Ye Olde Tyme Christmas Stockings

When I was younger, my favorite part of Christmas was opening the stocking presents.  My grandmother had made wonderful knit stockings with all of our initials on them, that could fit anything and everything that could be put into a stocking!  They stretched and bulged, and lost their shape so many presents were put into them, but they made for a real Christmas feeling!  Over the years, families moved, and the stockings were eventually lost in the folly, but this year, I decided to take on the project to re-make this christmas stockings for this winter.

I had 14 stockings to knit, and the best thing about this pattern is how fast it knits up!  If you're a quick knitter, you can finish one in about 2 days.  So, get your needles out, you've got about a month left to get them done!

Yarn:

Worsted weight

Needles:

 Size 7 (US) 16” round needles

4 size 7 (US) double pointed needles

Abbreviations:

C/O  = Cast on

B/O = Bind off

S1 = Slip one st (always as if to pearl)

K= Knit

P= Purl

K2tog = Knit 2 together

P2tog = Purl 2 together

MC = Main color

AC = Accent color

PM = Place marker

The stockings:

1. C/O 64 st on a 16” in AC on a 16” round needle PM and then work in k2p2 ribbing for 30 rows.  This makes the cuff of the stocking.
2. Switch to MC.  Fold the cuff in half and knit the two ends together, creating a hem.
3. Knit in MC for 10 rows.
4. Switch to AC for the pattern (which in my case was 6 rows).
5. Switch to MC and knit 9 rows.
6. Switch to AC and do the inverse of the pattern knit above.
7. Switch to MC and knit for 40 rows. 
8. Knit across round needle until 16 st remain. 
9. Switch to AC ( LEAVE THE MC ATTATCHED, DO NOT CUT) and work in Sl1 k1 across 32 st.  This is what will become the heel. 
10. Turn the work.
11. Sl1 st and purl the rest of the row.
12. Turn work.
13. Repeat steps 9-12 until you have knit 19 rows (ends on a knit row).
14. Turn work and purl across 18 st. p2tog, p1 (this is where the heel gets turned)
15. Turn work, slip 1^st st, k5, k2tog, k1
16. Turn work, slip 1^st st, p6, p2tog, p1
17. Turn work, slip 1^st st, k7, k2tog, k1
18. Keep working in this manner, being careful to always slip the first st until 18 st remain on the heel. 
19. Now that the heel has been turned cut the AC string and slip the heel st to the left hand needle.
20. PM and pick up the MC and pick up 9 st along the heel flap. 
21. Knit across the heel of the stocking and pick up another 9 st on the other side of the heel flap.  PM and knit around to starting marker.  (you should now have 68 st, 36 of them in between the heel markers)
22. After starting marker, k until 3 st remain before marker, k2tog, k1. 
23. Knit across the top of the foot.
24. After second marker, k1, k2tog continue to the starting marker.
25. Second round: k all the way across without decreases. 
26. Repeat steps 22-25 until there are once again 64 total st (this should take about 3 decrease rows).
27. Knit for 25 rows. 
28. Switch to AC, knit until 3 st remain before marker  k2tog, k1 (like for decrease), move marker, k1, k2tog knit until 3 st remain, k2tog, k1, move marker, k1, k2tog, knit until the end of the row.
29. Knit all the way around.
30. Repeat steps 28 + 29 8 times. 
31. Now repeat step 28 until 8 st remain on both sides of the stocking (heel and top of the foot).
32. Cut string, leaving a 6” tail and cast off using the Kitchner st.
33. Sew in loose ends, and embroider in the initials or names, and you’re done!