WELFARE SOCKS

Evening Star, Issue 23376, 20 September 1939, Page 12

WELFARE SOCKS

HANDY KNITTING DIRECTIONS As many women are now very busy knitting socks for the soldiers, the following reliable directions, sent in by a correspondent to the ‘ Dominion ’ should prove very useful. “ From my experience in the last war, I am in a position to state that hand-knitted sox have a very comforting effect for those who have tender feet and are not used to army bluchers and route marches,” writes the correspondent. “ The following is a very reliable pattern, known in the past as the Kitchener type.” Materials required: soz 4-ply wool. Size 14 needles (steel),, with points at both ends. Start by casting on 84 stitches (28 on each of three needles), knittinqg into back of stitches when casting on. Knit two plain and two purl for 40 rounds, then proceed to knit in stocking stitch (plain) for 8 to 9 inches (according to wearer), when stitches must be divided for heel flap by slipping 40 stitches on one needle and knitting in stocking stitch for 24-rows (on the same needle, backward and forward). Then begin to turn the heel cap by knitting 12 stitches. Then knit two together, turn, purl 11, purl two together and turn; knit 12, knit two together, turn, purl*l3, pur] two together, turn, knit 14, knit two together, and continue in this manner till all the stitches are worked on one needle (they should number 12) and knitted back. Slip all the instep stitches on to one needle. Taking another needle, knit the remaining 12 stitches of the heel and knit up 18 stitches at' the side of the heel (the stitches of which must always be slipped when beginning each row of the flap, and knitting the end stitches in every row). With the second needle work in a pattern across the instep stitches and taking a third needle, knit up 18 stitches at the side of heel and the remaining 12 heel stitches. Decrease for the instep as follows: First round, knit without shaping; second round, knit to the last four stitches of first needle. Knit two together, knit two. work in pattern on the second needle without shaping. On the third needle, knit two, knit two together through back of loops, knit plain to end of round. Repeat the last two rounds till 28 stitches remain on each of first and third needles (sole). If a narrow instep is required, work the decreasimrs in every round. Continue without shaping till the foot measures Gin for a 10in font, 6Jm for a lOiin. and Tin for a llin foot._ Shape for the toe as follows : Knit to the last throe stitches of first needle, knit two together, knit one: on the second needle, knit one, knit two together through hack of loops, knit to the last three stitches; knit two together, knit one on the third needle, knit one. knit two together through back of the loops. Knit plain to the end of needle. Knit one round plain without shaping. Repeat these two rounds till 28 stitches remain altogether. Knit the stitches of the first noodle to end of the third needle. Graft the stitches from two needles together.