Knitted Christmas Stocking...

Knitted Christmas Stocking (UPDATED PATTERN!!!)

My grandmother, affectionately known as ‘Mim’s Grandma’, belonged to an organisation in Australia called the CWA (or Country Women’s Association) and was the ‘Queen’ of their craft committee. Needless to say that in this role she produced hundreds, if not thousands of craft items that were sold for charity fundraising or as gifts for those less fortunate. The Christmas Stockings were one item she made for these causes.

Mim’s Grandma began knitting these Christmas stockings in the 70s and she made some for her own use.  She filled her Christmas tree with them.  She even popped a Santa chocolate inside to delight the grandchildren. I still own several and sentimentally hang them on my tree each year.

Like Christmas baking recipes, Mim’s Grandma handed down her stocking pattern to my mother, who has passed it onto me. I am passing it onto you.

WHAT YOU NEED

Needle: 

4mm knitting needles (US size 6). This is not stitched in the round so straight needles are fine. 

Yarns Used: Small quantities of 8ply/DK yarn are required for each stocking. I useD the white yarn to knit the cuff of each stocking.

This is where you can have fun! You can mix it up. The stockings look great in an array of colours. You do not even need to change the yarn for the cuff. I have seen them knitted up in all pink and they look just as cute.

Gauge: Not necessary

Other Notions:

3.5-5mm (US size E-G) crochet hook is used to make the hanging loop

Tapestry needle

Final Measurement: 

Length: 9cm (3 ½ inches)

Width: 4cm (1 ½ inches)

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS

K           knit

P           purl

K2tog    knit two together

P2tog    purl two together

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on 23 stitches

Row 1-8 : knit

Row 9 (RS): K12, K2tog , then turn work (Yes do exactly was this says and turn your work around to the wrong side, so that you are now about to purl on the stitches you just knitted; there will be 11stitches remaining stitches on the needle that have not been worked on in this row. Don't worry about these 11 remaining stitches as you will work on them later)

Row 10: P4, P2tog, then turn work (total number of stitches on your needles are 21 stitches but in this row you only worked on 5 of them)

Row 11: K4, K2tog, then turn your work again (20 stitches)

Row 12- 13: Repeat the above rows (rows 10 and 11) once

Row 14: P4 P2tog, and continue purling to the end of the row of all your stitches (17 stitches)

You have now created a toe! 

You are now knitting again across all stitches

Row 15 - knit

Row 16 – purl

Rows 17- 26: repeat the above two rows (stocking stitch)

Change colour for the contrast cuff:

Rows: 27 – 34 – knit

Cast off all your stitches leaving a tail of at least 25cm long (10 inches). Pick up your crochet hook and chain stitch the tail 20 times to form the hanging loop. Thread your yarn through the last chain stitch to stop it unravelling.

Make-up:

Fold stocking in half right sides together. Using the tapestry needle, mattress stitch the foot and back of stocking until you reach the cuff.  Change to the cuff yarn and mattress stitch the raw edges of the cuff together.  Stitch the end of chain length to the top of the stocking to form a hanging loop.   Hang it on your Christmas tree or decorate part of your home with it.

You can even fill the stockings with a small chocolate in each!

I hope you enjoy this pattern... Jan x

Email me  at:  dandjgartlan@bigpond.com if you are stuck