Also known as a personalized Christmas stocking for my American visitors 😉
Pattern
Size
20 inches (51cm) from top of stocking to heel.
8½ inches (21½cm) from toe to heel.
Materials
4oz knitting worsted in each of red, white, and green. Small amount of blue.
3.75mm straight needles (or needles to obtain gauge)
1 set of 3.75mm needles
15 – 18 small round sequins, 3 star shaped sequins (if desired).
Sample was knit with dk yarn and 4mm needles.
Gauge
22sts and 30 rows to 10cm worked over st st
Notes:
When changing from one colour to another twist the yarns around each other once on wrong side to prevent making a hole. Be careful not to draw yarn up too tightly when carrying yarn across several stitches. Wind yarn onto bobbins to keep yarn from tangling. (Note: Additional notes by Marilyn Muller are in italics)
Pattern
Starting at the top cuff and using red yarn, cast on 64sts and work K2, P2 ribbing for 8 rows. Use 60sts if the recipients name is short & do not decrease until after working chart of children.
Change to white yarn.
Date and Name: Chart a
Work 4 rows st st in white.
Make up the name (and date, if desired) from the alphabet charts below and centre them in the 64sts. Make sure you work with your chart upside down! If name has a Y with a T or an L before it (eg: Sally) do not leave 1 blank st between the letters or the Y will look like it’s standing off by itself.
Start knitting from your name chart working the letters and numbers in green, and the background in white. Continue working in straight stocking stitch until you have completed the chart, break off green. Work 4 rows in white, decreasing 1 st at each end of last row. Break off white and attach red.
Alphabet and number chart a:
Children: Chart b
With red, work 4 rows st st, decreasing 1 st at each end of the last row (60sts)
Next row: Knit row 1 of the chart as follows: K9 red, *K3 green for top of hat, K10 red, rep from * to last 9 sts, K9 red.
Work following chart, beginning on row 2. After figures are completed, work 4 rows st st in red, decreasing 1 st at each end of the 1st row. Break off red and attach green.
Santa: Chart c
With green, work 4 rows st st, decreasing 1 st at each end of the last row (56sts)
Next row: Knit row 1 of the chart as follows: K13 green, attach white and knit 1 for pompom on top of hat, k26 green,
k1 white, k15 green. Work following chart, beginning on row 2. After Santas are completed, work 4 rows st st in green, decreasing 1 st at each end of the 1st row. Break off green and attach white.
Christmas Trees: Chart d
With white, work 4 rows st st, decreasing 1 st at each end of the 1st row (52sts)
Next row: Knit row 1 of the chart as follows: K9 white, *K1 green, K15 white, repeat from * once more, K1 green, K10
white. Work following chart, beginning on row 2. After trees are completed, work 4 rows st st in white, decreasing 1 st at each end of the 1st row. (50sts remain) Break off white, leaving a long tail of yarn. Block and sew 5 sequins to each tree.
Begin heel
With double pointed needles work as follows (this makes much more sense while you’re actually doing it, than it does when you’re just reading it!): Using the white tail knit first 12 sts onto one needle for half of the heel. Break off white. Slip next 13sts onto the 2nd needle for one instep needle. Slip next 13sts onto third needle for 2nd instep needle. Slip the last 12sts onto a fourth needle for the 2nd half of the heel. Now, slip the last 12sts onto the 1st needle (24sts are now on the heel needle). With WS facing, attach green and work 22 rows of st st over the heel needles only, remembering to slip the 1st st of every row.
Turn heel
Next row: Slip 1, P15, P2tog, turn
Slip 1, K8, K2tog, turn
Slip 1, P9, P2tog, turn
Continue in this manner, always working 1 more st on each row before decreasing, until all sts are worked (16sts remain).
Break off green and attach red.
Gusset
Knit the first 8 sts of the heel needle, slip these 8sts onto a spare needle and knit the remaining 8 heel sts. Pick up and knit 12sts along the left side of the heel. With the 2nd needle knit across the 26 instep sts. With the 3rd needle pick up and knit 12sts along the other side of the heel and knit the last 8sts onto this needle. You now have stitches
on the needles as follows:
1st heel needle: 20sts
Instep needle: 26sts
2nd heel needle: 20sts
Now, slip the first 2 sts of the instep needle onto the first heel needle and slip the last 2 sts from the instep needle to the 2nd heel needle. You will now have 22sts on each needle.
Work around on all 3 needles in red, shaping as follows:
1st round: Knit to within 3sts of the end of the 1st needle, K2tog, K1. Knit across 2nd needle, then K1, SSK, knit to end of round.
