Knit Now!
Here’s how to create a Christmas stocking in a few easy weekend sittings.
If you’ve knitted a couple of scarves or hats, these stockings should be fun and easy. Start now, and you’ll be done way before the flurries fly.
Body for All Stockings
If you are making a solid stocking, disregard the references to color change, and just knit all stitches with the same color throughout.
Cast on 20 stitches.
Rows 1- 15: Starting with a Knit stitch, work stockinette pattern (Knit one row, Purl the next) in main color (color A).
Rows 16-20: Continue pattern in color B.
Rows 21-25: Continue pattern in color A.
Rows 26-31: Continue pattern in color C.
Rows 32-36: continue pattern in color B.
HINT: Your next row starts the heel of the stocking. If you want your stocking longer, add rows at this point.
Row 37: M1, K1, M2, K19
Row 38: P22, M1, P1 (In other words, add one stitch to heel side of stocking.)
Row 39: Add one stitch to the heel (K1, M1, K23).
Row 40: Add one stitch to each end (P1, M1, P23, M1, P1).
Row 41: Add one stitch heel side (K1, M1, K26).
Row 42: Make one toe end (P1, M1, P27).
Row 43: Knit row.
HINT: You should have 29 stitches at this time.
Row 44: Purl row.
Row 45: Make one stitch on heel and toe end (K1, M1, K27, M1, K1).
Row 46: Make one stitch toe end (P1, M1, P30)
Row 47: Knit row.
Row 48: Add three stitches to the toe end (M3, P32).
Row 49: Add one stitch toe end (K34, M1, K1).
Row 50: Add one to toe end (P1, M1, P35).
Row 51: Add one to toe end (K37, M1).
HINT: You should have 38 stitches at this time.
Row 52: Purl row.
Row 53: Decrease by two on heel end, and add 3 to toe end. (Cast off 2 stitches, K36, M3.)
HINT: You should have 39 stitches at this time.
Row 54: Purl row.
Row 55: Cast off 18 stitches from heel end, knit the rest of the row. (Cast off 18, K21.)
Row 56: Purl row.
Row 57: Cast off 5 stitches heel side. (Cast off 5, K16.)
Row 58: Purl row.
Row 59: Cast off 6 stitches heel side. (Cast off 6, K10.)
Row 60: Add 4 stitches to toe end (M2, P1, M2, P9).
Row 61: Knit row.
HINT: You should have 14 stitches at this time.
Row 62: Purl row.
Row 63: Cast off 3 stitches heel side; knit the rest of the row. (Cast off 3, K11.)
Row 64: Purl row.
Row 65: Cast off 3 stitches heel end; knit to end. (Cast off 3, K8.)
Row 66: Cast off all remaining stitches, and tie off.
For second side (back side) of the stocking, knit pattern as above except start with a purl row and reverse the pattern in order to have mirror images on the stocking.
Tip: Use this basic pattern, and give it a twist! It’s fun to use a variety of stitch patterns to give more depth to your stocking. Add simple box stitch, rib stitch, or get crazy and add some cables!
Pointed Cuff:
For this stocking top you will be making each point and leaving it on the needle. When all points are made you will connect the points with a row of knitting, tying in each point as you go.
Row 1: Cast on one stitch.
Row 2: Knit one, make one.
Row 3: Purl row.
Row 4: Knit row.
Row 5: Purl rows; add one stitch to each end (M1, P2, M1).
Row 6: Knit row (K1,M1,K1,M1,K1).
Row 7: Purl row.
Row 8: K1,M1,K1,M1,K2,M1, K1
Row 9: Purl row.
Row 10: K4, M1, K4
Row 11: Purl row.
Row 12: Knit row.
Leaving a tail, cut the point from the ball and leave point on needle. When 9 points are completed, purl all points together. HINT: Don’t forget to tie in each point as you add it to the row.
Continue with stockinette stitch for 7 rows and cast off.
Solid Cuff:
Cast on 26 stitches.
Row 1: Knit row.
Row 2: Purl row.
Continue the stockinette pattern for 15 rows. Cast off.
Attaching the Cuff:
Whip stitch the cuff band into a circle.
Turn the cuff wrong side out and place inside the stocking.
Whip stitch the top of the cuff to the top of the stocking.
Turn the cuff to the outside of the stocking.
To Make Balls:
Wrap yarn around a 2-inch card, or your fingers, 50 times.
Tie off the yarn through the middle of the wrap point with a long piece of matching yarn. HINT: It will look like a bow tie.
Cut the yarn on each side of the bow tie.
Fluff the ball. If the ball is uneven, trim it.
Using the ball ties, tie the ball onto each point of the stocking cuff or onto the toe point.
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YOUR KNITTING TOOLBOX
Key to symbols:
Make a stitch (M). The easiest way to make a stitch is to cast on a stitch.
Knit a stitch (K).
Purl a stitch (P).
Needle size: 15 single point, 14"
Gauge:
There is no gauge for this flexible pattern. By using different kinds of yarn, it’s really free-form knitting. However, if you live by “knitting for gauge,” here’s a that gauge: Approximately 12 rows and 9 stitches equal 4 inches. Please know that different yarns give you a different gauge.
Yarns:
We used a variety of thick chenille and bulky yarns. It’s also fun to mix two yarns together or use a “carrier yarn” with a bulky yarn. If you do use two yarns, make sure the needle size for each yarn adds up to a size 13-17. For example, a sport weight (size 5 needle) and a worsted weight (size 8) add up to a 13.
What we used:
Our stockings feature these yarns.
Indiecita Alpaca Boucle in white, Reynolds Lopi in natural,Tahki Bunny in Ocean Spray and Tidal Wave, Lion Brand Chenille Thick and Quick in seafoam, and Lion Brand Velvet Spun in lavender.
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This article is from our 2005 Weekend Living special issue, on newsstands the week of September 12!
