Christmas stocking

Grand Finale: Christmas Stocking, 4

Overall, I am pleased with the final iteration of my SIL’s Christmas stocking. A lot of work in some ways, just because I didn’t think about what I was doing. I ripped it a few times and had to learn how to knit an “after thought” heel. Watching videos for that really helped a lot.

The pattern this stocking is based upon is from Yarnspirations Festive Fair Isle Stocking. I won’t say it is a difficult pattern if you are used to stranded knitting, but because on a number of occasions there are more than 5 stitches between different colored stitches, the floats can get long and the tension can get messy. As well, if you reach into the stocking with rings with things that stick out, you can catch a float, before, after, or during its making. I will putting a note about this into the package when I send it off to Wisconsin in the next few days.

If you recall in my last post about the stocking, I had knit the foot pattern twice. It was way too long. I cut it off, and then moved into picking up the green stitches to make the toe itself, which is green. I used a circular toe decrease just because I was lazy and using circular needles, first 16 inch, and then 11 inch. You can see the decreases in the image below. I have not yet pulled in the open stitches to cinch the toe closed.

After this, it was time to clean up the mess inside the stocking itself. With all the color changes and dropped stitches here and there, I did not tie off the floats like I usually do. See how messy?

It looks pretty bad, but in reality, it was pretty easy to clean up. I tugged together the loose ends, knotting them (which I would not do if this were a sock to be worn on my foot!) for security. All the long ends were trimmed, and I worked from the top of the sock to the bottom. In the end, it worked out pretty well.

The corners of the after thought heel also needed to be cleaned up and pulled in so there were not any holes. The directions for the stocking do not give you notes that beginners (and non-attentive knitters like me) may need. Having never done this sort of heel, I was confused, but some good YouTube videos proved helpful.

If you are interested, I used size 8 US knitting needles for this project and changed some of the pattern colors and so on. The top of the stocking used a “fur” yarn which is not longer manufactured, so I made an i-cord. The i-cord was made so I could have a loop for hanging the stocking as well as picking up the 60 stitches needed for the pattern itself. The yarn is an acrylic yarn, and may colors were white, warm light grey, green and red. If I were to do this over, I would probably drop down to a 7 US needle. Because I could, I used a 16 inch circular needle, and dropped to an 11 inch needle for the toe.

I did not enjoy the after thought heel. It had me using 4 needles, which I do not like at all. The needles were aluminum and kept sliding out the of the stitches. When I knit socks, I use 3 needles, and ones made of wood or bamboo. I plan to try this heel again, but use a different methodology.

After cleaning up the inside of the sock, securing the heel and toe, and making sure I didn’t have any dropped stitches, it was time to iron the stocking to make it presentable. I sprayed it with water and then pressed it – pushing the iron down on it – between to rather heavy dish towels placed on the ironing board. I had my iron set to linen so the heat could penetrate the towels and set the stitches and shape of the stocking. This was done to both sides. I let it set overnight, to cool and give it some memory.

Years ago, when I was a kid, my mother made Christmas stockings for the four of us. I hung mine in front of the fire and it melted. I will send my SIL a note to that effect! This is also why I misted the stocking and pressed it between heavy towels – I have no desire to peel melted acrylic yarn from my very good iron.

Would I recommend doing this stocking? Yes, I would, but with caveats: know how to do stranded knitting, learn about after thought heels if they are new territory, and either find a fur yarn or make a ribbing or i-cord beginning. And then, enjoy the result.

Christmas Stocking, 3

This stocking for my sister-in-law has been quite the adventure. Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes! I will say, I am responsible for the majority . . . I had to restart the darned thing, and then, I made the foot too long.

If you look, you can see the end of the stocking I cut off – I wasn’t in the mood to ravel all that, so I took my scissors and cut off the toe. I had repeated the pattern twice – misread the directions. Then I picked up, several rows above, the right leg of the V of the stitches I wanted. And I picked up the exact number, much to my relief, and proceeded to finish up the stocking. As you can see below, the amputated foot above the completed foot.

I would have preferred the red strip with diamond in the center – more Christmassy in color – but it was time to bring this to an end. I need to gather up the toe to close it up, and then work on the weaving in of loose ends and looking for dropped stitches. I found one, which I pinned for now, but will secure it when I work on the inside of the stocking. And that is for another day. Like tomorrow.

Happy New Year 2026!

Christmas Stocking, 2

Ten days ago I began a requested Christmas stocking for my SIL. Started out fine – as you can see from the previous post. Disaster hit soon after – yarns tangled, knots, and total frustration as dropped stitches occurred and, and, and…I took it off the needles to ravel and begin again. More knots, more disaster, and my angry solution was a pair of scissors and the trash.

Total stop.

A break.

Begin again.

I returned to the pattern once again, cast on my stitches and began. This was couple of days ago. Things are proceeding in a more orderly and much more happy manner. I’ve continued to change things around as far as color and patterns to a degree, but am happy with the results. Sitting in the afternoon sun, coffee and audiobook for breaks, make for a pleasant and non-stressful knitting time.

Onward!

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, my mother knit each of the kids in the family a Christmas stocking to hang above the fireplace, waiting for it to be filled by Santa on Christmas Eve. It worked, too!

We each had our own in a different color – mine was purple, my brothers and sister had red, green, and white. Mom embroidered our names on them, and then added fun little items like jingle bells, angels and snowmen she made by knitting them, and crocheted snow flakes. For years, even into adulthood, we continued hanging these stockings. Then, brilliant me, hung mine too low over a hot fireplace. Being of acrylic yarn, it melted a bit!

And, as time goes by, we are dispersed and gone from the world. We don’t see each other as often as we could as we are thousands of miles apart – or at least hundreds – in California, Wisconsin, and Colorado. My youngest brother’s wife put in a special request this year – she would like her own hand-knitted and personalized stocking. Challenge is now being met.

I looked through a lot of free holiday stocking patterns – some meh, others too much. Stranded color work is my favorite “fancy” knitting (forget lace and cables), and the one I have settled on is this pattern from Yarnspirations: the Festive Fair Isle Stocking. I am doing my own variant of it – already found a pattern mistake, but who cares?! As long as it looks good, and is enjoyed by the recipient and the maker, nothing is wrong.

The pattern itself is red, grey, and white, but my brother’s stocking is red, so I have to use green in his wife’s stocking to complement it. Yesterday afternoon, lounging in the afternoon sun on the patio, I began. If you follow the link to the pattern itself, you will see that “fur” yarn is at the top. I couldn’t find any so I made an I-cord, picked up the requisite 60 stitches, and made sure I had enough I-cord for a generous loop.

And so, the holiday season has officially begun for Christmas. Thanksgiving is past – and ours was nice – and this little project is a pleasant way to listen to audiobooks, relax, and watch the stocking grow.