knitted mini christmas stockings
June 15, 2007
UPDATE: November 2015.
There is a brand new PDF file for this pattern that you can download for free here. Stocking Pattern Link: download now.
.........................................................................................................................
I knit this stocking flat because I don't enjoy knitting in the round and prefer working fair Isle and intarsia designs this way.
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 one of the stranded designs charted below)
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 one of the stranded / fairisle designs: 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 a further 8 rows of stocking stitch (knit on right side, purl on reverse)
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.
Copyright © Julie Williams 2005.
There are lots of ideas for adapting the design of this pattern (for instance adding numbers to make an advent calendar) over on ravelry:
What an adorable collection of stockings!!
Posted by: Minnie Mack | December 02, 2009 at 07:18 PM
These are the best, easiest to follow, most clearly written and explained instructions I have ever seen. THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Posted by: NormalMom | December 03, 2009 at 07:23 PM
Thank you so much! I have just made a tiny little bear in a red dress for my Christmas tree. I am a total beginner, but found your pattern easy to follow.
I just need to make ten more now so that I can spread the joy of tiny knitting on Christmas morning!
Thank you x
Posted by: Louisaholly | December 05, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Thank you so much for these patterns! I just couldn't resist and made a couple of your mini stockings. They're just too cute!
Posted by: Jola | December 09, 2009 at 09:58 PM
Hello,
I am writing a Christmas article on the history of the Xmas stocking. http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-26813-Hartford-Knitting-Examiner
I always add a photo. I would love to use the photo of the knitted stockings above with your permission. I would include the link to your website.
Thank you,
Paula Moliver
Posted by: Paula Moliver | December 11, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Thank you so much for such a great, easy pattern! I really appreciate the meticulous row numbering throughout. I opened a spreadsheet in Excel and ticked off the rows as I finished them so I wouldn't lose track. I actually used wool-ease thick-n-quick yarn to make them bigger and they turned out fantastic!
Heidi
Posted by: Heidi Condie | December 19, 2009 at 01:06 PM
How incredibly generous and kind you are to share your patterns with your fellow knitting friends. Your knitting is so exquisitely perfect. I wish you a joyous Christmas and, of course, happy knitting.
Posted by: youcandoit | December 19, 2009 at 03:27 PM
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COPY THE PICTURE OF THE DIFFERENT DESIGNS OF STOCKINGS JUST FOR MY REFERENCE - IS THIS POSSIBLE??
Posted by: BARBARA ACHEY | January 10, 2010 at 05:16 PM
I have only just discovered your site and love the mini stockings. In an effort to get ahead for Christmas 2010 I have left all my christmas projects out and have given myself till mid feb to work on them. So far I have made just 6 of your socks but am working on a sock advent calendar for my great nephew. I loved the easy to follow picture instructions.
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | January 19, 2010 at 01:01 PM
I just found you! I met a sweet person in the knitting department who asked me for advice and showed me this pattern! So when I got home i googled and found you!
I love these so much. Thank you for making something so cute available.
Posted by: pam | March 19, 2010 at 03:59 AM
I consider myself a novice knitter, but I made several of these and they turned out great! Thank you for a great pattern that was fun to make!
Posted by: Jan | April 19, 2010 at 12:46 AM
thanks for the patterns as i am disabled
and can not afford to buy patterns
thanks again sue.
Posted by: Sue Stanworth | May 13, 2010 at 02:47 PM
thank you for the pattern and for allowing us to use it for charity fundraising. I plan to maybe make some of these for our school christmas shopping eveing. I love that they are knitted flat. I don't really enjoy knitting on dpe eyw!ns, I usually poke myself in th
Posted by: joanne wardle | July 08, 2010 at 09:52 AM
I realized my last comment possibly didn't post--no squiggly thing to copy! My thought was...these would be great to mention on my site--http://Christmasdecoratingideastoday.com
Possibly for a country or baby Christmas theme.
Great with the bears too!
Posted by: Kristina Keller-Wilczek | September 13, 2010 at 06:14 PM
Do you sell these? I can't knit!
