A couple of months ago I began knitting a pair of stockings that I designed inspired by several historical and cultural stocking trends. My first inspiration was the patterned turnover stocking tops that were popular in late Victorian times, many of which were designed by my Yorkshire hero, Henrietta Ryder of Richmond. This joined with my love of the pan-European fashion for embroidered or knitted stocking clocks that has continued through many centuries. It was also joined by my love of Bavarian folk costume, which includes delightful “loferl”, many of which feature beautiful patterns worked in chain stitch embroidery. My synthesis of these historical styles is a pair of stockings that have a patterned stocking top worked in stranded colourwork and clocks worked in chain stitch embroidery. The design also leans heavily into my love of sinuous pattern forms.
Alas, the clocks involve something I have assiduously worked to avoid in all my previous patterns. Like many knitters, I don’t like having lots of ends to sew into my knits. This is why I use and teach spit-splicing in my stranded knits. Alas, that technique is inappropriate for the embroidery in this project. However, I’ve decided that the beauty of the clocks in these stockings make the effort involved worthwhile. ”No pain, no gain” right?
