Fresh off the Needles: Knit Stockings with Clocks

I've finally finished knitting my stockings! I started knitting the Stockings with Clocks from the book Folk Socks: The History and Techniques of Handknitted Footwear, by Nancy Bush about a month and a half ago.

The first one took the longest, of course. I started on 6in dpns (double pointed needles) and then ordered some 13.5in dpns because I kept losing stitches and I wanted to see if I could teach myself how to knit using a Shetland styles knitting belt, and you need long dpns if you use a knitting belt or sheath. (Both deserve their own post.)

I typically reserve my knitting for when I'm waiting in the carpool line, but once I fiished the first sock, I became impatient and powered through the second in rougly two weeks time.

They're knit in Lion Brand Yarn's LB Collection Merino Silk Cotton in the Boysenberry colorway. This may not have been the ideal yarn for this pattern as it doesn't show the clocking very well and it's probably a tad on the heavy side for stockings. I love the color, however and I think the weight is perfect to wear this winter with my tall boots.

If you're like me and love a good history lesson, then you should definitly look into reading Folk Socks. It's a wealth of knowledge on the history of knitting, primarily focusing on socks and stockings from around the world and the impact of knitting on the local economy and culture. I find the pictures of extant garments and knitters from a bygone era to be especially facinating, and each of the sock patterns in the book are inspired by actual historical examples found in various museums throughout the world.

Needless to say, this book makes my historical-knitting-nerd heart skip a beat and I'm looking forward to knitting another pattern from this book.