ZIgzag stocking - half size, no sew on heel

I also bought red yarn on my shopping trip. I figured I'd at least make stockings and knew I was short on red. My normal stocking is a sc rectangle folded , then you add heal and foot and toe. Then stitch up the bottom and side. Simple & pretty. I tend to decorate with a tapestry design in the main section, cross-stitch over the sc or embellishments sewn on. I've shied away from more then large color changes because I didn't like the ideal of that seam needing bits of each color. I saw a color change design I really like on a YouTube video demonstration of a redheart free pattern.

 Zigzag Stocking, Designed by Linda Cyr. I love the ripples. The 2 piece sew on heel, not so much. I've altered the pattern significantly but still like to give credit for the inspiration. Sometimes I worry so much about people trying to sue me for blogging my crochet creations I hate to give links and names. Its hard to be even an admirer of some work these days. The original pattern was free so I hope there is nothing to worry over this time. I altered the overall size and made the heel part of the body of the stocking. My stocking finishes at 10" from top to toe with a 1 1/8" top edging. It's 5 1/2 " wide. **Note: I never thought to just alter the color of the stitches under the sewn on heel. pfft. It may work better then my attempt. I'll let you know if I get around to trying it. **

The original version call for 61 ch to begin. Both versions are worked top down. sc in the 12 ch from hook to leave unworked stitches for loop. As I planned to add a cuff that's minus 10 sts for loop and 1 turning chain, which matches the 50 stitches from row 1. (if you just wanted to delete loop you'd start with ch 51) The pattern breaks down to 7 st in the repeat and 1 ending stitch so to shorten the width I decided to remove one pattern. To make it even (one pattern from front and back) that's 14 st. 50-14=36 (+1 turning ch). My opening is ch 37, sc in second ch from hook. You could break it to a half pattern as well but that would take altering the beginning and ending stitches and you'd have to make those calculations yourself. When sc for the first row I turned the chain over and made stitches into the bump. I wasn't sure at the time if I'd be adding a cuff and this makes a nice clean edge. Your rows are broken down into beginning/repeat pattern/ending stitches. For whatever size you take whole patterns out of (7st) the basic directions still hold true.

skip 2st = slst in each of next 2 st; sc2 = 2sc in next st; 3sc = sc in each of next 3 st;

(?)= st made in same st; *?* = repeated pattern

Setting the ripple:

(ch up 3, tr, dc),hdc,sc,skip 2st,sc,hdc /*(dc,tr,dc),hdc,sc,skip 2st,sc,hdc*/ (dc,tr)

beginning                                                  repeat pattern                                  end

After establishing the ripple the filler rows are the same. Two per color

ch1,(sc2), 3sc,skip 2st,3sc/*(sc,ch1,sc)in ch1 space, 3sc,skip 2st,3sc*/ (2sc)

beg                                                  rep pattern                                        end

A-Red, B-Green, C-White, D-Gold

Color progression: A,B,C,D,A,B,C (begins heel), A(red heel), Continue with C, D,A, B (toe)

(my cuff was done in gold, a bulky redheart, clouds?)

Heal: Beginning with change to C-white

1. repeat filler row once, turn

2. ch1,(sc2)3sc,skip 2st,3sc,(sc,ch1,sc) in ch1 space, turn

3. ch1, sc,(sc,ch1,sc)in ch1 space, 3sc,skip 2st,3sc,(sc2), turn

4. (sc2), 3sc,skip 2st,3sc,(sc,ch1,sc)in ch1 space, sc [cont. pattern across unworked st in row1],turn

You started rows on the left side and are now working on the right side with 2 rows of white completed here after last turn.

5. (sc2),3sc,skip 2st,3sc,(sc,ch1,sc) in ch1 space, turn

6. sc,(sc,ch1,sc) in ch 1 space, 3sc,skip 2st,3sc,(sc2), FO white.

Join A-Red in first st of row

7. (ch up 3,dc),2dc,dccluster4tog [*yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo pull through 2 loops on hook* repeat 3 more times, 5 loops on hook, yo and pull through all 5], 2dc,(dc,ch1,dc)in ch1 space, 2dc, turn

8. ch1,3sc,(sc,ch1,sc) in ch1 space,2sc,skip st,3sc,(sc2)in top of ch3, turn

9. (ch3,dc), 2dc,dccluster4tog,2dc,(dc,ch1dc)in ch1 space, turn

10. ch1,sc,(sc,ch1,sc)in ch1 space,3sc,skip st,3sc,(sc2), turn

11. ch1,(sc2),3sc, skip 2st,3sc,(sc,ch1,sc) in ch1 space, sc,[2sc in unworked A-Red st of row 7], [dc,slst in C-White row] FO

Turn work and join A-Red to other side repeat rows 7 - 11

Join C-White and repeat filler row twice, pattern should re-establish as you work across A-Red and C-White from one side completely to the other. Add additional filler rows of D,A, & B

Toe:

1. ch1,4sc,skip 2st,3sc/*sc in ch1 space,3sc,skip 2st,3sc*/sc, turn

2. ch1,3sc/*skip 2st,5sc*/[last 5] skip 2st,3sc, turn

3. ch1,2sc/*skip 2st,3sc*/[last 4] skip 2st,2sc

4. ch1,sc/*skip 2st,sc*/ FO leaving a tail to sew toe &/or entire foot and leg of stocking.

I sewed up the side with green. It did show through. It's unavoidable unless you sew each color change separately. Hey it's a sock. It looks fine. (That's a big concession coming from me) I used the semi-bulky gold yarn to make a cuff. The gold is sleeker then the white which looks more like a fur cuff. I liked the look and the little flair the cuff has from using the same hook size with thicker yarn. Normally I would sc or dc into the bar outside the st to make it look like the material was actually cuffed. For this piece I went the other way because of that beautiful edge and sc in the back loops of the starting ch. 3rows of sc, then ch15 for hanging loop, and slst into next st, then another row of sc around. FO and hide tail. I crochet over the tails of the color changes as I went and the only other tails I had was one red strand from heel. The starting end and green join strands were crochet under the gold cuff. In all this worked up easily and fast. Did I mention I used an I hook and all worsted weight yarn? I don't think I've posted pics of the stocking I usually make but I definitely will soon. Several of these are going to teachers with cookies if nothing else and one for my sons bf (that's best friend, really people he's 9)  I still hope to pick out a pattern and acquire yarn for blankets from my son's therapists. I've got 4 months so maybe I'll get it done. :)

Unfinished piece with gathered tow



Back Seam - Green shows through, tiny bit, mostly white and gold

Clouds yarn by Redheart, semi-bulky, same hook size sc in back loops
 

P.S. I've been adding my projects to my Ravelry page if there is a noted pattern. You can check there to see alternate pattern locations, download the pdf when available or just look at others color choices and alterations. My name there is Sheregal!