Have you ever dreamed of owning your own pair of lacy cotton stockings that look like could have come straight off the needles in 1892? Then this is the pattern for you!

I used two extant antique hand-knit pairs that I own for the inspiration of the construction of these stockings. I also used a pattern from the 1892 book The Art of Knitting as the basis for the design, helping inform the construction of the decreases for the calf, the heel and toe construction.

While a lace chart is included for the top as well as written instructions for the “common heel” and the toe decreases, I also put together a video to hopefully provide a little more information on how this stocking is made.

The stocking is knit form the top down, beginning with a lovely picot edge - just like both of my antique pairs! The number of stitches written in the pattern match exactly my measurements, but as a part of this pattern you will also get access to a website where you can enter in your own leg measurements and it will give you the modified number of stitches needed to make a stocking just for you!

This stocking has a slight negative ease, in order to fit a little tight around the leg, and as cotton stretches out over time. However, please be sure to cast on very loosely to ensure the top of your stocking will not constrict too much at the picot edge (learn from my mistakes!). I would love to see your versions of these stockings!