Posted by: Anna Cherry | October 03, 2010 at 08:43 PM
Is there any way that you could adjust this pattern to put a newborn in it? I am having a baby on December 1st (if I can last that long) and I want to get newborn pictures done 2 weeks after he's born and I want to be able to put him in it. I'm not sure how to adjust. Thank you and your pattern is so pretty!!! Please help!! Thank you!!
Posted by: Breahna | October 06, 2010 at 09:47 PM
lush pattern and really easy to understand x
Posted by: jojo | October 24, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Thank you.....I had looked everywhere for a pattern that would knit up a small stocking that reminded me of the larger knit stocking I had as a child......I wanted something to use for both ornaments and small gifts for friends.....you pattern were perfect....very well written and I thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Louine Teague | October 27, 2010 at 08:28 PM
Hello! My name is Linda and I am a knitter in Newtown, Australia. A new cafe has opened up here called "A Coffee And a Yarn" and it is for knitters! It is run by Ellie and I have helped put a Facebook Page and E-Newsletter together for her.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newtown-Australia/A-Coffee-And-A-Yarn/161575490526637
We are having a Christmas decoration knitting group, and we would like to use your mini stocking pattern. There is no profit involved for the cafe, people can bring their knitting along and we will knit together. We would like to print some of the patterns and have them on the tables. The cafe is not selling the stockings. Could I have your permission to do this? I would also like to promote the link to your site. Please let me know. (If you look at the Facebook page, the mini-stockings shown there are were knitted by me - I have not used any of your material).
many thanks, and thank you for a lovely website!
cheerio
Linda
Posted by: Linda Bond | October 29, 2010 at 01:38 AM
Thank you so very much for a wonderful pattern that is easy to follow and so nicely written out and posted with great HOW-TO PHOTO'S!! You Rock!!!
Posted by: Brenda | October 31, 2010 at 06:59 AM
These will be GREAT for the Christmas craft sale that helps support the Deming Library. How nice of you to share. Thank you!
Posted by: Anne Storm | November 05, 2010 at 03:55 AM
This is sooolovely, I would very much like to knitt them, but there are two problems:
First of all I have never knitted before and I can not understand what meens p4, k7, k2tog...what is p,k?
Thank you very very much!
Sveta
Posted by: Svetlana | November 10, 2010 at 09:37 AM
hi, my name is marìca , i'm italian, i have a blog,"la maglia di marica", where i publish for free things for children only, i love your christmas socks and i askink a permission to translate and publish the pattern with link to your blog off course.
thanks
marica
Posted by: marìca zamperetti | November 13, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I love you stocking and would like permission to use it as a KAL. Could you please contact me about this matter.
Thank you,
Posted by: Kim Bullock | November 14, 2010 at 06:00 PM
These are wonderful! I'm planning to make an advent calendar out of them by embroidering numbers on them and hanging them on a "clothesline"!
Posted by: Crheaney.blogspot.com | November 19, 2010 at 06:37 PM
Everyone I know NEEDS one of these. Better get on it now! Time is limited...
Posted by: Catherine | November 30, 2010 at 03:27 AM
Thank you so much for sharing your pattern. I tried them in DK. And made 24 of them!!
Here they are:
http://justabitknitty.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-calendar.html
Posted by: Kathleen | December 02, 2010 at 12:50 PM
Tanks for sharing this beautiful patterns.
I love all your work, so perfect and with such
a good taste.
If you want to take a pick to wath i've done
see where : http://yanass.blogspot.com/2010/12/mini-xmas-stockings.html
Posted by: Joana Gama | December 11, 2010 at 04:31 PM
thank you for the pattern.. I have a YouTube channel where I show crochet and knitting patterns or instructions in Italian. may I use your pattern? I'll quote your blog of course!
Posted by: elisagurumi | December 13, 2010 at 09:32 AM
Hi, i have tried the pattern and it came out great. I am now trying to knit a stocking for my baby boy but i wanted it a bit bigger than this. Do you know how i can increase the stiches to make a bigger one.
Thanks
Kayla
Posted by: Kayla Henry | December 15, 2010 at 01:49 PM