Cycling and Shooting Knickerbocker Stockings Part 2

49th round.--P 2, k 2, p 1, p 2 together, etc.

This finishes the decreasings. You will have 10 st.i.tches left on your back needle, 57 st.i.tches in all on the needles. Your decreasings will have formed a good =V=-shaped slant.

Continue ribbing until the stocking measures, from casting on, 22 inches. You must not pull out the stocking, but place it flat on the table and measure it with a rule.

_Heel_

Prepare for heel by ribbing to end of back needle, from next needle knit off on back needle the broad rib of 9 st.i.tches. Knit on a 2nd needle the small ribs and 5 of the next broad rib st.i.tches, in all 15 st.i.tches. On a 3rd needle k 4 and next small ribs, 14 st.i.tches in all.

Now pa.s.s the 9 st.i.tches of broad rib on to the heel or back needle.

This gives you 28 st.i.tches on the heel needle.

The heel is formed by knitting the heel needle backwards and forwards.

1st row.--Slip 1 (when you slip 1st st.i.tch put in needle from right to left), k 8, p 2, k 2, p 2, k 2, p 2, k 9, turn.

2nd row.--Slip 1, p 8, k 2, p 2, k 2, p 2, k 2, p 9, turn.

Repeat these _two_ rows until you have knitted 30 rows.

_To round Heel_

1st row.--Slip 1, k 15, knit 2 together, k 1, turn.

2nd row.--Slip 1, p 5, purl 2 together, p 1, turn.

3rd row.--Slip 1, k 6, knit 2 together, k 1, turn.

4th row.--Slip 1, p 7, purl 2 together, p 1, turn.

5th row.--Slip 1, k 8, knit 2 together, k 1, turn.

6th row.--Slip 1, p 9, purl 2 together, p 1, turn.

7th row.--Slip 1, k 10, knit 2 together, k 1, turn.

8th row.--Slip 1, p 11, purl 2 together, p 1, turn.

9th row.--Slip 1, k 12, knit 2 together, k 1, turn.

10th row.--Slip 1, p 13, purl 2 together, p 1, turn.

11th row.--Slip 1, k 14, knit 2 together, turn.

12th row.--Slip 1, p 14, purl 2 together. 16 st.i.tches will be left on the heel needle.

_To form the Foot_

This is done by taking up, and as you take up knitting through the loops down side of length of heel. In taking up be particular to put your needle through both sides of the loops.

1st side needle. Slip 1, k 15 (these are the heel st.i.tches). Take up, and as you take up knit 17 st.i.tches down side of heel. Purl 2 st.i.tches off next needle on this 1st side needle. With a 2nd needle rib all the st.i.tches on the next two needles but the _two_ last. This needle is henceforward called the instep needle. On a 3rd needle purl the 2 st.i.tches left, and with it take up, and as you take up knit 17 st.i.tches down other side of heel, also knit on to it 8 st.i.tches off the 1st side needle; these 8 are the half of the heel st.i.tches left after rounding it.

Count loops on your needles. You ought to have 27 on each side needle, 25 on the instep needle.

_To shape the Foot_

1st round.--1st side needle. Knit plain until within 4 st.i.tches of end of needle, when knit 2 together, p 2.

Instep needle. K 2, p 2, k 2, p 2, k 9, p 2, k 2, p 2, k 2. 2nd side needle. P 2, knit 2 together, knit to end of needle.

Repeat this round four times. You will have 23 st.i.tches left on each side needle.

5th round.--1st side needle. Knit all but 2 last, which are purled.

Instep needle. Rib according to pattern. 2nd side needle. P 2, knit the rest.

6th round.--Same as 1st.

Repeat 5th and 6th rounds until you have only 16 st.i.tches left on each side needle, 25 on instep needle, 57 in all.

Repeat the 5th round until your foot measures, including the heel, 8 inches.

_Toe_

Prepare for toe by knitting to end of instep needle, and on that needle knit 2 st.i.tches off the next.

Next needle. Knit plain. 3rd needle. Knit to within 5 st.i.tches of end, when knit 2 together, k 2, and pa.s.s the last st.i.tch on to instep needle. You will have 28 st.i.tches on instep needle, 14 on each of the others.

_To decrease the Toe_

1st round.--Instep needle. K 2, knit 2 together, knit to within 4 of end, when knit 2 together, k 2. Next needle. Knit 2, knit 2 together, knit to end. 3rd needle. Knit to within 4 of end, knit 2 together, k 2.

2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds.--Knit all.

Repeat these 4 rounds _twice_ more.

13th round.--Same as 1st.

14th and 15th rounds.--Knit all.

Repeat 13th, 14th and 15th rounds _once_ more.

19th round.--Same as 1st.