Classic Christmas Stocking

Imagine how beautiful this free knitting pattern from WEBS would look hanging from your mantel, just above the fireplace.  Knit this classic Christmas stocking for everyone in your family.  They'll absolutely love it!  You could even add their name to the stocking to give it a nice personal touch.  This is a fun and challenging pattern for the intermediate knitter.  Make two or three in different colors for a festive holiday decoration that will really add a touch of Christmas magic to your home.

Materials:

• 1 skein Valley Yarns Bershire Bulky Yarn in Forest (A)
• 1 skein Valley Yarns Bershire Bulky Yarn in Hunter (B)
• 1 skein Valley Yarns Bershire Bulky Yarn in Burgundy (C)
• US size 10 and 10.5 set of 5 double pointed needles

Gauge:  Approx. 3 sts = 1” in St st with larger needles

Abbreviations:

• k2tog: knit 2 together
• ssk: slip 2 sts, one by one, as if to knit, insert tip of LH needle up into both sts and knit them together
• sl: slip stitch as if to purl with yarn in back

Instructions:
Finished Size: Approx. 13” around and 19” long

Cuff

1. With smaller needles and Color C, CO 40 sts, placing 10 sts each on needles #1, #2, #3, and #4. Join in round.
    
2. Knit 12 rounds, change to larger needles, purl 1 round, knit 12 rounds. Fold cuff to the inside along purl ridge.

Leg

1. Rnd 1: With A, knit each stitch together with a stitch from the caston edge to secure the folded cuff.
    
2. Rnd 2: With A, knit.
    
3. Rnds 3 and 4: With B, *sl2, k2; rep from *.
    
4. Rnds 5 and 6: With A, knit.
    
5. Rnds 7 and 8: With B, knit.
    
6. Rnds 9 and 10: With A, *k2, sl2; rep from *.
    
7. Rnds 11 and 12: With B, knit.
    
8. Rnds 13 and 14: With A, knit.
    
9. Rnds 15 and 16: With B, *sl2, k2; rep from *.
    
10. Rnds 17 and 18: With A, knit.
     
11. Repeat Rnds 7-18twice more or for desired length.

Foot

1. Next Rnd: With C, knit across the first and second needle of the round ONLY and cut yarn. This piece of yarn will be removed later to make an afterthought heel.
    
2. Return to the first needle of the round and repeat Rnds 7-18 of stitch pattern twice.

Toe

1. Rnd 1: With C, knit.
    
2. Rnd 2: With C, *ssk, k16, k2tog; rep from *. 36 sts.
    
3. Rnd 3: With C, knit.
    
4. Rnd 4: With C *ssk, k14, k2tog; rep from *. 32 sts.
    
5. Rnd 5: With C, knit.
    
6. Rnd 6: With C, *ssk, k12, k2tog; rep from *. 28 sts.
    
7. Rnd 7: With C, knit.
    
8. Rnd 8: With C, *ssk, k1o, k2tog; rep from *. 24 sts.
    
9. Rnd 9: With C, knit.
    
10. Rnd 10: With C, *ssk, k8, k2tog; rep from *. 20 sts.
     
11. With C, use kitchener stitch to graft the stitches on needles #1 and #2 to the stitches on needles #3 and #4.

Heel

1. Remove the single strand of color C that was knit between the leg and the foot, exposing live sts on both the leg and the foot.
    
2. Arrange the 20 leg sts on needles #1 and #2 and the 20 foot sts on needles #3 and #4.
    
3. Rnd 1: With C, *pick up and knit 1 st from side of heel, k20, pick up and knit 1 st from side of heel; rep from *. 44 sts.
    
4. Rnd 2: With C, *ssk, 18, k2tog; rep from *. 40 sts.
    
5. Rnd 3: With C, knit.
    
6. Rnd 4: With C, *ssk, k16, k2tog; rep from *. 36 sts.
    
7. Rnd 5: With C, knit.
    
8. Rnd 6: With C *ssk, k14, k2tog; rep from *. 32 sts.
    
9. Rnd 7: With C, knit.
    
10. Rnd 8: With C, *ssk, k12, k2tog; rep from *. 28 sts.
     
11. Rnd 9: With C, knit.
     
12. Rnd 10: With C, *ssk, k1o, k2tog; rep from *. 24 sts.
     
13. With C, use kitchener stitch to graft the stitches on needles #1 and #2 to the stitches on needles #3 and #4.
     
14. Sew in all loose ends and block.