Traditions and Christmas Stockings

Christmas is just around the corner!  I’ve been ignoring the ads, which began right after Halloween this year.  The commercialism has obliterated much of the joy I normally felt around the holiday, and the result is that we do no longer do a lot of gift-giving in my family… I give gift certificates so that everyone can get what they want during the after-holiday sales.  It’s easy to get caught up in the buying, with all the ads that dominate all media contacts, but it has the opposite effect on me.  I am more focused on the traditions within our family that make the holiday more meaningful to me, at least. Traditions are a legacy of love that provide a window to the past, awakening memories that bring us joy… my mother started some of our traditions, many years ago, when my sisters and I began having children. She made all of the grandchildren pajamas for Christmas, and they were cherished by all of the grandchildren, and worn (as long as they could still fit into them) until the legs were definitely high-water britches!  I continued that tradition for many years… until the children began preferring lounge pants to nightgowns and pajamas.  One year, when my oldest grandson was getting ready for church, he asked if he could wear his new “flannel suit”!  Another tradition my mother started was to give each family member an ornament, and I also continued that tradition.  When each child leaves home, they already have a collection of memories in their box of ornaments that will grace their own Christmas trees. 

I also started a few traditions of my own… when my children were small, I made them Advent banners that they filled with candy the end of November.  They were hung side by side, and the children were allowed to remove one candy each day until Christmas Eve, when they got to the last piece. A few years ago when all of my children and their families were here for Thanksgiving, we all worked together to make Advent banners for each of the grandchildren and for other family members. I posted a blog on those; you will find the link listed on the right side of my blog. At Thanksgiving this year, they filled their banners before returning home.  It brought a smile to my face, watching them choose their favorite candies and tie them to their banners, reminding me of many Advent seasons long past, when their parents were young.  Another tradition I started was to knit Christmas stockings with Fair Isle patterns for my children.  The pattern originally was featured in a McCall’s Needlework and Craft magazine in the mid-70’s… over 40 years ago!  As each child married, I knit one for the new family member, and then for each of the grandchildren, as they arrived.  Now, I have two great-grandchildren I’m knitting stockings for, so the tradition continues. I am not a fast knitter, and now I am beginning to experience neuropathy in my fingers, so I have to stop often and shake my hands to alleviate the numbness… it takes me nearly a week to knit a stocking now! Here is my version of the pattern, in case you want to start a tradition of these stockings in your own families.

Christmas Fair Isle Stocking Pattern:

Knitting worsted, off-white or cream, 4 oz. (or more, if you make a larger stocking like I did)

Red and Green, about 1 oz. each, depending on pattern

Knitting needles, size US 5; I like circular needles so the weight is evenly distributed

Double pointed needles, US 5; if you have a set of 5, that works better than a set of 4

Yarn bobbins, wound with red and green yarn for pattern

3 Stitch holders

Yarn needle

Snippers

Crochet hook to pick up any dropped stitches… just in case! 

Stitch counter is helpful.

Graph the name to fit in 72 stitches; I used 4 stitches across for most letters, and 5 rows down.

I put a design before and after the name, centered on the stitches available. This is where your math knowledge comes in handy!

Choose graphs to repeat in 72 stitches, adding plain stitches between designs, as needed.

I did a border between designs, using designs about 3 or 4 stitches across and 3 or 4 rows down, and 2 plain rows of white before and after the border design.

Be sure, when carrying yarn for colorwork, to pick up the yarn in use under the previous yarn, to avoid holes in your work. I twisted yarn every 2 to 4 stitches.

Measure off about 65 inches of white yarn; tie a slip knot.

Cast on 72 stitches.

Knit 2, purl 2 in ribbing for 15 rows.

Begin stockinet stitch, knit 1 row, purl 1 row for main body of sock.

Knit 2 rows in stockinette stitch, then begin pattern.  There are a wealth of patterns on graphs on the internet, if you need ideas for your stockings.

Work patterns to make the stocking top the length of your choice. This stocking measures about 19” from ribbing to the end of the patterns.  End with finishing a purl row.

Begin Instep:

Put first 18 stitches and last 18 stitches on stitch holders; the remaining middle 36 stitches form the instep. 

Knit in patterns until the instep measures desired length (this one is around 8-1/2”).  Last row: Decrease 2 stitches at beginning and end of row.  Put remaining 32 stitches of instep on a stitch holder.

Block the stocking lightly, and tie off/weave in all yarn ends. Since this is not for wear, it doesn’t matter so much if there are knots on the back/inside of the stocking, but it will get lots of stress in its use as a stocking to stuff with gifts, so make sure the knots are secure.  Some of my stockings have stood the test of over 40 years of use! 

Stocking with instep finished and stitches on stitch holder, shown at left.  Backside of stocking, before yarn ends are woven in, shown below.

Heel: Put heel stitches on a needle with back edges meeting at the center of the needle. Join contrasting color.  I used green for all the boys’ stockings and red for the girls’ stockings.

Row 1: *Slip 1, knit 1; repeat from * across row.

Row 2: *Slip 1, purl across.

Repeat these two rows until there are 27 rows.  Cut contrasting color; attach white yarn.

Turn Heel: With white, purl one row.

Row 2: (Right side) Knit 23, Knit 2 together, turn.

Row 3: Purl 11, Purl 2 together, turn.

Row 4: Knit 11, Knit 2 together, turn.  Repeat these last 2 rows until 12 stitches remain. Cut white yarn.

Shape Heel: From right side, with White yarn, pick up and Knit 17 stitches on side of heel.  Knit across 12 heel stitches, pick up and Knit 17 stitches on other side of heel; 46 stitches in all.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Knit 1, Slip 1, Knit 1, Pass slip stitch over the last knit stitch (1 decrease), Knit to last 3 stitches, Knit 2 together, Knit 1.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until 30 stitches remain. Work even until piece is same length as instep.

Put instep stitches on DP needle (or 2, if you have a 5 needle set), divide heel stitches on 2 DP needles.

Round 1: Join contrasting color (green or red, I used the same color as the heel) at beginning of instep. Knit across, decrease 1 stitch each end of needle (each end of instep). Knit stitches on heel needles.

Round 2: Knit around.

Round 3: Knit around, decreasing 1 stitch each end of instep needle, decrease 1 stitch at beginning of first heel needle and decrease one stitch at end of 2^nd heel needle, 4 stitches decreased.

Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 until 20 stitches remain.  Weave remaining stitches together, using the Kitchener stitch.

Sew seams (each side of foot and the top stocking section). 

The finished stocking is shown at the left.

Here are some of the photos I have of stockings I’ve knit in the past… some of them are over 40 years old and have been used every Christmas for that many years! I am delighted that they are cherished by each recipient… and they are over-sized, so Santa has plenty of room to fill them with fruit, nuts, candy, and even some special gifts… the best things sometimes come in small packages.

What are some of your holiday traditions? I hope your holiday is filled with cherished memories, as well as new experiences added as each holiday is celebrated. And from our house to yours… Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season with Joy overflowing in your heart!