Christmas stockings are a common decoration found in the home during the Christmas holiday season. For those that enjoy making handmade crafts, making your own personalized stockings for friends and family members is desirable. This detailed tutorial teaches you how to knit a Christmas stocking that you can share with your loved ones as a cherished keepsake for years to come.

You should have no problem finishing this how to article if you feel at ease working with knit and purl stitches. Since the stocking is nothing more than an enlarged sock, it uses the same type of sock shaping decreases. Knit increase stitches are also used for an eyelet row. To get started with this tutorial, you need the following supplies: red ribbon, yarn needle, stitch holders, a set of size 8 double pointed needles, 1 skein of white Lion Brand Fun Fur, 3 ounces of white and 5 ounces of red worsted weight yarn. It is helpful to use a stitch counter to keep up with the rounds. It should take around 12 to 16 hours to finish this do it yourself project.

This Christmas stocking pattern is adapted from a public domain volume called Botany College Hand Knits, Volume II.http://freevintageknitting.com/print/422 It has been modified to have a fuzzy cuff made from Lion Brand Fun Fur, which can be substituted with any similar eyelash yarn. Also, an eyelet row has been added so that a ribbon can be inserted for extra decoration.

• Note: No gauge is used for this pattern since it can be made any size.

• Terms:
• Slip 1 Purlwise:

1. Insert the right needle as if to make a purl stitch. Do not yarn over.
2. Move the loop to the right needle.

• Purl 2 Together Decrease:

1. Place your right needle through the next 2 stitches from right to left like you would for a purl stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull the loop through. You have decreased one stitch.

• Knit 2 Together Decrease:

1. Place your right needle through the next 2 stitches from left to right like you would for a knit stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull the loop through. You have decreased one stitch.

• Slip, Knit, Pass Stitch Over:

1. Place the right needle in the next loop like you would for a knit stitch then slip it to the right needle without stitching it.
2. Create a knit stitch in the next loop on the left needle.
3. Use the tip of the left needle to hook the initial stitch and drag it over the last loop placed on the right needle. You have decreased 1 stitch.

• Yarn Over Increase:

1. Bring the working yarn under the right needle from back to front.
2. Then, knit the next stitch as normal. You have created an extra loop on the right needle.

• Fuzzy Cuff Instructions:
• Cast 56 stitches onto 3 needles loosely with the white worsted weight thread. Join.
• Round 1: Knit across the round.
• 56 stitches
• Round 2: When you go to yarn over for the first purl stitch, wrap the Fun Fur yarn with the worsted weight and finish the stitch. Use both yarns together for the rest of the fuzzy cuff rounds. Purl the remaining stitches.
• 56 stitches
• Round 3 through 30: Repeat rounds 1 through 2. Once round 30 is done, cut off the Fun Fur and weave in the ends.
• Round 31: On the next round, yarn over with the red worsted weight thread to finish the first knit stitch. Finish the round with red knit stitches. Cut the white yarn and weave in the ends.
• 56 stitches
• Round 32: Knit across the round.
• Round 33: Sequence: Knit 2 together then make a yarn over increase. Repeat the sequence across the row until the last 2 stitches. Then, knit 2 together. This creates an eyelet row.
• Work rounds of knit stitches until you have 12 inches of red cuff.

• Heel Instructions:

Slip the last 28 red stitches evenly to two needles to use later for the instep. The remaining stitches are left on one needle and used to start the heel stitches. At this point, you work on the heel stitches only. Attach the white thread again to work the heel section. You can cut a red tail and weave it in at this step.

• Row 1: Knit 2 together, knit 24 then knit 2 together. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise then purl 25. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 3: Sequence: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 1. Repeat the sequence across the row. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 4 through 28: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 29 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, purl 14, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 25 stitches
• Row 30: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 5. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 24 stitches
• Row 31: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 6, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 23 stitches
• Row 32: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 7. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 22 stitches
• Row 33: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 8, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 21 stitches
• Row 34: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 9. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 20 stitches
• Row 35: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 10, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 19 stitches
• Row 36: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 11. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 18 stitches
• Row 37: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 12, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 17 stitches
• Row 38: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 13. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Turn.
• 16 stitches

Still using the white yarn, you will begin to further shape the sides of the heel by picking up stitches. In your right hand, hold the needle filled with heel stitches while the empty needle remains in your left hand. Slip the left needle into the first side loop of the heel. Then, make a knit stitch with the right needle using the picked up loop. Repeat this process down the side of the heel until you have picked up 13 additional stitches. There are 30 stitches on the new heel needle.

