I knitted two Christmas stockings in 2001, both are basically large socks. Stockings are fun because you can play around with different yarns and patterns, but unlike socks you only have to do one! The pattern below is for Gary's stocking. My stocking was a little more simple, except that I used the eye of partridge pattern for the heel flap. I made the pattern up as I went along, and this is my best effort at writing the pattern out. Please let me know if you find mistakes! This pattern assumes you have some knowledge of knitting socks already.
Pictures: Gary's stocking | Both stockings (mine is on the left, Gary's is on the right)
Yarn: Lamb's Pride worsted (3 skeins of yarn, one each
of red (R), green (G), and white (W), is more then enough
for 2 stockings).
This might be a good time to use up that extra yarn you've
got stashed away.
Needles: #10 (6mm) double pointed needles (I used Crystal
Palace bamboo)
You can use 4 or 5 dpns, just follow the different directions
for decreasing the foot and toe. I prefer using 5 needles because
I feel I have more flexibility, especially when picking up stitches.
Gauge: I didn't worry about gauge because it's a Christmas
stocking! I got 9 stitches to 2" and 10 rows to 2";
the stocking measures about 5 1/2" across flat.
Knit the following pattern twice:
WWWW
WRWR
WWWW
GWGW
Knit the following pattern until you feel the leg of the stocking is long enough (this is entirely subjective):
WRWR
RRRR
RRRR
RRRR
GRGR
GGGG
GGGG
GGGG
GWGW
WWWW
Put half (24) of the stitches on 2 needles, and knit the heel
flap back and forth.
I did the heel flap in plain stockinette, slipping the first stitch
of each row.
Knit 12 rows in first color pattern before starting to turn the
heel, end after purling a row.
Turn the Heel
The heel is set up with 8+8+8 stitches (24 total)
Knit 16 stitches
Slip 1 (as to purl), knit 1, then pass the slipped stitch over
(SKP)
Turn the stocking around (turn)
**Slip 1, purl 8
Purl 2 stitches together (p2tog)
Turn
Slip 1, knit 8, SKP**
Turn
Repeat the steps between ** until only 8 stitches remain
End after a knit row (you may have to do an extra row without
decreasing, this is ok)
Pick Up Stitches
Pick up 12 stitches along left side of work
Knit across 24 stitches that were originally left on the needle
before starting the heel flap
Pick up 12 stitches along right side of work
Knit 4 stitches across heel, this marks the end of one round
(You can pick up more or fewer stitches if you think it would
look better, just keep the number consistent from the left to
the right side. The number of stitches you pick up determines
how many rounds of decreasing you must do for the foot.)
Decrease for Foot (5 needles)
Position your stitches as follows:
needle 1: 4 heel stitches + 12 picked up stitches
needle 2: 12 stitches
needle 3: 12 stitches
needle 4: 12 picked up stitches + 4 heel stitches
Continue to knit in above pattern.
***Knit on needle 1 until 3 stitches before the end of the needle
Knit 2 stitches together (k2tog), knit 1
Knit across needles 2 and 3
Knit 1 on needle 4, SKP, then finish off needle 4
Knit 2 rounds plain***
Repeat rows between *** until 48 stitches remain
#################
Decrease for Foot (4 needles)
Position your stitches as follows:
needle 1: 4 heel stitches + 12 picked up stitches
needle 2: 24 stitches
needle 3: 12 picked up stitches + 4 heel stitches
Continue to knit in above pattern.
***Knit on needle 1 until 3 stitches before the end of the needle
Knit 2 stitches together (k2tog)
Knit 1
Knit across needle 2
Knit 1 on needle 3
SKP, then finish off needle 3
Knit 2 rounds plain***
Repeat rows between *** until 48 stitches remain
##################
Knit in color pattern until the foot seems a good length (again, this is very subjective)
Decrease for Toe (5 needles)
*Knit on needle 1 until 3 stitches before the end of the needle,
k2tog
Knit 1 on needle 2, SKP, finish off needle 2
Knit on needle 3 until 3 stitches before the end of the needle,
k2tog
Knit 1 on needle 4, SKP, finish off needle 4
Knit 0-3 rounds plain*
Repeat rows between *, decreasing the number of rounds knit plain
as you head for the end
Change to the original color sequence when at least 24 stitches
remain
When there are 8 stitches remaining, use a yarn needle to run
the yarn through the stitches and pull tight.
#####################
Decrease for Toe (4 needles)
*Knit on needle 1 until 3 stitches before the end of the needle,
k2tog
Knit 1 on needle 2, SKP, knit until 3 stitches before the end
of the needle, k2tog
Knit 1 on needle 3, SKP, finish off needle 3
Knit 0-3 rounds plain*
Repeat rows between *, decreasing the number of rounds knit plain
as you head for the end
Change to the original color sequence when at least 24 stitches
remain
When there are 8 stitches remaining, use a yarn needle to run
the yarn through the stitches and pull tight.
#####################
Notes:
I found that the top of the stocking tended to sag and curl a
little (especially when empty.) This is because it is in plain
stockinette, which tends to curl no matter what. A few rounds
of ribbing (6-10 rows) would probably help this.