2nd round: As 1st round
3rd round: knit
Repeat these 3 rounds until 11sts remain on each of the two heel needles.
Foot
Continue knitting in st st without shaping until the red section of the foot (from the beginning of the gusset) measures 2½ inches. Break off red and attach green, then work for a further 2 inches straight.
Shape toes
Break off green and attach white and shape toe as follows:
1st round: Knit to end
2nd round: Knit to within 3sts from the end of the 1st needle, K2tog, K1. On 2nd needle. K1, SSK, Knit to within 3sts of the end of the needle, K2tog, k1. On 3rd needle K1, SSK, knit to end. Repeat these 2 rounds until 12sts remain. Bind off, fold, and sew, keeping decreases at the sides of the toe.
Making Up
Weave in all loose ends of yarn on the wrong side of the stocking. Fasten the carried threads down so they won’t snag. Sew back seam with matching colours. Attach a double strand of red at the top of the seam and use it to crochet a loop of 25 chains. Fasten down the end of the loop and darn in the end of the thread. Alternatively you can crochet the two sides together with red up the back seam & make a loop for hanging.
This pattern is in the public domain. Digital version of this pattern and image are Copyright © Sarah Bradberry January 2000. All rights reserved.
I would like to pay some one to make me one of this style stocking. Thanks,Joan
Dear Joan All 67 members of my family has one of these socks….some of them now over 60 years old..my children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. I make 3 to 5 each year with weddings and births. I would be happy to make you a sock or socks. With death, divorce and fire, I have knit 92 so far…..5 this year waiting to be decorated for 2018.
How much do you charge? How fast can you get it done? And can I see a couple pictures of the ones you have done. I have a new son-in-law and just don’t have time to get it done before Christmas. I had some local do one a couple years ago, but was not totally happy with it.
Hi Joanne, Most of the kids (now adults) in our family all have stockings in this pattern. The lady who used to knit these for my Mother-in-Law has since passed away and we have not been able to find someone else to knit them. I would love to get more for new additions to our family. What do you charge and where are you located?
Vicky Mobley
Bloomington, Indiana
Vicky- I make these and ship anywhere in the USA if you are interested. Suestnsn@comcast.net
She Stinson
Joanne, my family all have these stockings for 60 + years. I am learning to make them. I have completed one with lessons. I am on my second one. I am stuck on beginning the heel. Can you help?
Hi, Joanne, Is there any reason not to knit the whole stocking in the round?? I hate seaming.
Thanks for your help!
Fran
My aunt made these for my family when I was growing up. Ive been knitting them for my nieces and nephews but only do about 1-2 per year. Glad I found this pattern mine is falling apart its been used so much.
Could someone tell me what the instruction knit SSK means
How to work ssk
Greetings Knitters,
I finished the name section – have 64 stitches so when the pattern says Work 4 rows in white, decreasing 1 st at each end of last row. Break off white and attach red. Do I decrease on the purl row?
I think this because next decrease is as follows;
Children: Chart b
With red, work 4 rows st st, decreasing 1 st at each end of the last row (60sts)
Thank you for any guidance.
I made mine a long time ago but I’m pretty sure you decrease on the purl row.
I have this Christmas stocking made for me by my grandmother for my second Christmas in 1948, and I put it up each year. I was surprised to see a photo and a link to this page in a book.
Hello, is there anyone here who can knit two personalized stockings for me? Or direct me to someone who can! Please let me know!!
I am confused by the children. I have 60 stitches as I had a short name and the instructions said to use that amount for a short name. But the children pattern does not come out to 60.
Knit row 1 of the chart as follows: K9 red, *K3 green for top of hat, K10 red, rep from * to last 9 sts, K9 red.
I assume I am missing something very simple but I am stumped.
Looking for a knitter to make me one of these to match our families Christmas stockings for a son-in-law and first grandchild?please email at 294neck@comcast.net with pricing and contact info! Thank you & Merry Christmas
Jennifer
Hi! My Mom made these for everyone in our family, including all the cousins, their kids, spouses, ex-spouses. I think she’s made 35 or so over the years. My youngest child has had a name change and I’d like to either get a new one, or send someone the existing and have just the top part redone with the new name. My Mom passed (age 92) two years ago, so hoping that someone here can help me. Obviously not for this Christmas, but before Christmas 2020. If anyone can assist, please contact me. Thanks !
It is possible (and easy) to unravel the stocking from the top, past the name, down to where the red background begins for the children, and knit upwards in white, putting in the new name and red ribbing at the top. You can’t even tell it was changed! I did this with the last stocking my mother in law knit, for the grandchild she never met. Since your mom has passed, it would be lovely to be able to keep the old stocking. Might be hard to exactly match the colors but the one I re-did, you really couldn’t tell. I will do it for you (for free) if you want. Email me and we can work it out.
