knitted mini christmas stockings

I knit this stocking flat
A) because I don't enjoy knitting in the round and
B) because I think it gives greater flexibility in working fairisle and other intarsia designs.

I tend to work it on double pointed needles because during heel shaping you need to switch from working one side to the other. You can knit it on regular needles but slide the work across onto a second needle at appropriate time. Apart from the stocking top it is worked in stocking stitch (knit on right side and purl on reverse)

Materials:
oddments of yarn. I prefer to knit these on 2.75 mm needles with pure cotton 4ply but the pattern will knit up with whatever you prefer. Note, obviously the larger the needle size and thicker the yarn, the larger the finished stocking. Before you start, decide which colour you are going to knit the heel in and cut a length at least 110cm (44”) keep to one side for second heel shaping*.

PATTERN:

Cast on 25 sts, **(27 if knitting a fairisle design)
rows 1 - 3: knit
row 4: (right side) begin pattern from charts below (if required)
work a total of 14 rows of pattern ending with a wrong side row.
**if working in fairisle design: on last wrong side row of pattern chart decrease 1 stitch at either end to give 25 stitches

Start at the bottom of the chart for the pattern charts

Heel shaping:
I like to use different coloured yarn to accentuate heel. The heel is worked in 2 halves.
row 18: with right side facing, k7 and turn leaving remaining stitches on needle
row 19: slip 1, p6
repeat these 2 rows 3 more times until 8 rows of heel have been worked
row 26: k3, k2tog through the back, k1, turn leaving 1 remaining stich of heel on needle (see photo step 1)

row 27: slip 1, p4
row 28: k2, k2tog through the back, turn leaving remaining 2 stiches on needle
row 29: slip 1, p2
row 30: k2, k2tog through the back, k1, turn
row 31: slip 1, p3
leaving these 4 stitches on needle with the main part of the stocking, slide all the work along needle, turn with wrong side facing and resume working the other side of the heel (see photo step 2).

reverse row 18: with wrong side facing and using 110cm length of yarn cut earlier*, p7 and turn leaving remaining stitches on needle
reverse row 19: slip 1, k6
repeat these 2 rows 3 more times until 8 rows of heel have been worked
reverse row 26: p3, p2tog, p1, turn leaving 1 remaining stich of heel on needle
reverse row 27: slip 1, k4
reverse row 28: p2, p2tog, turn leaving remaining 2 stiches on needle
reverse row 29: slip 1, k2
reverse row 30: p2, p2tog, p1, turn
reverse row 31: slip 1, k3

row 32: with right side facing rejoin main colour and begin knitting across first 4 stitches of heel shaping, pick up 5 stitches from inside edge of heel (see photo step 3), knit 11 stitches across main part of stocking, pick up 5 stitches from inside edge of 2nd heel half and knit final 4 stitches (29 stitches on needle) (see photo step 4)

row 33: purl
row 34: K8, k2tog, k9, k2tog through the back, k8
row 35: p7, p2tog through the back, p9, p2tog, p7
row 36: K6, k2tog, k9, k2tog through the back, k6 (23 stitches)
row 37: purl
work 8 rows
row 46: with right side facing change colour for toe cap (see photo step 5) and work 2 rows

row 48: K3, K2tog through the back, k4, k2tog, k1, k2tog through the back, k4, k2tog, k3
row 49: purl
row 50: K3, K2tog through the back, k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog through the back, k2, k2tog, k3 (15 stitches) (see photo step 6)

row 51: purl

Making Up:

Cut work from the ball leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread end through 15 stitches on needle (see photo step 7) and pull up tight.

Join seam running up bottom and back of stocking using mattress stitch (see photo step 8).

Turn inside out and tie up all ends securely and trim - no need to sew them in. Turn right side out.

Hanging loop: cast on 35 stitches and then cast them off. Double strip over to make a loop and sew to back of stocking. Secure with a cute button.

