This is the chart for my Space Invaders Xmas Stocking, adapted from ChemKnit’s KAB Stocking, using her Excel chart making tutorial. Please see her blog for the full stocking pattern: http://www.chemknits.com/2010/09/kab-stocking-pattern.html

Start with casting on 70 stitches, followed by 3 rounds of 1x1 rib in color of your choice, then begin chart using fair isle/stranded technique.

The section of blue aliens on white background is best completed in intarsia or duplicate stitch because it is difficult to achieve the appropriate tension on the longer floats. The rest of the chart is appropriate for fair isle.

The yellow band is where waste yarn should be knitted, turned, then purled as a place holder for the afterthought heel. The black boxes on the same row are not knit.

I recommend weaving in ends and doing any duplicate stitching before beginning toe and heel construction. Your live stitches from the last row of the chart should remain on the needles ready to begin the toe at this point.

I modified the heel on magic loop to make it a little deeper and less like a backwards toe:

Pick up the 70 stitches and cut away the waste yarn.
Knit TWO rounds even across
Knit one round: (k5, k2tog) repeating to end of rounds
Knit TWO rounds even across
Knit one round: (k4, k2tog) repeating to end of round
Knit TWO rounds even across
Knit one round: (k3, k2tog) repeating to end of round
Knit ONE round even across
Knit ONE Row even across, stopping 3 stitches before end of first side of magic loop, then k2tog, k2tog, k2tog (this will use up the SIX stitches spanning the first “loop” of the magic loop, 3 on each side), knit across, again stopping 3 stitches before end of second side of magic loop, then k2tog, k2tog, k2tog as before
K2tog for remainder until you are left with 5-6 stitches, pull yarn through remaining stitches then weave in ends.