Now, you will have to carry two colors at the same time. Add the red yarn so that you can knit across the instep stitches using one of your empty needles. As you make these red stitches, bring the white yarn across the back by catching it up with the working yarn while knitting. This basically tacks down the unused color behind the work. When you go to change back to white, twist the red and white before swapping colors.

Once you have knitted across the 28 instep stitches in red, you need to pick up 14 stitches on the other side of the heel with an empty needle. To do this, just work an empty needle back and forth through 14 heel edge loops. Then, swap from red to white and knit across the picked up loops with an empty needle. Still using white, make 8 knit stitches on the next needle. This marks the center of the sole. There should be 28 red instep stitches on the second needle and 22 white heel stitches on each of the other 2 needles. You have a total of 72 stitches.

• Remember: While working the heel stitches, use the white thread. Then, use the red thread for instep stitches.

• Round 1: Knit across the round.
• 72 stitches
• Round 2: Knit 19, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 19.
• 70 stitches
• Round 3: Knit across the round.
• 70 stitches
• Round 4: Knit 18, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 18.
• 68 stitches
• Round 5: Knit across the round.
• 68 stitches
• Round 6: Knit 17, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 17.
• 66 stitches
• Round 7: Knit across the round.
• 66 stitches
• Round 8: Knit 16, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 16.
• 64 stitches
• Round 9: Knit across the round.
• 64 stitches
• Round 10: Knit 15, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 15.
• 62 stitches
• Round 11: Knit across the round.
• 62 stitches
• Round 12: Knit 14, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 14.
• 60 stitches
• Round 13: Knit across the round.
• 60 stitches
• Round 14: Knit 13, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 13.
• 58 stitches
• Round 15: Knit across the round.
• 58 stitches
• Round 16: Knit 12, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 12.
• 56 stitches
• Round 17: Knit across the round.
• 56 stitches
• Round 18: Knit 11, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 11.
• 54 stitches
• Round 19: Knit across the round.
• 54 stitches
• Round 20: Knit 10, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 10.
• 52 stitches
• On the next round, knit 52 stitches in red only. Cut off a white tail and weave in the ends. For the remaining rounds, knit each stitch with red yarn until the length of the foot is the desired length except for 2 inches.

Attach the white yarn again to complete the toe portion. Cut off a red tail and weave in the ends. Now, the white yarn is the main color.

• Round 1: Knit 9, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 23, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 9.
• 48 stitches
• Round 2: Knit across the round.
• 48 stitches
• Round 3: Knit 8, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 21, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 8.
• 44 stitches
• Round 4: Knit across the round.
• 44 stitches
• Round 5: Knit 7, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 19, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 7.
• 40 stitches
• Round 6: Knit across the round.
• 40 stitches
• Round 7: Knit 6, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 17, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 6.
• 36 stitches
• Round 8: Knit across the round.
• 36 stitches
• Round 9: Knit 5, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 15, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 5.
• 32 stitches
• Round 10: Knit across the round.
• 32 stitches
• Round 11: Knit 4, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 13, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 4.
• 28 stitches
• Round 12: Knit across the round.
• 28 stitches
• Round 13: Knit 3, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 11, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 3.
• 24 stitches
• Round 14: Knit across the round.
• 24 stitches
• Round 15: Knit 2, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 9, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 2.
• 20 stitches
• Round 16: Knit across the round.
• 20 stitches
• Round 17: Knit 1, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 7, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1.
• 16 stitches
• Round 18: Knit across the round.
• 16 stitches
• Round 19: Knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 5, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over.
• 12 stitches
• Round 20: Knit across the round.
• 12 stitches

Leave a 12 inch tail so that you can use it to sew the last 12 stitches shut. At this time, you can finish up by weaving in any loose tails. Thread the ribbon through the eyelet and tie a bow. Use a 5 inch piece of ribbon and make a loop. Sew it into the center back of the cuff to use for hanging.

• Note: Although you won't wear this item, it is still a good idea to block it. To learn more about blocking, read the How to Teach Yourself to Knit article.