Felted Curly-Toe Stocking (recipe)

I'll be posting the process and progress of knitting and felting a curly-toe stocking.   The stocking in the feature photo was completed for Halloween.   I have included the modifications for you to use on your favorite 60 stitch sock pattern to create your own Felted Curly-Toe Stocking.

I have started another stocking using Galway wool in colors red, green and gold to be enjoyed at Christmas.  

 

Felted Curly-Toe Stocking (recipe)

Marilynn Blacketer '12

Grab your favorite 60 stitch sock pattern. Have fun modifying and felting!

Finished size:

Knit, not felted: 20” circumference, height cuff to toe 48”

Felted, for 30 minutes: 11” circumference, height cuff to toe 25”

Materials:

Pattern: favorite 60 stitch sock pattern

Yarn: 3 skeins worsted weight wool in contrasting colors

Color C for cuff, heel, stripes and toe, Colors A and B for stripes

Feature Photo: Galway worsted weight colors orange, purple and green

Blog photos: Galway worsted weight colors red, green, and gold

Needles: Size US#11, 16” circular needles, set size US#11 double pointed needles

Notions: 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle

Abbreviations: CO = cast on   K =knit    k2tog= knit 2 stitches together   pm=place marker
                          Rnd: rounds   sts=stitches

To begin:

Cast on 90 stitches, with Color C, using the long-tail cast-on method, with #11, 16” circular needles. Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist.

Rounds 1 – 4: Knit

Rnd 5: *Knit 1, k2tog; repeat from * to end of round (60 stitches)

Rnds 6-18: Knit continue with color C. Cut yarn and join in Color A

Rnds 19-27: Knit 9 rounds with Color A

Rnds 28-36: Knit 9 rounds with Color B

Continue striping with Colors C, A, and B until there are 9 stripes total.

Using Color C, knit the heel, and turn heel.

Continue maintaining stripes with Colors C, A, and B through the gusset and foot of the sock until   there are 4 stripes total from the heel.

Begin decreasing for the curly-toe:     (10/31/13 update)

Using Color B,

Rnd 1: *K8, k2tog; repeat from * to end (54 sts)

Rnds 2, 3: Knit

Rnd 4: *K7, k2tog; repeat from * to end (48 sts)

Rnds 5, 6: Knit

Rnd 7: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end (42 sts)

Rnds 8, 9: Knit

Cut yarn, join in Color C, and change to double pointed needles.

Rnd 10: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * to end (36 sts)

Rnds 11, 12: Knit

Rnd 13: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end (30 sts)

Rnds 14-17: Knit

Rnd 18: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end (24 sts)

Rnds 19-22: Knit

Rnd 23: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end (18 sts)

Rnds 24-27: Knit

Rnd 28: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end (12 sts)

Rnds 29-32: Knit

Rnd 33: *K2tog; repeat from * to end. Slip the 6 remaining stitches to one needle.

Rnds 34-37: Knit I-cord (for 4 rounds).

Rnd 38: *K2tog; repeat from * to end. (3 sts)

Knit I-cord for 8”to create the length for the curl. K2tog, and bind off.

Cut 6” tail, thread through and tie off neatly.  Turn stocking inside-out and weave tails.

Finishing: To hang the stocking, knit a 10” I-cord and attach to cuff before felting.

Felting: Place stocking in a zippered bag. Machine wash in hot, slightly soapy water for 20 minutes, checking every 10 minutes to see if felted to desired size. As necessary, reset the machine, and continue washing until stocking is completely felted. DO NOT SPIN. When stocking is completely felted, blot with towels and shape (curling the toe). 
Lay flat to dry.  (With sewing needle and thread, tack curl into place.)

Copyright 2012, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 10/25/12

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

 If you prefer the traditional felted Christmas stocking which the girls (and I) completed on Thanksgiving 2011, and felted as they ate pumpkin pie, please use the pattern FUZZY FELTED STOCKING by Kelsey Simila. The pattern available at LYS Creative Beginnings in Seaside, OR.