Cotton Stockings

Finally tried something other than wool on the Autoknitter. For the hot August weather, I made a pair of cotton stockings using Knit Picks' Simply Cotton fingering-weight yarn. The thickness of the stockings is comparable to wool ones that I've knit, but I didn't find them uncomfortable to wear in the 90+ degree heat (though I certainly wouldn't have minded even lighter stockings).

 

Finished (and washed) stockings, of un-dyed cotton.

I was worried about how the yarn would handle in the machine, specifically whether it would have enough stretch to knit without breaking or jamming. It was a pleasant surprise to find that this cotton handled just like most of the wool yarns I've tried. The hardest part was actually winding the large skeins into cones for use--before the next pair, I really should get my swift repaired. One skein made for one complete stocking, plus the hem and first 57 rows of a second.

I read that 10% shrinkage is to be expected with this yarn, and adjusted my usual 'recipe' (based on Knit Picks' wool palette yarn) by adding 20 rows to the first section past the hem. I figured that as this was the widest part of the calf, it was the safest place for any extra length, if my calculations were wrong; I also added 5 rows to the foot length. Since I didn't finish grafting the toe closed until the morning I needed to wear the stockings, I didn't have the chance to wash them before use. The stockings were definitely a bit long in the foot on that first wear, resulting in some wrinkling around the heel, but were still use-able. After the first wash, the fit was much better through the foot and the texture of the stockings also improved--it generally fluffed up a bit and made for a softer hand. The foot itself is still just a little bit longer than I'd like, so I might try only adding 4 rows instead of 5 next time.

I'll probably knit myself a second set of these, so I'll have two pair cotton and three pair wool stockings, which should do me for most events throughout the year. For really hot weather, I should also probably make a new pair of sewn hose, as the cotton knit fabric is thinner and lighter than these stockings. However, between the annoyance of fitting sewn hose and the frequency of broken seams, I am very eager to add more knit stockings into my wardrobe. I also prefer how the knit ones fit. These cotton knit stockings will fill a nice niche for warm and 'in-between' weather, allowing me to save the more fragile stockings for the most extreme heat.