In my efforts to find a British pattern, this is what I settled on. I will admit that the booklet this stems from is of more… murky publication date, but I feel it serves it’s function all the same.
J&J Baldwin, the publisher of the pamphlet, was a manufacturer of yarn and had been since the 1770’s and did so until it’s closure in 1999.
They were one of the many yarn producers who put out pamphlets and ads to help the war effort. Other such examples are Paton’s (a former partner of J&J Baldwin’s that is still in operation today) and Isaac Briggs & Sons.
Even in the 1910’s, profiting off of tragedy seemed to be a thing many a wool mill, magazine and hosiery shop took advantage of.
Now, below you shall find a pattern from the pamphlet pictured above.
Abbreviations and terms
- K1; Knit one
- P1: Purl one
- Sl: Slip stitch
- K2tog: Knit 2 stitches as one
- Psso: pass slipped stitch over
- Knitting plain: knit stitch/stockinette
Materials and notes:
- Around 200g 4 ply sock yarn
- 2,5mm or 1.5 size double pointed needles, 2mm or 1 size needles if you are a loose knitter.
- Stitch marker
- A tapestry needle
Instructions:
Setting up – Cast on 72 stitches and divide in 24 stitches per needle
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 24 rounds
Then proceed to knit k5, p1 ribbing for 23 cm or 9 inches
Shaping – The last stitch of your round will become your seam stitch, place a stitch marker to indicate.
1st round – k2tog, knit until the 3 last stitches, sl1, k1, psso
2nd round – knit in k5, p1 ribbing
Repeat this 3 more times or until you have 62 stitches left
Knit in the k5, p1 rib for another 13 cm or 5 1/2 inches
Heel – To form your heel flap put 27 stitches on one needle with your seam stitch in the middle
Slip the first stitch of every row, knitting the right side and purling the wrong side for 26 rows.
To turn the heel:
Row 1 – k20, sl1 k1 psso turn the work
Row 2 – p14, p2tog, turn
Row 3 – k14, sl1, k1
Repeat row 2 & 3 until you have 14 stitches left
Gussets – Pick up 14 stitches on the left side of the heel flap.
k37 onto one needle – this will be the top of the foot and will be worked in the k5, p1 ribbing
On your 3rd needle, pick up 14 stitches on the other side of the heel flap and pick up 7 from your first needle
Decrease as followed:
k4 rounds with the first and third needle in stockinette and the second needle in rib
1st needle – k until the last 4 sts, k2tog, k2
2nd needle – k5, p1
3rd needle – k2, sl1, k1, psso, k the rest
Repeat these until you have 18 stitches left on the first and third needle
Knit 60 rows of the pattern. This can be more or less depending on the side of the sock you wish to make.
Toe -Moving forward, everything is knit in stockinette.
On your last round of normal knitting, k2tog the first 2 stitches of your second needle.
Decrease as followed:
1st needle – k until the last 4 sts, k2tog, k2
2nd needle – k2, sl1, k1 , psso, k until the last 4 sts, k2tog, k2
3rd needle – k2 sl1 k1, psso
Knit 3 rounds plain
Repeat this 4 more times
Then decrease every other row until you have 28
Put these on 2 needles and finish with the kitchener stitch
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