One of my favorite Christmas treats has always been ribbon candies. In this stocking, they frame the edges of a garland. Worked in two-color stranding, it is worked top down, with a picot hem, contrast flap-heel and a star toe. The ribbons are repeated across the toe just before the shaping.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: About 13” around x 21” long.
Gauge: 24 sts and 27 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Stranded patt; 22 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st.
Materials
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 123 yards [112 meters]/50 grams): 24063 Hollyberry (MC), 2 skeins; 24064 White (CC), 1 skein. (YARN WEIGHT> #3)
Needles: US size 6 (4mm): 16” / [40 cm] circular; US size 6 (4mm): DPNs.
Notions: Stitch markers; tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
CO – cast on
CC – contrast color
DPNs – double pointed needles
K2tog – knit two stitches together
MC – main color
m1 – pick up bar between sts, knit into the back twisting the bar
P2tog – purl two together
rep – repeat
Rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
sl – slip the stitch from the left needle to the right
sl 1 kwise – slip one stitch knitwise (as if to knit)
sl 1 pwise – slip one stitch purlwise (as if to purl)
ssk – slip two stitches one at a time as if to knit, insert left needle back into these stitches and knit them together.
St(s) – stitch(es)
Special Stitches
I-cord: With DPNs, CO 4 sts, *without turning the needle, slide stitches to right needle tip, pull yarn around back, and knit the sts as usual; rep from * for 6” or desired length.
Pattern Notes
The gauge is not critical in this project but you will want a fairly tight, smooth fabric. If you knit very loosely try a smaller needle size. If you would like a smaller stocking, choose a sport or fingering weight yarn and smaller needles to match those suggested by the yarn. Any weight of yarn will work for this stocking but each will give you a different size depending on your yarn and needle choice. Yardage required may also vary.
When working the charts, some of the changes from one color to the other will be long. To keep the floats on the inside from catching on your stocking stuffers you can twist or catch your yarns every 4-5 sts if you wish. Keep the floats loose so they don’t bunch up the stitching or show through. I personally don’t like to catch my floats too often because it can show through so easily. We have been using stockings like this one for several years and have not had any problem with the floats.
You may want to line this stocking if you are worried about your gifts getting caught on the floats. You can use new fabric or even an old t-shirt. A knit fabric is nice because of the stretch. Lay the stocking as flat as you can over your fabric. Trace around it and cut 2 layers of fabric. Using a ¼” seam, sew fabric pieces with right sides together. Leave top edge open. Turn top edge down to match bottom edge of hem. Insert into stocking with wrong sides of fabric facing inside of stocking. Whip stitch fold of lining edge to the bottom edge of the hem.
Pattern
Cuff and Leg
With 16” circular needle and MC, CO 76 sts. Join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist. Place marker for center back of leg and heel.
Rnds 1-10: Knit.
Rnd 11 (Picot): *K2tog, yo; rep from * around.
Rnds 12-22: Knit.
Rnd 23 (Hem): Fold work with wrong sides together. Join hem to working rnd by knitting a stitch from needle and a stitch from the CO edge together as 1 st. Cont in this manner around.
Rnds 24-81: Adding in CC, work Chart A Rnds 1-58. Knit all sts, reading chart from right to left from bottom to top (38 sts of Chart will be repeated twice around the Stocking). Placing another marker between repeats can be helpful in keeping track of where you are.
Rnds 82-85: Knit 4 rnds of MC.
Chart A updated 8/9/2018
Heel
Note: Keep marker in place and slip as you come to it.
Row 1: Using CC only, k18, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1 pwise, p35, turn (36 stitches are working, and the other 40 are resting).
Rows 3-14: Knit every odd row, turn, and purl back on even rows. (Slip first st kwise on knit rows and pwise on purl rows).
Heel Turn
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 kwise, k20, ssk, k1, turn – 12 unworked sts rem on the left needle.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 pwise, p7, p2tog, p1, turn – 12 sts will rem as before.
Row 3: Sl 1 kwise, k8, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1 pwise, p9, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 5: Sl 1 kwise, k10, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 6: Sl 1 pwise, p11, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 7: Sl 1 kwise, k12, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 8: Sl 1 pwise, p13, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 9: Sl 1 kwise, k14, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 10: Sl 1 pwise, p15, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 11: Sl 1 kwise, k16, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 12: Sl 1 pwise, p17 p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 13: Sl 1 kwise, k18, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 14: Sl 1 pwise, p19, p2tog, p1, turn – 22 sts.
Foot
Note: To pick up sts along the side of the heel flap, make sure you are placing your needle under both loops of the slipped sts, then wrap as if to knit and pull the new st through.
Rnd 1 (Pick up Rnd): With RS facing and MC, cont working in the rnd, k22 sts across Heel, pick up 7 sts in slipped st edge along side of Heel Flap, m1 before Instep sts, k40, m1, pick up 7 sts in slipped st edge, k11 to marker – 78 sts.
Rnd 2: K18, k2tog, k38, ssk, k18 – 76 sts.
Rnds 3-37: Knit (piece meas approx. 5” / [12 cm]).
Rnd 38: K2tog, knit to end – 75 sts.
Rnds 39-49: With both colors, work Rnds 1-11 of Chart B.
Toe Shaping
Note: Change to DPNs when circle gets too small for the 16” circular.
Rnd 1: With CC, knit 1 rnd.
Rnd 2: (K23, k2tog) 3 times – 72 sts.
Rnd 3: *K7, k2tog; rep from * around – 64 sts.
Rnds 4-8: Knit 5 rnds.
Rnd 9: *K6, k2tog; rep from * around – 56 sts.
Rnds 10-13: Knit.
Rnd 14: *K5, k2tog; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnds 15-17: Knit.
Rnd 18: *K4, k2tog; rep from * around – 40 sts.
Rnds 19-20: Knit.
Rnd 21: *K3, k2tog; rep from * around – 32 sts.
Rnd 22: Knit.
Rnd 23: *K2, k2tog; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 24: *K1, k2tog; rep from * around – 16 sts.
Rnd 25: *K2tog; rep from * around – 8 sts.
Cut yarn leaving a tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread yarn through sts and pull tight.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Hanging loop
Make an I-cord about 6” long, or braid or twist several strands together. Attach securely to hem at top of Stocking.