“During the Second World War and the subsequent rationing, stockings were a luxury. Unable to get their hands on silk stockings, women stained their legs with tea and drew a seam down the back. As a result, woollen knitted versions could be seen in many knitting magazines, the height of economy in wartime. The pair could be worn in many different ways--under a knee-length skirt, held up with suspenders, as ladies would have originally worn them; peeping over the top of wellies with shorts for a summer music festival; held up with a pretty ribbon threaded through the lace stitches; or just at home when the cold winter nights drew in.”

Any sockweight yarn can be used. The designer suggests using silk or other luxury fibers for more extravagant stockings, and recommends using nylon reinforcement yarn. The one pattern size fits US sizes 6.5-8.5 (UK 4-6, European 37-39); instructions on changing length are provided.

The stockings are knit back and forth on straight needles until the heel, then the stitches are placed on double-pointed needles. The heel is shaped with short rows; the instep is shaped with decreases. The toe stitches are grafted or bound off using 3-needle bind off. The designer suggests modern wearers thread a ribbon through the lace to keep the stockings up.