My husband’s mother made this stocking for him in 1945 when he was born, then did them for his 3 siblings, then their spouses, then all the kids and grandkids. When she died, I learned how to knit so I could take over the tradition. I was so grateful to find this pattern online, thank you for sharing it! The pattern she used was marked on a huge sheet of graph paper, which her husband laboriously re-copied for her every few years as it wore out. She made these for all the family and friends and was pretty much always working on one. When I knit them, it makes me feel closer to her. I have now been doing them for my own children, nieces and nephews, their significant others as they join the family, my grandchildren and now my first great-grandchild – have done 20 in all so far. It’s a lovely tradition.
I have tried to knit the heel section 3 times and failed miserably. Can anyone explain how there can be 66 stitches for the gusset when there were only 50 left at the end of the Christmas tree section and heel part required further decreasing? I cant work it out! Many thanks.
Hi Liz,
Are you picking up the required number of stitches either side of the heel flap?
My grandmother’s friend knitted these for me, my sisters, and cousins. I would love to try knitting one, but am wondering why the whole pattern in not in the round. Has anyone tried ladder-back jacquard for the long floats?
I did 4 stockings in the round, top down on cable needles. Then I started one in the round toe up (also on cable needles) at least until I got past the heel. Then I had a bunch of distractions that had me putting that stocking aside.
How did you do the heel in toe up? I always make them top down but would love to do it the other way so all i have to do is add the name quickly!
I have been trying for four years to find someone to knit one of these stockings for my daughter-in-law so she will have one that matches the rest of our family. If any of you wonderful knitters would agree to do that, please let me know the cost and what information I need to send you. I’m sure it is too late for this Christmas, but just want to find someone who can do it so I will have it for next year. I just found this website today and am so grateful. Thank you!!!!
I’ll make it for you
Deborah – how much do you charge? I assume yarn is extra? Thanks gloria
Hi Deborah. Are you still making these for others? If so, we would definitely be interested in hearing about that. How can we contact you about that? Thanks.
Peter
Yes I make them all year. Dragain09@yahoo.com is my email
My cousin just commissioned me to make these stockings for her 2 daughters-in-law to match the rest of the family. My maternal grandmother started the tradition by making for her 10 grandchildren, then my mother picked up the tradition by making for the spouses and children of the original 10. Since my mother passed away, I’m the only one in the family that knows how to knit socks and stockings.
Please help ! The pattern stated “20 inches (51cm) from top of stocking to heel” Is it the start / begin of the heel or the bottom?. Thank you!
I measure to heel bottom
Thank you Deborah. I am way off. My is already 18.5 inches at the begin heel 🙁
That sounds close enough to me. It doesn’t have to fit anyone’s foot so a little difference won’t hurt.
Do the patterns repeat on the other side, or is it only on one side? TIA! 🙂
Have you ever made from toe up? How would you do the heel if you made it starting at the toe?
I’m carrying on this stocking tradition started by my grandmother in 1948, then my mother, and now me. I’m a new knitter and not confident I can get through the pattern. I’ve worked all the way to the start of the heel (the hard part) and scared to go further. Would any of the experienced knitters be willing to record a movie of them finishing up the stocking and then sharing it here? It would be super helpful for us newbies!
I continued my mother’s tradition of making these stockings. Her 1st was for me in 1953. She made 12. I’m on #22 right now and self taught. I still get stuck at turn heel. There are times it goes so easy and other times, it’s a mess. I get mixed up on “always working 1 more st on each row before decreasing.”
Could the ribbing be done in the round, then switch to flat knitting for all the charts, or could the whole thing be done in the round?
I do it in the round. I use another pattern for the decrease in the foot
Thank you, Deborah – can you use all the charts the same as they are written, or are there adjustments?
I do them the same
Thank you – is there a reason you use a different pattern for the foot decrease?
I like it better. It’s the vintage candide pattern . The pattern is in the round so it’s easier. (Edited to remove email address. Sorry but I’d have to check the copyright status of the pattern before allowing sharing it via this comment – Sarah)
Thank you for all your replies, Deborah. I have started the pattern, but decided to knit it flat – haven’t gotten to the heel yet, but the instructions look very well written. This is my first time attempting a Christmas stocking, and it is time consuming – I can see why knitters charge so much for them, although I am sure buyers don’t realize the time it takes.
I knit it flat until the heel and I do the foot in the round
Thank you – that’s the way the pattern reads, but I hate seaming so much!