There are so many years of love knitted into all of these stockings. Now, the tradition has come full circle. My Aunt Sue—the recipient of the very first stocking—is knitting stockings for the great-grandchildren in the family. I am looking forward to having the pattern passed down to me so I can keep this family tradition alive.

Erin, Brand Content Assistant at Joann