The Jolly Holiday Stocking is the perfect way to add a handmade touch to your Christmas celebrations. Designed with thoughtful details and easy-to-master techniques, this stocking features slip stitch colorwork on the foot and leg for a beautifully textured design. It’s knit toe-up and can be customized with your favorite colors to match your holiday decor.
This stocking works up quickly, thanks to the bulky gauge created by holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together. Whether you’re making one for each family member or creating a single show-stopping centerpiece for your mantle, the Jolly Holiday Stocking is sure to bring joy to your home this season.
Skills
Knit
Knitting in the Round
Purl
Slip
Sizing
One Size
Finished Measurements
6×15.5” / 15x39cm
Gauge
16 stitches and 19 rows over 4”/10cm in garter stitch, blocked
Note: Matching gauge is optional as this stocking is a home accessory that doesn’t need to fit anyone. However, a different gauge does mean different yardage requirements and different drape. More stitches per inch will result in a stocking that holds its shape, fewer stitches per inch will result in a stocking that drapes loosely.
Materials
Yarn
Malabrigo Merino Worsted held double:
- Main Color: 1 skein in Forest, 90g, 185 yards
- Contrast Color: 1 skein in Watergreen, 45g, 90 yards
Other samples shown in:
- Forest and Ivy
- Pagoda and Cascade 128 in Really Red (held single)
- Pagoda and Petal
Needles
US 11 (8mm) or size needed to obtain gauge. 40” circular needles or your preferred needle configuration for working a 4-12” circumference in the round.
Notions
Removable stitch marker
Scissors
Tapestry needle
Abbreviations
k knit
m make
p purl
sl slip
mds make double stitch
ds double stitch
p2tog purl 2 together
Written Instructions
Hold yarn double throughout to create a bulky weight.
Toe
Using the main color, cast on 24 stitches using the Turkish Cast On method (12 stitches on each needle).
Round 1: k around
Mark beginning of round with a removable stitch marker.
Round 2: k1, m1, k to the last stitch on the first needle, m1, k2, m1, k to the last stitch on the back needle, m1, k1
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 four more times until there are 44 stitches (22 stitches on each needle).
Round 11: Knit to last stitch, m1, k1.
Foot
Round 1 (Contrast Color): (sl1, k1) around
Round 2 (Main Color): k around
Round 3 (Contrast Color): (k1, sl1) around
Round 4 (Main Color): k around
Repeat rounds 1-4 until the foot measures 6.5” from cast on edge, ending with round 4.
Heel
Using the contrast color, the heel is worked flat on the first half of the stitches using German short rows.
Row 1: k 22, turn
Row 2: mds, p remaining heel stitches, turn
Row 3: mds, k to 3 stitches before ds, turn
Row 4: mds, p to 3 stitches before ds, turn
Repeat rows 3 and 4 one more time.
Row 7: mds, k across remaining heel stitches, knitting double stitches as you come to them
Note: The double stitches on rows 8 and 9 will seem like quadruple stitches, this is correct, treat them as a regular double stitch.
Row 8: mds, p across remaining heel stitches, purling double stitches as you come to them
Row 9: mds, k13, turn
Row 10: mds, p5, turn
Row 11: mds, k to double stitch, knit double stitch, k3, turn
Row 12: mds, p to double stitch, purl double stitch, p3, turn
Repeat rows 11 and 12 one more time.
Row 15: mds, k across remaining heel stitches, knitting double stitches as you come to them, do not turn, sl1, k1, across remaining stitches of the round
Leg
Round 1 (Main Color): k around, knitting double stitches as you come to them
Round 2 (Contrast Color): continue slip stitch pattern as established in the foot section around
Round 3 (Main Color): k around
Round 4 (Contrast Color): continue slip stitch pattern as established around
Round 5 (Main Color): k around
Repeat rounds 2-5 until the leg measures 7” from top of heel, ending with round 3 or 5. Break contrast color.
Cuff
Round 1: (k1, p1) to last 2 stitches, p2tog
Round 2: (k1, p1) around
Repeat round 2 until cuff measures 2.5”.
Bind Off using the Tubular Bind Off or another bind off of your choice.
Finishing
Weave in the remaining ends and block.
Happy knitting!
I’d love to see your finished project! Use #jollyholidaystocking to share your creation on social media, and tag me @knitritionist so I can celebrate your work.
Pattern Information
Designer: Katy Hoyng | knitrition.com | Email: katy@knitrition.com
