Knit Stockings for Christmas
If you like to plan your knitting projects well in advance, now is the perfect time to research patterns so you can knit stockings for Christmas! Here’s a sizeable collection of patterns for you to choose between. What’s great about stockings as a knitting project? They travel easily so you don’t need a big project bag. You can use your stash yarn as featured colours. You can adapt each Christmas stocking to fit the personality and interests of the receiver. Stockings can start small for little ones (or relatives you don’t like). Then, you can knit larger sizes as needs require. Let’s take a look at some of the best knitted stocking patterns. Some are free, some are paid. Some are easy and others have cables, tassels, intarsia or beautiful stranded colorwork for those who prefer a challenge.
In researching as many stockings as I could bare (this post has taken many hours – it’s just too much fun), I have aimed for patterns that you can buy directly off the page link I am giving you. Also, I am avoiding magazines and books but have mentioned some books available by the same designers in case you really enjoy their design work.
Easy Knit Stockings for Beginners
Jumbo Christmas Stocking in a Jiffy by Designer Jennifer Jackson – This is a two colour basic stocking knit in the round with a loop for hanging over the fireplace. It appears to be made like a real sock so might make a good introduction to the knitting sock structure if you haven’t make one before. For fun, you can add contrast rib, heel and toe or work in stripes (Where’s Wally?) Try some bold colours in different combinations, one for each member of the family. The finished size measurements aren’t shown on the sales page but they do look bigger than a man’s foot. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jumbo-christmas-stocking-in-a-jiffy—solid
Quick Knit Christmas Stocking by Designer Gwen Hagley. Knit in Super Bulky weight yarn, this is a basic sock in two colours. Generally, if you buy 2 skeins you’ll be able to make 2 stockings in opposing colours. I love how she’s added the roll top instead of a rib cuff. Use neutral shades or bold colours to suit your decor. The finishes sizes are not listed. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quick-knit-christmas-stocking-2
Holiday Stockings by Designer Michele Bernstein. These giant decorative stockings are 20cm x 48cm (8” x 19”). There’s plenty of room for lots of presents. Made in bulky weight wool, they are knit in the round top-down or cuff-down with a stubby heel and star closing toe. So, if you buy 3 skeins of different colours, you will have enough to knit 2 stockings. Available on the Knit Picks site. There are recommended yarns if you want to make it a kit. https://www.knitpicks.com/holiday-stockings/p/52323D
Felted Stockings
Santa’s Sock – Garnstudio released this design a while back. It’s super easy, knitted back and forth instead of in the round. To begin with, the front seam and sole are sewn up and a strap is added before the stocking is felted. Best thing to do with felting is a little bit at a time until it shrinks to the size you want. The yarn is Super Bulky weight and it is topped with a furry yarn. Unfortunately, the yarn in the pattern is now discontinued but you might be ok to use Boucle or another fuzzy wool alternative. Importantly, don’t use synthetic fibre – only natural – or the felting result may not give you a consistent result. https://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=3905&cid=17
Pom Poms, Bobbles and Tassels
Merry Stockings by Berroco. Jumbo weight yarn making easy stockings in the round with a garter top, lovely fat stripes, pom poms and a loop to hook on the mantlepiece. https://berroco.com/patterns/merry-stockings/
Christmas Vacation Stocking by Designer Emily Reynolds. These are just gorgeous. 3D Christmas lights winding up the red brick chimney. There’s room for the name at the top. Knitting pattern contains charts for the alphabet so you can customise them for each person. Moreover, you could have a lot of fun crafting the Christmas lights with neon or metallic yarn. Add beads and buttons, bugs on the chimney. The sky’s the limit. Made with Aran yarn. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-vacation-stocking
Stocking up for Christmas by Designer Abigail Originals. This is a whole pack of fun including basic stockings featuring decorative cuffs, charts for the name letters and embroidered (duplicate stitch) detail. As a bonus, there are several designs for little knitted Christmas soft toys including trees, Santa Claus and a Rudolf with a Christmas Pudding. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stocking-up-for-christmas-2
Stockings with Knitted Name
A Collection of three Christmas Stockings by Designer Dorene Delaney Giordarno. After looking at many many stocking patterns, I would say this pattern is, hands down, the best typeface for stranded colorwork. The letters are bold with clean edges. Each stocking is worked in sport weight yarn, toe-up like a regular sock in the round. They appear to be the same size but each of the three have very different stitch pattern motifs on the shaft and would look great in sophisticated colours.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-collection-of-three-christmas-stockings
