from Patons Knitting Book No. 248
The two different sizes of bed sock are knit following the same pattern, using dk weight wool for the lady’s socks and fingering weight for the child’s. The change in size is created solely with the different sizes of yarn and needles.
Materials
Patons Totem Knitting Wool (DK or 8ply weight) for the lady’s size
or
Patons Beehive Fingering, 4-ply for the child’s size.
Quantities
Lady’s size:
A. Short Leg (Totem) 4 ozs;
C. Long Leg (Totem) 6 ozs;
Child’s size:
B. Short Leg (4-ply) 2 oz;
C. Long Leg (4-ply) 3 ozs.
Knitting Needles
A (dk weight/lady’s size) – 1 pair Old UK No. 7/US 7/Metric 4.5mm,
B (fingering weight/child’s size) – 1 pair Old UK No. 10/US 3/Metric 3.25mm
Measurements
A. Short Leg (dk weight/lady’s size) – 5 ins
C. Long Leg (dk weight/lady’s size) – 13 ins.
B. Short Leg (fingering weight/child’s size) – 3 ins.
C. Long Leg (fingering weight/child’s size) – 8 ins.
Tension
It is absolutely necessary to work at a tension to produce
A (dk weight/lady’s size) – 5 stitches;
B (fingering weight/child’s size) – 7½ stitches to the inch in width.
Pattern
Using Totem and No. 7 needles for the lady’s size, or 4-ply and No. 10 needles for the child’s size, cast on 48 stitches.
1st row: K.2, * P.1, K.1, repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat this row thirty-three times for a short leg. (Long Leg seventy-nine times.)
Proceed as follows:
1st row: K.32, turn.
2nd row: K.16, turn.
Work 51 rows in Garter Stitch on these 16 sts. Break off wool.
Commencing again on 16 sts. which were left, knit plain to end of row.
Next row: K.16, knit up 27 sts. from side of instep, K.8 of toe sts.
Taking a spare needle knit remaining 8 toe sts., knit up 27 sts. from other side of instep and remaining 16 sts.
Work 16 rows in Garter Stitch on these two needles.
Next row: K.1, K2tog, K.46, (K2tog) twice, K.46, K2tog, K.1 .
Continue in this manner, decreasing once at each end of both needles in every row until 86 sts. remain.
Cast off.
Work another Bed Sock in same manner.
To Make Up Bed Socks
With a slightly damp cloth and warm iron, press lightly.
Sew up back seam.
The original publication of this pattern is in the public domain, however this updated digital version with clarifications for modern knitters is copyright Sarah Bradberry, 28th July 2014. All rights reserved.