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Start Now For the Holidays
Follow our simple steps to prepare for the holiday season--forward ho-ho-ho!

Web Exclusive: Stocking pattern and variations.


December is just around the corner. So are the festivities that come with it. Will you make them a blur--or bliss? We predict joy in your world if you tackle little projects each weekend from now till then (and think how you’ll spread out the spending). Here’s how.

Spin a Yarn
Knit one, purl two all the way to a great Christmas stocking. Pick up our easy project at random times during the weekend, and, by the time the pumpkins come up, you’ll be in stitches--and on your way to a finished gift.

Play Cards
Go online, and order your Christmas cards (our current favorite is www.exposuresonline.com for a good selection and quick delivery). By next weekend, you can curl up on the couch, pop in a DVD, and start addressing. If you don’t finish or can’t find an address, there’s always the next weekend. (Can you say that in December when you’re decorating the tree and wrapping gifts?) Tip: Don’t take the Christmas photo yet--you can easily slip those in at the last minute.

Make It, Check Twice
List time. Start deciding now what to give to whom. What gifts can you make? There’s time. What gifts can you order from the catalogs that are already stacking up in your mailbox? Comparison shop online--we like www.mysimon.com and www.froogle.com, which allow you to enter the item and see various prices. Let the gifts crawl to you by snail mail (no big express charges needed), and find a secret place to store them. One more list: Record each gift, as completed, so you won’t lose track.

Party Plan
Want to carol like angels, stage a decorating bash, or organize a cookie swap? It’s easy if you start now--make your to-do list, designate your date (check local calendars to ensure you don’t clash with big school or civic events), and design a menu. (Tip: It’s okay to add a potluck spin so your only job is to set a stylish table.) Bring on the friends--and the merriment.

Round Up the Recipes
Take a deep breath. Plot out each holiday meal, and clip those recipes together so you’ll have them close at hand when it’s time to cook. Bonus points for making your grocery shopping list now (just tuck it under the clip--you can add the "just-thought-of-its" later). Extra, extra bonus points for asking other family members to make some of the recipes for the occasion.

Get in the Groove
Take a cue from your favorite store, and blast the tunes early in the season. Many stores put together compilation CDs that often sell for as little as $10. Try Old Navy, Banana Republic, Starbucks, and Barnes & Noble for a good selection, or, better yet, burn your own mix for family and friends. Don’t limit yourself to holiday tunes though. Raid your collection or download songs from iTunes or similar sites, and customize your own CDs. These make great stocking stuffers for everyone on your list. Send your college roommate a mix from the year you graduated; it’ll be a fun blast from the past. Your parents might like some classics, and you can get silly with the kids. Tip: Keep several on hand. When a coworker or neighbor shows up with an unexpected gift, present him or her with a CD instead of an awkward pause.

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.



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.

    This article is from our 2005 Weekend Living special issue, on newsstands the week of September 12!


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