Religious Stockings
Nativity #2: Shepherd Christmas Stocking by Designer Emily Reynolds. Emily has made a specialty of knitting Christmas Stocking Patterns. If you look at her Ravelry (at the time of writing, her Etsy page is down), you will see she has added a number of nature motifs. Not only interests such as ballet, the Eiffel Tower, dogs and cats, but also boats, coffee, dolphins and pirates. On the second Ravelry page, she has a number of Christian themed stockings. Each design has room for the name at the top. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nativity-2-shepherd-christmas-stocking
Christmas Stockings Knit with Cables
Rotterdam Stocking by Designer Anne Hanson. Basically, this is a good size jumbo sock, this pattern is worked in Worsted or Aran weight yarns. The design features knitted cables, vertical waves, directional stripes, also thick textures as you would find on an Aran sweater. Choose light colours to show off the pattern at it’s best. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rotterdam-stocking
Stocking by Lion Brand. This is an easy to make stocking with not too much shaping. It’s knit back and forth, bottom up, then seamed with the cuff finished in the round. As an illustration, the sock features a large side cable bordered with sleigh tracks. Maybe the cable are hoof prints? Work in a light coloured yarn. (I am a little concerned Lion Brand have titled this a crochet kit. It very much looks like knitting to me.) https://www.lionbrand.com/products/crochet-kit-sleigh-tracks-stocking
Intarsia and Colorwork Knitted Stockings
Mr and Mrs Santa by Mary Maxim – As can be seen, you get both patterns for the price of one – very economical. There’s also room to put the name of the receiver on the top stripe. Great for little kids. https://www.marymaxim.com/products/mr-and-mrs-santa-stockings-pattern
Holly Christmas Stocking by Annie’s Woolens. Lovely colorwork stranded knitting pattern of non-religious winter motifs available on Ravelry. It’s a beautifully balanced design. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holly-christmas-stocking
Dinotopia Stocking
by Designer Mary P. Hunt. Undoubtedly, this is perfect for Dinosaur fans, this Christmas stocking can be knitted in 3 sizes in either Fingering Weight or DK weight yarn. Worked in the round as a regular sock, it has a ruffle cuff with i-cord tie, short row heel and grafted toe. Great for Intermediate knitters. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dinotopia-stocking
Winter Whimsy by Designer bunnymuff (Mona Zillah). Ideal for those familiar with detailed chart work and stranded colorwork, this pattern has a choice of 2 motifs, features blue jays, sheep, rabbits, owls, Christmas trees, mountains, squirrels and a snowman. Very detailed! It would make an impressive heirloom piece. The structure is worked top down in the round for the shaft, then worked flat using short rows to turn the corner and finish off the toe. It’s not for wearing, just decorative. The shape allows for maximum space for presents! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/winter-whimsy-stocking
Christmas Stocking Candle
by Designer Cindy Steinberg. It looks like Cindy is another designer who has found her niche designing Christmas stockings. Her collection is based on non-religious motifs. Check out her designer page and you will find ducks, fish, skiers, teddy bears and elves. This candle one is 14cm x 61cm (5.5” x 24”), worked in the round using stranded colorwork in worsted weight wool. They are bold, strong designs and you can take your pick to match the interests of the receiver. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/0-christmas-stocking-candle
Woodland Stockings: This group of 4 stockings by Designer Allison Lutes is so very beautiful and sophisticated. Snowflakes surround a rabbit, fawn (baby deer), bird and squirrel. Choose muted deep colours with a cream contrast rather than bold colours with white to keep the look sophisticated. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woodland-stockings
Knitting Stockings for Pets – Dogs and Cats
We cannot forget our furry family members.
Vintage Cat Stocking Pattern from Mary Maxim. Each stocking features a cartoon style knitted intarsia picture of a cute cat playing with a ball. There’s room for a name on the top stripe. I assume this is knitted flat and sewn up afterwards. http://www.marymaxim.com/cat-stocking-pattern.html
There is also a Puppy Christmas Stocking too. http://www.marymaxim.com/dog-stocking-pattern.html
Textured Paw Stocking kp3418 by Designer Carol Hebling. Carol has gone with maximum creativity here creating a Christmas stocking in the shape of a paw. The pattern uses just one colour in Worsted weight yarn featuring cables, rib, tassel ties and textured patches. As a cat lover, I think it is really gorgeous. I would be very tempted to use intarsia to make the paw pads a soft pink and use fluffy wool for the MC. Fluff is not ideal for cables but would make a big furry leg which would look hilarious on the mantelpiece. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/textured-paw-stocking-kp3418
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