CHILD’S ¾-LENGTH SOCK, WITH SCOTCH TOP

4 To 6 Years

2 Ounces of 3-Ply Fingering

4 Steel Knitting Needles No. 17, Pointed at Both Ends

Set up 73 stitches (24 each on 3 needles) knit 9 rounds plain. 10th round: * Bring the wool forward as in purling and knit 2 together repeat from * then knit to end of round. Knit 11th round plain and continue for 8 rounds. 20th round: fold over the set up round of knitting on inside, it must exactly meet the last round. Knit the 1 stitch of the 19th round and 1st set up stitch together; 2nd stitch of 19th round and 2nd set up stitch together and continue all around. This makes a hem and the 10th round forms a scalloped edge. Great care must be taken to get 1st and last rounds even. Now knit 3 rounds plain and the 24th to the 48th round (inclusive) also knit plain. Work in ribbing on 49th round by knitting 3 and purling 1 alternately and continue to rib 76 rounds like 49th round. The next round work the ribbing as far as the 4th plain rib on the 3rd needle; of this rib knit the first 2 stitches together, knit 1, purl 1 (for the seam stitch), knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, draw the slipped stitch over and then work the rest of the round as usual. Knit the next 3 rounds without decreasing and after every 3rd round knit together the 3rd and 2nd stitches before the seam stitch and the 2nd and 3rd stitches after it. You should have 16 stitches on the needle. Now work 24 more rounds of ribbing without decreasing and divide the stitches so as to have 15 stitches before the seam and 16 after it; making 32 in all. The other 2 needles should each have 16 stitches. Knit these 32 stitches on the back needle; turn the work and purl 1 row and knit 1 row alternately, until you have 12 rows of these stitches.

To Work Heel—Knit 2 together at the beginning and end of every plain row until you have 12 stitches left. In every following row pick up the next stitch down the side after the last worked stitch on the needle and knit or purl, according to the row, till all the stitches are taken up and the heel is closed. On reaching top of 12 row pick up the stitches down the side of these rows. Go on ribbing as usual on the 2 other needles; pick up the stitches at side of 12 following rows then knit heel round to the front ribbing. Continue this ribbing until toe is reached.

For the Instep—Decrease at each side of heel every other row by knitting together 2 stitches after the last purl rib. Knit the heel except the last 2 stitches before the first purled rib; slip the 1st of these, knit the next stitch and draw slipped stitch over. Go on decreasing until the stitches on the heel needle are reduced to 32 as they were in the ankle before beginning 43the heel. Knit 30 rounds plain knitting on sole and ribbing on front of foot. After this continue ribbing and do plain knitting.

To Shape Toe—In every other round decrease at beginning of right-hand sole needle and at end of left-hand sole needle; also at each end of front needle. Knit 2 together, knit 1. Repeat these 2 decreasings on the front needles. When you have reduced the stitches to 8 on the sole and front, put needles together and cast off the stitches. Be sure to carry end of wool to wrong side of a wool needle, and fasten by running it in and out before cutting off.