Gifted Stocking

Gifts are the theme of this whimsical stocking. Appliqués of beribboned boxes provide small pockets for tucking in tiny extras on the outside, while the roomy stocking can be stuffed with more treats. The pockets and zigzag cuff are all knit separately, so the plain-knit stocking knits up quickly.

Finished Measurements

7¼" wide x 18¹⁄₂" long

Yarn

Classic Elite Minnow Merino, 100% superwash Merino, worsted weight, 1.75 oz (50 g)/77 yd (70 m) skeins

MC: Rogue (4758), 2 skeins
CC: Elderberry (4727), 1 skein
Gifts: Here’s an opportunity to use your stash! For the stocking shown, we used Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride (85% wool/15% mohair) in white and Amethyst (M-62), and the Classic Elite Minnow Merino (CC in the pattern) in Elderberry held together with a strand of Anchor Artiste Metallic in Gold (300).

Needles

One US 8 (5 mm) circular needle, 16" long, or size you need to obtain correct gauge
One set of US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles or size you need to obtain correct gauge

Gauge

16 stitches = 4" on US 8 (5 mm) needles in stockinette stitch

Other Supplies

Stitch markers (one in a unique color), H/8 (5 mm) crochet hook, yarn needle

Abbreviations

CC: contrasting color

ch: chain (crochet)

K: knit

K2tog: knit 2 stitches together

M1: make 1 stitch

MC: main color

P: purl

P2tog: purl 2 stitches together

ssk: slip, slip, knit the 2 slipped stitches together

Knitting the Cuff

Setup: Using CC and double-pointed needles, cast on 9 stitches.

Row 1: K7, M1, K2.

You now have 10 stitches. (See pages 15 and 16 for how to M1.)

Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10: Knit to the end of each row.

Row 3: K8, M1, K2.

You now have 11 stitches.

Row 5: K9, M1, K2.

You now have 12 stitches.

Row 7: K10, M1, K2.

You now have 13 stitches.

Row 9: K11, M1, K2.

You now have 14 stitches.

Row 11: K12, M1, K2.

You now have 15 stitches.

Rows 12–15: Knit to the end of each row.

Row 16: Bind off 6 stitches. Knit to the end of the row.

You now have 9 stitches.

Next Rows: Repeat rows 1–16 until the cuff measures 14", ending with row 16.

Bind off all stitches, and sew the cast-on and bound-off edges together to form a ring. You will sew this cuff onto the stocking after it is completed.

Knitting the Leg

Setup: Using MC and the circular needle, cast on 58 stitches. Place a stitch marker on the needle and join into a round, taking care not to twist the stitches. (See Getting Around, for information about knitting in the round.)

Knit every round (stockinette stitch) until the leg measures 10". Cut MC.

Making the Heel Flap

Setup: Using CC and one double-pointed needle, knit across the first 29 stitches. Leave the remaining stitches on the circular needle.

Note: You will be working back and forth in rows on two double-pointed needles in this section.

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl to the end of the row. Turn.

Row 2 (right side): Knit to the end of the row. Turn.

Next Rows: Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the heel flap measures 2¹⁄₂", ending with a purl (wrong-side) row.

Turning the Heel

Row 1 (right side): K19, ssk, K1. Turn. (7 stitches remain unworked.)

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1, P10, P2tog, P1. Turn. (7 stitches remain unworked.)

Row 3: Slip 1, K11, ssk, K1. Turn.

Row 4: Slip 1, P12, P2tog, P1. Turn.

Row 5: Slip 1, K13, ssk, K1. Turn.

Row 6: Slip 1, P14, P2tog, P1. Turn.

Row 7: Slip 1, K15, ssk, K1. Turn.

Row 8: Slip 1, P16, P2tog, P1. Turn.

Row 9: Slip 1, K17, ssk. Turn.

Row 10: P18, P2tog. Turn. All the stitches have been worked, and you now have 19 stitches remaining. Cut CC.

Knitting the Gusset and Foot

Note: For information about how to pick up along the heel, see Picking Up Stitches.

Setup:

Using MC and the circular needle, knit the 19 stitches just worked (heel flap), pick up and knit 11 stitches along the left-hand side of the heel flap, place marker.
Knit the 29 stitches that you left on the circular needle, place a second stitch marker.
Pick up and knit 11 stitches along the right-hand side of the heel flap.
K9, place a third stitch marker in a unique color to indicate the beginning of the round (at the center bottom of the foot). You now have 70 stitches.

Round 1: Knit to 3 stitches before the first stitch marker, K2tog, K1, slip the stitch marker, knit to the next stitch marker, slip the stitch marker, K1, ssk, knit to the end of the round.

You now have 68 stitches.

Round 2: Knit to the end of the round.

Rounds 3–12: Repeat rounds 1 and 2. After round 12, you now have 58 stitches.

Next Rounds: Knit even in stockinette stitch until the foot measures 6" from the bottom of the heel flap (where you began working in rounds again). Cut MC.

Shaping the Toe

Setup: Using CC, knit stitches from the circular needle onto double-pointed needles, as follows:

Needle 1: K15.
Needle 2: K29.
Needle 3: K14.

Round 1:

Needle 1: Knit to the last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. You now have 14 stitches on this needle.
Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to the last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. You now have 27 stitches on this needle.
Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to the end of the round. You now have 13 stitches on this needle.

Rounds 2–11: Repeat round 1.

You now have 14 stitches.

Knit the 4 stitches from Needle 3 onto Needle 1. Graft the front and back together using Kitchener stitch. (See Kitchener Stitch.)

Knitting the Presents

Setup: Using the white yarn and double-pointed needles, cast on 7 stitches. Work in stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) back and forth in rows, turning at the end of each row, until the piece measures 3". Bind off all stitches.

With the Elderberry and Gold metallic yarns held together and two double-pointed needles, cast on 16 stitches. Work back and forth in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 2". Bind off all stitches.

With the Amethyst yarn and two double-pointed needles, cast on 12 stitches. Work back and forth in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 2". Bind off all stitches.

Finishing

Hiding your stitches in the yarn, sew the presents to one side of stocking leg as shown in the photo on page 94, placing the white pocket first, then the Elderberry, and finally the Amethyst. Leave the tops open to create pockets.

The ties: For the white package, cast on 2 stitches and work I-cord for 3" (see We’ve Got Hang-Ups for instructions). Do not fasten off. Use the crochet hook to pull one of the stitches through the other, then ch 10, * slip stitch into the first chain stitch, ch 10; repeat from * three more times; slip stitch into the first chain stitch and fasten off. You have formed four “bow” loops. Repeat for the other two packages, making the tie for the Amethyst package 2" long, and making two ties for the mixed-yarn package, one measuring the width and the other measuring the length of the package; work the bow separately for this package. Tack all the bows and ties to the packages, taking care not to sew the pockets closed.

With the yarn needle, use an overhand stitch to sew the straight edge of the cuff to the top of the stocking, with the right side of the cuff facing the wrong side of the stocking. Turn the cuff to the right side of the stocking and tack it in place. Weave in all the loose ends.

The hanger: Using CC and a double-pointed needle, pick up 3 stitches at the top of the cuff at the back of the stocking. Work a 5" I-cord. Cut the yarn and pull it through all the stitches. Use the end to sew the hanger to the stocking where the I-cord begins. (See page 77.)