Lice Stitch Christmas Stocking
Knitting

Materials:

Yarn:

1 skein each: #101 Shetland Black #104 Natural White #125 Slate #595 Maroon

Needles:

Use your preferred needles for working in the round:

a set of four or five double-pointed needles,

two circular needles, or one long circular needle for the magic loop method, size US 3 (3.25mm).

For I-cord loop:

One pair of 8" double pointed needles, size US 3 (3.25mm).

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Finished Size:

Approximately 11" in diameter by 12½" tall.

Gauge:

32 sts and 34 rows to 4" in Fair Isle pattern of Chart A.

Gauge is not critical for this project.

Instructions:

With Shetland Black, loosely cast on 84 sts.

Join to work in the round, making sure cast-on edge is not twisted.

Place marker to indicate beginning of round.

Purl the first two rounds.

Joining in and breaking off colors as indicated on Chart A, work in stockinette stitch rows 1 through 26.

Proceed to Chart B, working rows 27 through 58.

HEEL FLAP:

Change to Shetland Black.

Knit the first 21 sts of the next round,

turn work.

(WS) Slip 1,

purl over the next 41 sts.

Heel will be worked on these 42 sts, remaining 42 instep sts can be held on waste yarn or an extra knitting needle.

Row 1: *Slip 1, k1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: Slip 1, purl to end of row.

Repeat these two rows 12 times.

Repeat Row 1 once more.

TURN HEEL:

Slip 1, p26, p2tog, p1.

Turn work. (12 sts remaining.)

Slip 1, k13, k2tog, k1.

Turn work. (12 sts remaining.)

Row 1: Slip 1, purl to 1 stitch before gap, p2tog, p1.

Turn work. (10 sts remaining.)

Row 2: Slip 1, knit to 1 stitch before gap, k2tog, k1.

Turn work. (10 sts remaining.)

Each time you have turned the work, you have decreased two stitches from each side of the needle.

Continue these two rows until no stitches remain and you have ended with a RSR of the heel.

Divide the remaining stitches in half.

GUSSET:

Pick up and knit 14 sts on the side of the heel flap.

Work across the instep stitches according to Chart C.

Pick up and knit 14 sts on the side of the heel flap, knit remaining heel stitches.

Mark the center of the heel stitches as the beginning of the round.

Next round (decrease round):

Following Chart C, knit to 3 stitches before instep, k2tog, k1, work across the instep, k1, ssk, knit to end of round, keeping with the Chart as much as possible.

Next round:

Knit, following Chart C.

Work these two rounds until you have a total of 84 sts.

Complete Chart C.

Toe

Decrease:

Change to Shetland Black.

Work across sole to 3 sts before the instep, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before the sole, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, knit remaining sole sts.

Knit one round.

Continue these two rounds until 28 sts remain.

Graft remaining toe stitches.

I-Cord Loop:

With 2 double-pointed needles and Shetland Black, cast on 4 sts and slide them to the end of the needle.

Knit across.

Slide stitches to the end of the needle, and knit across.

This creates a tube of knitting.

Make the I-cord approximately 6" long, break yarn and bind off by threading tail through the stitches.

Fold the I-cord to make a loop.

Sew to the inside of the stocking for hanging.

Finishing:

Darn in all ends.

Block as desired.