18th Century Stockings
Apr. 4th, 2014 06:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
atherleisureI have stockings from Williamsburg. They’re huge. I’ve been seeing these lovely stockings that people have made and decided that I could do that. Then I could have clocked stockings that fit me and were wool because I love wool.
Materials:
Just over 100g 100% merino wool lace-weight yarn (Bare Shadow from Knit Picks)
Cotton hand quilting thread (from JoAnn’s)
Patterns:
I used the Mara Riley 18th century stocking pattern. The gauge ended up being about 12 st/in and 15 rows/in. The clocks are a modified version of the tulip clock pattern she gives – since my gauge was smaller, I increased the number of stitches and rows in the clock pattern.
Construction:
These really weren’t hard to knit. They were about 480 rows long, and most of it is just plain stockinet with decreases along a “seam” stitch. The clocks were really the only part that needed any attention paid to them. Round and round and round they go.
I very nearly made it with one hank of yarn. I had sixteen rows left on the second stocking when I had to change. Since each row was pretty small at that point, it would probably come out perfectly if I took about three rows off the top of the pattern.
The heels are reinforced with hand-quilting thread, but I couldn’t think of a good way to reinforce the balls of the feet so I didn’t.
Thoughts after wearing:
Now I have stockings that fit! I don’t have my 18th century garters finished yet so I’m wearing them with my 1838 garters for now. There has been no trouble with these stockings slouching. I could have put a few more rows in the toes, but I think it will be fine for now. Next time I’ll be a touch more generous in the foot length. My shoes rub them a bit around the ankle, but I hope there won’t be any early failure there.
ETA: Here's the Ravelry page.
Materials:
Just over 100g 100% merino wool lace-weight yarn (Bare Shadow from Knit Picks)
Cotton hand quilting thread (from JoAnn’s)
Patterns:
I used the Mara Riley 18th century stocking pattern. The gauge ended up being about 12 st/in and 15 rows/in. The clocks are a modified version of the tulip clock pattern she gives – since my gauge was smaller, I increased the number of stitches and rows in the clock pattern.
Construction:
These really weren’t hard to knit. They were about 480 rows long, and most of it is just plain stockinet with decreases along a “seam” stitch. The clocks were really the only part that needed any attention paid to them. Round and round and round they go.
I very nearly made it with one hank of yarn. I had sixteen rows left on the second stocking when I had to change. Since each row was pretty small at that point, it would probably come out perfectly if I took about three rows off the top of the pattern.
The heels are reinforced with hand-quilting thread, but I couldn’t think of a good way to reinforce the balls of the feet so I didn’t.
Thoughts after wearing:
Now I have stockings that fit! I don’t have my 18th century garters finished yet so I’m wearing them with my 1838 garters for now. There has been no trouble with these stockings slouching. I could have put a few more rows in the toes, but I think it will be fine for now. Next time I’ll be a touch more generous in the foot length. My shoes rub them a bit around the ankle, but I hope there won’t be any early failure there.
ETA: Here's the Ravelry page.
