Elegant Ribbed Stockings

Elegant stockings which taper from knee to ankle .

Posted by Ann Budd

About

These elegant stockings taper from knee to ankle by decreasing the needle size instead of changing the stitch count. The simple but distinctive cable pattern, reminiscent of antique stonework, makes these socks fit closely but comfortably. A row of subtle eyelets beneath the ribbed cuff can accommodate a pretty ribbon accent.

Finished Size
About 63⁄4 (8)" (17 [20.5] cm) foot circumference and 9 (10)"
(23 [25.5] cm) foot length. To fit a child (woman). Note: To make the socks larger or smaller, use needles one or two sizes larger or smaller and lengthen or shorten the foot as necessary.

Yarn
Sportweight yarn (CYCA #2 Fine).
Shown here: Dale of Norway Heilo (100% wool; 109 yd
[100 m]/50 g): #9834 antique gold, 4 balls.

Needles
Ribbing and middle leg—size 6 (4 mm): set of 4 double-pointed (dpn). Upper leg—size 7 (4.5 mm): set of 4 dpn. Lower leg and foot—size 5 (3.75 mm): set of 4 dpn. Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions
Cable needle (cn); marker (m); tapestry needle; about 2 yd
(2 meter) 1" (2.5 cm) Hanah Silk Hand Dyed Ribbon in colorway Monet (optional).
Gauge
12 stitches and 17 rounds = 2" (5 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round on size 5 (3.75 mm) needles.

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You Will Need (7 things)

  • Stitch Markers
  • 2 yd Ribbon
  • size 5 (3.75 mm): set of 4 Double Pointed Knitting Needles
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Cable Needle
  • 4 Sportweight Yarn
  • size 6 (4 mm): set of 4 Double Pointed Knitting Needles

Steps (5 steps, 600 minutes)

  1. 1

    Leg
    With size 6 (4 mm) needles and using the old Norwegian method (see Glossary, page 121), loosely CO 48 (56) sts. Arrange sts on 3 dpn so that there are 16 (20) sts on Needle 1, 16 (20) sts on Needle 2, and
    16 (16) sts on Needle 3. Place marker (pm) and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts. Work Rows 1–5 only of Elegant Ribbing chart 2 (3) times—
    10 (15) rnds total. Eyelet rnd: (optional) *K1, yo, p2tog, k1; rep from * to end of rnd. Change to size 7 (4.5 mm) needles and work Rnds 5–14 of chart once, then work Rnds 1–14 of chart once more. Cont in patt, rep Rnds 1–14 of chart and at the same time, when piece measures 5 (6)" (12.5 [15] cm) from CO, change to size 6
    (4 mm) needles, then when piece measures 9 (10)" (23 [25.5] cm) from CO, change to size 5 (3.75 mm) needles. Cont even in patt until leg measures about
    12 (13½)" (30.5 [34.5] cm) from CO or desired length to top of heel, ending with Rnd 11 of chart.

  2. 2

    Heel
    Heel Flap
    K10 (14), turn work around so WS is facing, sl 1 pwise with yarn in front (wyf), p23 (27)—
    24 (28) heel sts centered at back of leg (when viewed from RS, these sts beg and end with p1); rem 24 (28) sts will be worked later for instep. Work 24 (28) heel sts back and forth in rows as foll:
    Row 1: (RS) Sl 1 kwise with yarn in back (wyb), *k1, sl 1 pwise wyb; rep from * to last st, k1.
    Row 2: (WS) Sl 1 pwise with yarn in front (wyf), purl to end.
    Rep Rows 1 and 2 until a total of 24 (28) rows have been worked—12 (14) chain sts along each selvedge edge.
    Turn Heel
    Work short-rows to shape heel as foll:
    Row 1: (RS) K14 (16), ssk, k1, turn work.
    Row 2: (WS) Sl 1 pwise wyf, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
    Row 3: Sl 1 kwise wyb, knit to 1 st before gap formed on previous row, ssk (1 st from each side of gap), k1, turn.
    Row 4: Sl 1 pwise wyf, purl to 1 st before gap formed on previous row, p2tog
    (1 st from each side of gap), p1, turn.
    Rep Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked—14 (16) heel sts rem.
    Shape Gussets
    Pick up sts along selvedge edges of heel flap and rejoin for working in the rnd as foll:
    Rnd 1: With Needle 1, k14 (16) heel sts then pick up and knit 13 (15) sts along edge of heel flap; with Needle 2, work across 24 (28) instep sts in rib patt as established; with Needle 3, pick up and knit 1
    3 (15) sts along other edge of heel
    flap, then knit the first 7 (8) heel sts
    from Needle 1 again—64 (74) sts total; 20 (23) sts each on Needle 1 and
    Needle 3; 24 (28) instep sts on Needle 2. Rnd begins at center of heel.
    Rnd 2: On Needle 1, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on Needle 2, work in rib patt as established; on Needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end—2 sts dec’d.
    Rnd 3: Cont in patt as established (work sts on Needle 2 in patt from chart; work sts on Needle 1 and Needle 3 in St st).
    Rep Rnds 2 and 3 until 48 (56) sts rem.

  3. 3

    Foot
    Cont even in patt as established until piece measures about 7 (8)" (18 [20.5] cm) from back of heel, or about 2" (5 cm) less than desired total foot length.

  4. 4

    Toe
    Work in St st as foll:
    Rnd 1: On Needle 1, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog k1; on Needle 2, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on Needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end—4 sts dec’d.
    Rnd 2: Knit.
    Rep Rnds 1 and 2 until 24 (28) sts rem. Rep Rnd 1 every rnd until 8 (12) sts rem. Knit the sts on Needle 1 onto the end of Needle 3—
    4 (6) sts each on 2 needles.

  5. 5

    Finishing
    Cut yarn, leaving a 12" (30.5 cm) tail. Thread tail on a tapestry needle and use the Kitchener st (see Glossary, page 123) to graft sts tog. Weave in loose ends. Block lightly. Beg and end at outside of leg, thread optional silk ribbon through.