SOCKS FOR SOLDIERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 77, 20 October 1939, Page 4

SOCKS FOR SOLDIERS

Sir, —As a patriotic member of the community'l am sending you a copy of the standard pattern for the knitting of soldiers' socks. I trust that other readers may find it helpful should they find time and inclina-; tion for a little work on behalf of the men in camp. The directions arc supplied by the Red. Cross Society: Four skeins will make a pair of socks. Wool 3-piy fingering (Roslyn) and No. 13 needles. Cast off 24 inches on each three needles, making 72 in all and knit, a rib of 2 plain and 2 purl: for 2% inches. Knit one plain round. Knit a rib ot 6 plain and 2 purl, for the leg till one skein is finished. Join the second skein and start the heel by taking six stitches off the other needles and adding them to the heel needle. Be careful to add '2 to the beginning and 4 to the end so as to make the rib even. Knit the 30 stitches for the heel, one plain row and one purl row alternately, slipping every other stitch on to the purl rows, till 30 rows are done, making a square for the heel. Knit 15, knit 1, knit two together, knit 1, _ turn, slip the first stitch,, purl 4, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn, always slipping the first stitch and taking 2 together where the little gap appears tili all the stitches beyond, the gap on each side are worked in. Now pick up 15 stitches down side always taking the inside stitch.]^ Knit in rib along the front of the foot. This rib is kept until the decrease for the toe. Pick up along the other side. Knit round and round decreasing every third round at the beginning and end of plain knitting till 30 plain stitches are left. Now knit on till the foot is long enough. Two fingers measured from the top of the middle fingers to the knuckles is a good usual length. Divide your stitches so that you have the same number on the front needle as on the other two. Decrease for the toe by taking two together at the beginning and end of front needle and at the beginning of the first back needle and at the end of the

second. ' Decrease till you leave 16 on front needle and 8 on each of the others. Turn sock carefully inside out and cast off by taking two together and passing all stitches till all are gone. Yours etc,, SISTER SUSIE.