How to Knit a Christmas Stocking

Christmas is a favorite time of year for old and young alike. One of the greatest parts of Christmas is the decorations that surround you everywhere you go and add that little bit of ambiance to make the season that much more joyous. Some of the most loved decorations are those that you make yourself. This striped Christmas stocking is a great handmade decoration (or gift) that you can alter to fit your own style and taste. A knowledge of how to knit in the round with double needles, as well as how to switch yarn colors, is helpful.

Things You'll Need

• Three balls of yarn with about 50 yards of yarn each, labeled A, B and C (the sample used red (A), green (C), and white (B) )
• Set of four U.S. 8 sized double-pointed knitting needles
• Stitch marker
• Measuring tape
• Yarn needle

Instructions

1. Using color A, cast on 44 stitches loosely.

2. Divide onto needles as follows: 14 stitches on the first two needles, 16 stitches on the third.

3. Join in the round. Be sure the working yarn is coming from the right needle. Place a stitch marker to show the beginning of the round by slipping the marker onto your right needle before you begin knitting. Be careful not to let your stitches twist on the needles before you make the first stitch connecting the ends. You only need to worry about this the first time around since you're connecting the circle together.

4. Work your rounds in a knit 2, purl 2 ribbing using color A until it measures 2 inches from the cast-on edge.

5. Begin the striping sequence of the stocking. Switch to color B and knit a few rounds, then switch to color C and knit a few more rounds. The number of rows you knit before you switch aren't important–you can create the stripes to your own liking. Continue knitting stripes until stocking measures 12.5 inches from cast-on edge.

6. Prepare to make the heel. Slip the last 11 stitches from the last needle and the first 11 stitches from the first needle onto one needle for the heel, keeping the marker in the center of the stitches. Leave the remaining 22 stitches on two needles for the instep and cut the yarn.

7. Create the heel of the stocking. With the wrong side of your work facing you and color A, work the stitches as follows:Row 1: Slip 1 stitch, purl to the end of the row.Row 2: Slip 1 stitch, knit to the end of the row.Repeat these two rows until the heel measures 2 inches.

8. Shape the heel as follows:Row 1: Purl 14, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn the work the other way.Row 2: Slip 1, knit 7, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch, knit 1, turn the work the other way.Row 3: Slip 1, purl 8, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn the work the other way.Row 4: Slip 1, knit 9, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over the knitted stitch, knit 1, turn the work the other way.Row 5: Slip 1, purl 10, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn the work the other way.Row 6: Slip 1, knit 11, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch, knit 1, turn the work the other way.Row 7: Slip 1, purl 12, purl 2 together, turn the work the other way.Row 8: Slip 1, knit 12, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch.Fourteen stitches remain on the heel.

9. With the color of your next stripe and the right side of the work facing, pick up and knit 12 stitches along the side of the left heel. With the second needle knit 22. Using needle three, pick up and knit 12 stitches from the right side of the heel. Knit the first seven stitches from the heel onto the end of the third needle and slip the remaining seven stitches onto the beginning of the first needle. (Sixty stitches now divided with 19 stitches on the first and third needle and 22 on the second.)

10. Continue working your rounds as follows, continuing the striping sequence as you knit:Round 1: Knit first needle to last three stitches, knit two together, knit 1; knit second needle stitches; on third needle knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch, knit the rest of the needle.Round 2: Knit the entire round.Repeat these two rounds until 44 stitches remain. Then continue knitting each round for 4 inches.

11. Shape the toe of the stocking by switching back to color A. Knit round one by knitting the first needle to the last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1; the second needle you knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitches over, knit to the last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1; the third needle you knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit to the end of the needle. Round two is worked by knitting the entire row.Repeat these two rounds until 20 stitches remain. Knit the stitches from the first needle onto the third needle. Graft the 20 stitches together to create the toe.

12. Attach a twisted cord to the top by cutting four strands of color A around 50 inches in length. Hold all four strands at one end and twist until they begin to curl, tie the ends in a knit so they won't unravel, then attach it to the stocking.