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Since Mrs. Lawson was so kind to relate the experience of bringing back to life a pair of well-used socks, I thought I would post a instructions I found for in a knitting book. Apparently, such an act was not at all uncommon for both socks and stockings. I expect that there were similar patterns in other books.
"To Renew Feet of Stockings. Cut away all that is bad; draw down a few rows; if a wove stocking, open up the seam a little bit and pull the rows down; catch up the loops on three needles. You must work a sufficient number of rows to make up for what has been pulled down above the heel; then set or form the heel; by dividing the number of stitches you have in the round. For example, suppose the stocking, round that part counts 100 stitches, form the heel by 41 loops, and instep 49 loops; length fo heel 20 rows, 7 outlets at the side of heel, 10 intakes for foot; take in the toe part as described in receipt for fine stocking, bearing in mind the relative proportion of this to the fine one." _The Lady's Assistant and Executing Useful and Fancy Designs for Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work_ (1842)
Unfortunately, I did not photocopy the pattern for lady's stockings in the same book. I saw this book when I was at the British Library in London and could not photocopy the entire book.
"To Renew Feet of Stockings. Cut away all that is bad; draw down a few rows; if a wove stocking, open up the seam a little bit and pull the rows down; catch up the loops on three needles. You must work a sufficient number of rows to make up for what has been pulled down above the heel; then set or form the heel; by dividing the number of stitches you have in the round. For example, suppose the stocking, round that part counts 100 stitches, form the heel by 41 loops, and instep 49 loops; length fo heel 20 rows, 7 outlets at the side of heel, 10 intakes for foot; take in the toe part as described in receipt for fine stocking, bearing in mind the relative proportion of this to the fine one." _The Lady's Assistant and Executing Useful and Fancy Designs for Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work_ (1842)
Unfortunately, I did not photocopy the pattern for lady's stockings in the same book. I saw this book when I was at the British Library in London and could not photocopy the entire book.