Every crafter needs to knit a Christmas stocking to hang over the fireplace for Father Christmas to fill with gifts on the big night! We have two special flat knit Christmas stocking patterns for you here, and, not only are both designs just lovely vintage Christmas stocking knitting patterns, they are also free knitted Christmas stocking patterns to download and save for whenever you want them! Choose between an adorable Fair Isle Christmas stocking pattern by Ann Franklin, which was first published in Simply Knitting issue 191, and a vintage Christmas stocking knitting pattern by Mary Henderson which featured in a supplement booklet that came with Simply Knitting issue 100. Both designs are flat knit Christmas stocking patterns, and generously sized to allow room for plenty of stocking fillers. Why not make one for every member of the family in different colours?
Vintage Christmas stocking knitting pattern
Fresh for 2021, we are delighted to share this vintage Christmas stocking pattern from Mary Henderson. Mary’s classic flat knit Christmas stocking pattern stocking has a reassuringly familiar Christmassy pattern that will complement a traditional festive theme, year after year. Using acrylic yarn makes it great value too, so it won’t break the bank, and makes the yarn is robust enough to be stuffed to the brim with pressies!
Vintage knitted Christmas stocking materials
- Sirdar, Click Chunky (70% acrylic, 30% wool, 50g/75m ball) One ball of each: Red (163), Cream (169), Plume (177)
- A set of 6mm DPNs
- A 2.5mm crochet hook
- Stitch markers
Vintage knitted Christmas stocking tension
15 sts and 15 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 6mm needles
Vintage knitted Christmas stocking chart
Abbreviations
For a full list, see our knitting abbreviations article
Flat knit Christmas stocking pattern
Cast on 48 sts using 6mm DPNs and Red. Join to knit in the round, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker (SM) for start of round. Divide sts on to 4 needles; 12 sts on each needle.
Round 1 *K1, P1*, repeat across round.
Round 2 Knit.
Rep rounds 1 and 2 once more.
Begin working from Chart, joining and breaking off colours as required. Work Rounds 1 – 36.
Heel Flap (worked over 13 sts in rows )
Keeping sts 1 – 5 of chart correct in centre of heel flap, knit 7 and turn.
Row 1 S1, P1.
Row 2 S1, K12.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 five more times for a total of 12 rows. Cut Cream yarn. Work heel sts in red.
Turn Heel
Row 1 S1, K6, ssk, K1, turn.
Row 2 S1, P2, p2tog, P1, turn.
Row 3 S1, K3, ssk, K1 turn.
Row 4 S1, P4, p2tog, P1, turn.
Row 5 S1, K5, ssk.
Row 6 S1, P7.
With needle 1: Knit across 8 sts of heel flap. Pick up and knit 6 sts along heel flap. Knit across rem 38 sts over 2 needles. With 4th needle pick up and knit 6 sts along other side of heel flap. (Total stitch count 58.)
Gusset
Decrease round Needle 1: knit to 3 sts before end of needle, ssk, K1. Needles 2 and 3:Knit. Needle 4: K1, k2tog, knit to end of needle.
Work decrease round until stitch count is back to 48 sts. Divide sts evenly across 4 needles (12 sts on each needle).
Work rounds 1 – 17 of chart in Green and Cream.
Toe decrease (worked in Green)
Decrease round Needle 1: K1, ssk, knit to end of needle. Needle 2: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to end of needle. Needle 4: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog.
Rep until 16 sts rem (4 sts on each needle).
Knit across needles 1 and 2, then 3 and 4 so that sts are evenly arranged on 2 needles. Graft together using Kitchener stitch. (Alternatively, turn stocking inside out and cast off using three-needle cast off.)
Loop for hanging stocking: With crochet hook and Red, chain 25 sts. Fasten off and sew onto stocking.
Sew in ends and block
Download the vintage Christmas stocking pattern PDF
We know some of our Gathered makers prefer to have free knitted Christmas stocking patterns to download and store on their computers for when they need them, so we have created a PDF of the vintage Christmas stocking knitting pattern so you can do this. The vintage Christmas stocking knitting pattern PDF is two A4 pages with everything you need to stitch the design. As the vintage Christmas stocking pattern originally appeared in a square supplement, it does not fully fill the pages on the A4 PDF, but we've still made the vintage Christmas stocking pattern PDF download into A4 pages to make it easier to print at home. You'll just see some extra white space alongside the vintage Christmas stocking knitting pattern design layout.
