How to Crochet Elf Stockings

Special stockings add to the seasonal delight.

Handmade elf stockings make charming seasonal decorations that can become family heirlooms. Personalized with names of family members, they can be used each year as ornaments as well as holders for small gifts. The stitches are simple and can be mastered by new crocheters as well as experienced ones. You should start this project well before the holiday season -- especially if you are making several stockings.

Things You'll Need

• Crochet hook
• Worsted yarn
• Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Draw a large sock 6 inches wide and 18 inches long on a large piece of drawing paper. Draw a 3-inch cuff at the top. Crochet a swatch of single crochet stitches 4 inches by 4 inches. Count the number of stitches per square inch. This is your gauge. Make a graph of the cuff that reflects the gauge, and create a stitch chart for the name you will put on the cuff.

2. Crochet eight 6-inch granny squares. To make a granny square, crochet a 12-stitch chain, slip stitch the last chain and the first together to form a circle. Chain three, then double crochet twice in the circle. Chain three, then double crochet three times through the circle. Repeat the chain three and double crochet three times twice more, then chain three and slip stitch the last stitch into the top of the first chain three. The chains make the corners of the square.

3. Make the second round of the granny square by chaining four, single crochet in the next to last stitch, then chain three, double crochet in the space at the corner, chain three, double crochet again in the space at the corner, then chain three above the cluster in the previous row, and make the double crochet-chain three-double crochet figure in the next corner. Continue around the square, and join the end of the row by slip stitching it together.

4. Make the fourth row in essentially the same way: double crochet three times in the spaces, make a three-stitch chain at the corners, and chain three times above the clusters. Make as many rows as are needed to create a 6-inch square.

5. Crochet the edges of three of the completed squares together to make an 18-inch strip. Crochet an additional square on the side of the bottom square to begin the foot shape. Your work will have an L shape. Crochet the other four squares together in the same way.

6. Crochet a 3-inch by 12-inch strip of single crochet to go around the top of the sock. Use a second color of yarn to crochet a name into this band. Crochet two rows of the background color. Then, crochet in the other color in the stitches that will be the top of the letters. Crochet the back of the band in the background color, then when you come around again, crochet in some more of the name. Continue till the name is complete and two rows of crochet in the background color are underneath it.

7. Crochet across the end of the toe square in single crochet, turn and start the next row in the second stitch, and make the next-to-last stitch the last stitch in the row. Continue in this way for three or four rows, creating a rounded toe for the sock. Match your rows to the hand drawn shape made earlier. Make a matching toe on the other half of the sock. Crochet the outer edges of the sock together.

8. Crochet the ends of the top band together. Place the band on the inside of the sock, with the name facing the inside of the sock and the top of the letters toward the top of the sock. Pin in place, then check to ensure the name will display correctly when the cuff is pulled to the outside of the sock and turned down over it.

9. Put the cuff back inside the sock, and crochet it to the top of the granny squares. Pull it out, and block. Add a loop of crocheted chain at the top of the back seam of the sock to use when hanging up the elf sock.

References

• Redheart: Elf Stockings Crochet Pattern
• Crochet Cabana: How to Make Granny Squares
• Crochet for Dummies; Susan Britatin; 2010.