Ruthless Knitting

This pak contains 3 ounces of Bernat Knitting Worsted, 100% Virgin Wool Worsted, sufficient to make one Santa Claus Stocking in design as illustrated and charted. The pak also contains sufficient Bernat Super Angora and bells to decorate stocking as indicated.

Materials
1 Santa Claus Stocking Pak
1 set d p needles No. 6
Bobbins

Gauge: 5 sts = 1 inch; 7 rows or rounds = 1 inch

Abbreviations
K . . . knit
P . . . purl
tog . . . together
st(s) . . . stitch(es)
psso . . . pass slipped st over knit st
d p . . . 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 alphabet chart as a guide, block in name on chart before starting work.

Directions
Using two d p needles and Red, cast on 60 sts. K 2, P 2 in ribbing for 8 rows, inc 1 st at end of last row. Join White and, following chart, work in stockinette st, changing color where indicated and working even until 38 rows of chart have been completed. On the next row dec 1 st each end of needle and repeat this dec every 10th row 3 times more. Work even on 53 sts until 84 rows of chart are completed.

Instep: Following chart, K 40 sts, sl last 13 sts on a holder. Turn and P 27 sts, sl remaining 13 sts on another holder. Continue to work in stockinette st on 27 sts of instep until chart is completed, dec 1 st at end of last row. 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, K1, turn; sl 1, P 8, P 2 tog, P 1, turn. Continue in this manner, working 1 st more each time until all sts hve been worked, ending with a K row — 16 sts on needle. Break off yarn. Join yarn at to right side of heel piece. Pick up and K 12 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: K1, 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: Sl 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 1; 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. Break off yarn, leaving a 12 inch end. Weave heel and instep sts tog.

Finishing: Sew on bells. Seam back and sides of instep. Using 1 strand of each of three colors, make a chain 9 inches long for cord. Sew cord at back seam.

To Weave Stitches: Thread yarn in a 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 needle. Draw up all sts to same tension as knitted sts. Fasten off.