Click to download the vintage Christmas stocking knitting pattern PDF
Fair Isle Christmas stocking pattern
This Fair Isle Christmas stocking pattern uses stranded colourwork where two colours are used across the whole row. The unused colour is carried across any stitches worked in the other colour at the back of the work. Generally, where the yarn is stranded across more than 5 sts (or 2.5cm), the strands need to be caught up in the work to avoid over-long stranding at the back of the work. When working in two colours it is important that how you cross the colours is consistent throughout the pattern, eg cross Yarn A over Yarn B throughout. Check out our guide on how to catch Fair Isle floats to see how it's done.
When you've finished this Fair Isle Christmas stocking pattern you could add more me-made decorations to your home with our advent calendar wreath knitting pattern.
Fair Isle Christmas stocking pattern materials
- King Cole Comfort Chunky (60% acrylic, 40% nylon, 100g/106m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Claret (1506) Yarn B White (421) Yarn C Aqua (427) Can't find these shades in stock? You could try substituting King Cole Big Value Chunky in Red (0553), White (822) and Petrol (552).
- A pair of 6mm (US 10) knitting needles
Fair Isle Christmas stocking tension
14 sts and 20 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stocking stitch using 6mm needles
Fair Isle Christmas stocking measurements
Length 58cm (23in)
Width 16cm (6½in)
Fair Isle Christmas stocking pattern
This pattern uses our standard knitting abbreviations.
Fair Isle Christmas stocking charts
How to use our charts: Start at the bottom right-hand corner. Read right side rows from right to left and wrong side rows from left to right. A row of squares represents a row of knitting. See how to read charts in knitting patterns for more information, and learn how to knit perfect Fair Isle with our in-depth guide.
Fair Isle Christmas stocking
Christmas stocking foot
Cast on 8 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (RS) K1, *kfb; repeat from * to last st, K1. [14 sts]
Row 2 and every alt row Purl.
Row 3 *Kfb, K1; repeat from * to the end of the row. [21 sts]
Row 5 *Kfb, K2; repeat from * to the end of the row. [28 sts]
Row 7 *Kfb, K3; repeat from * to the end of the row. [35 sts]
Row 9 *Kfb, K4; repeat from * to the end of the row. [42 sts]
Row 11 *Kfb, K5; repeat from * to the end of the row. [49 sts]
Row 12 Purl.
Joining in and breaking off yarns as required, work Chart A, Chart B, Chart C and Chart D. Continue in Yarn A.
Christmas stocking heel (first half)
Heel row 1 (RS) K12, W&T.
Heel row 2 and every alt row Sl1, purl to the end of the row.
Heel row 3 K10, W&T.
Heel row 5 K8, W&T.
Heel row 7 K6, W&T.
Heel row 9 K4, W&T.
Heel row 11 K5, W&T.
Heel row 13 K7, W&T.
Heel row 15 K9, W&T.
Heel row 17 K11, W&T.
Heel row 18 Sl1, purl to the end of the row.
Row 45 Knit.
Christmas stocking heel (second half)
Heel row 1 (WS) P12, W&T.
Heel row 2 and every alt row Sl1, knit to the end of the row.
Heel row 3 P10, W&T.
Heel row 5 P8, W&T.
Heel row 7 P6, W&T.
Heel row 9 P4, W&T.
Heel row 11 P5, W&T.
Heel row 13 P7, W&T.
Heel row 15 P9, W&T.
Heel row 17 P11, W&T.
Heel row 18 Sl1, knit to the end of the row.
Row 46 Purl.
Christmas stocking leg
Work Chart E, Chart F, Chart G, Chart H and Chart I.
Christmas stocking top
Row 101 K1, *P1, K1; repeat from * to the end of the row.
Row 102 P1, *K1, P1; repeat from * to the end of the row.
Repeat the last 2 rows twice more. [6 rib rows worked]
Cast off in pattern.
Christmas stocking hanging loop
Cast on 20 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn B.
Cast off.
Making up the Fair Isle Christmas stocking
- Join the cast-on edge into a closed circle by sewing a running stitch across the row and pulling the stitches tight.
- Join the main seam, taking care to match the rows.
- Fold the loop in half and sew both ends to top back of stocking.
- Neaten all ends and block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.
Download the Fair isle Christmas stocking pattern
Get your free PDF pattern for this Christmas stocking here: Fair Isle Christmas stocking pattern
More ideas for Christmas knitting
Top the tree with our knitted angel pattern, post a handmade greeting with our knitted Christmas card pattern, and cast on a Santa hat knitting pattern and Christmas pudding hat pattern to create cute festive knits for the kids.