This pattern is an original design. You are welcome to knit up for personal use but please don't use it for commercial purposes, thanks. Copyright © Julie Williams 2006-2009.

Any problems or comments please email me.

Comments

[Ali]

Hello, what a wonderful site you have, I should be working (I'm a garden designer as well as a passionate sticher) but my creative juices failed to flow so I was jumping around on the net when I found you.
I am writing to ask a question I feel you may have already had to answer many times...will you publish your cup cake patten? Pleeeeease. The others I have found are clunky and out of proportion, yours seems to be just right. I would be very happy to buy the patten as I am sure so many of your mailers would.
In the mean time I will be using up my odds and ends making your other pattens, but maybe you will think about it????
Best Regards
Ali

[Andrea]

Hi from New Zealand
Love your patterns wondering if the pattern for the bigger bunny wearing jersey is available anywhere in New Zealand. Have a new baby due in family soon and think it would be ideal.
Regards
Andrea

[Paula]

I found you through Ravelry and had to tell you what adorable stockings those are! I think my Christmas tree needs some of those this year! Thanks for the pattern and great pictures!

[Susan Locke]

Wonderful stocking pattern - do you have stitch numbers to make the mini stockings the size to "hang for Santa"?

[Sue]

maybe i'm reading the stocking pattern wrong... but i'm curious how the more basic looking stockings are done? the directions seem to focus on the fair isle -- but i'm thinking the stripe with the contrasting heel might be more aligned with my capabilities....

[malu]

amei suas meias.
Felicidades.
Malu-Brasil

[Edith A.B.]

They're beautiful. For over a year I'm thinking about knitting mini socks for my Christmastree and these are perfect for this goal. Now I've only got to find the right yarn.

[Ita O'Toole]

Delighted to find these patterns. I have just finished my Dickensian Mice and now I can start on these. Really lovely and thank you.

[Katie]

I just came across your sight by accident but i wanted to leave a post saying how fantastic your little knitted toys are.
Thankyou.

[Lindsey]

I too came across your site by accident. Thank you for sharing your patterns - they are exquisite. Not sure which one i'll start with!

[Deborah]

Thankyou for some really different childrens things to knit,

[An]

Thanks for a lovely pattern! These match a set of larger stockings that I made for St. Nick. I too am going to try and knit up 24 for an Advent calender. Thanks a bunch.

[An]

Thanks for a lovely pattern! These match a set of larger stockings that I made for St. Nick. I too am going to try and knit up 24 for an Advent calender. Thanks a bunch.

[angie - scotland]

fabulous pattern - am knitting a sock each for my daughters goldfish for Christmas - many thanks

[Trish-Fonthill, Canada]

Thank you for providing this pattern and all the work that went into it. I will be making 10 of them for gifts at work this Christmas. So cute!

[Debbie]

I am so thrilled to find this pattern and want to try it since I am not familiar with dpns. I can do regular needles. I just need to know if I am supposed to tie two colors at the same time when I start fair isle knitting? Where do I bring in the second yarn? It may be there but I didn't see where the second color is brought in. Can you help me out? Thanks a bunch!

[christmas embroidery designs]

Cool thank you for the pictures

[christmas embroidery designs]

Cool thank you for the pictures

[christmas embroidery designs]

Cool thank you for the pictures

[SleeplessInKL]

hi. i got to yr blog from knittering. omg! these patterns are so cute, i think i want to learn how to knit just so i can make them :D i just might...i just might!

mimi

[Jenn]

Thank you so much for these delightful patterns

[suzanne]

I don't knit but these items make me want to learn. They are sooo pretty. What a clever lady.
xS

[Jason & Betsy Morgan]

Do you make these to sell? If so, can you please let us know how we can purchase one? Thanks.

[Debbie]

You have inspired me to knit. Not done any for years and here I am with a cute little stocking in front of me.

[Laura]

loved these ones. now i cant stop knitting them.... :) thanks for sharing such a nice pattern