Rowan Fir Stocking Knitting Pattern

Rowan Fir Stocking by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Fir Stocking is an advanced knitted stocking designed to be worked from the top down. The completed stocking measures approximately 46 cm (18 inches) from heel to upper edge, with a foot length of approximately 32 cm (12½ inches). This is a classic sock construction featuring a fitted leg, heel turn, and shaped toe.

Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs several sophisticated techniques that require experienced knitting skills:

• Circular knitting in the round using double-pointed needles, which allows for seamless construction of tubular garments
• Heel turn construction using a series of short rows with yarn overs and decreases to create the heel pocket
• Decreasing techniques including K2tog (knit two together) and K2tog tbl (knit two together through back loop) for shaping
• Yarn overs integrated into the heel shaping sequence to maintain stitch count through the turning rows
• Toe shaping using strategic decreases to taper the foot end
• Ribbed cuff worked in a K2, P2 pattern for elasticity at the top edge

Stitches Used

The Fir Stocking utilizes fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision:

• Knit stitch (K) for stockinette stitch fabric in the main body
• Purl stitch (P) for the ribbed cuff and heel turn construction
• Yarn over (Yo) used throughout the heel turn rows to create decorative eyelets and maintain stitch count
• Knit two together (K2tog) for right-leaning decreases
• Knit two together through back loop (K2tog tbl) for left-leaning decreases
• Purl two together (P2tog) and Purl two together through back loop (P2tog tbl) for decreases on wrong-side rows
• Knit three together (K3tog) for double decreases during heel shaping
• Purl three together (P3tog tbl) for double decreases on wrong-side rows

Materials

The Fir Stocking is worked using Rowan Felted Tweed yarn in three colorways. The pattern calls for 1 ball of Clay (colorway 177), 1 ball of Scarlet (colorway 222), and 2 balls of Maritime (colorway 167), with each ball weighing 50 grams.

Two sets of double-pointed needles are required: a set of 4 needles in 3¼mm (UK size 10, US size 3) for the ribbed cuff and initial leg work, and a set of 4 needles in 3¾mm (UK size 9, US size 5) for the main stocking body, heel, and toe shaping.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this advanced project. The pattern specifies 25 stitches and 27 rounds to 10 cm measured over patterned stockinette stitch, and 24 stitches and 32 rounds to 10 cm measured over plain stockinette stitch, both using the 3¾mm (US 5) needles. Gauge swatches should be completed before beginning the stocking to ensure proper fit.