Chunky Christmas Stocking Knitting Pattern
This Chunky Christmas Stocking Knitting Pattern creates a full-sized heirloom for the holidays. I love using thicker yarn to quickly knit up impressive projects. This pattern creates a sturdy and substantial piece knitted flat on a long circular needle with super bulky yarn. The bigger the yarn, the bigger the knitting needles, the faster it knits up. So simple!
Additionally, there are no complicated heel and toe techniques. Instead, we easily shape the foot with a series of basic increase and decrease stitches. Get your free written pattern instructions, supply list, technique help, and video tutorial below.
New: Christmas Stocking Pattern Bundle (deep discount!)
Table of Contents
Knitted Dimensions
This full-sized Christmas Stocking is finished at 8″ wide and 18″ tall.
Knitting Gauge
Create Gauge Swatch in Super Bulky Weight #6 yarn with Size 11 US needles.
10 stitches and 13 rows = 4 x 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch.
Knitting Supplies
Yarn: Super Bulky Weight #6.
200 yards (184 m) total = 100 yards (92 m) each of two colors.
Select any fiber and colors of your choice.
Suggested Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick.
Feel free to use any super bulky yarn you can easily find in your region.
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- Celebration (bright white with metallic strands)
- Cranberry (red)
- Starlight (cream with metallic strands)
- Succulent (blue)
Knitting Needles: Circular Size 11 US (8.0 mm), Length 29″ or longer.
Although this piece is knitted flat, a circular needle accommodates its length.
Suggested Needles: Clover Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles
Stitch Marker (a scrap of yarn works great)
Watch Video Tutorial
Printable Knitting Pattern (ad-free)
My ad-free printable pdf pattern, complete with a knitting chart, of this Christmas Stocking is available in my Studio Knit Pattern Shop. Also available at my Ravelry Shop.
Knitting Techniques
My full video tutorial (find further down on this post) demonstrates all knitting techniques. Please watch the knitting sections if you need a bit of a refresher, especially on those increase and decrease stitches to shape the foot.
- Slip Knot
- CO = Cast On Long Tail Knitwise
and Cast On Long Tail Purlwise (optional) - K = Knit Stitch
- P = Purl Stitch
- KFB = Knit Front + Back to Increase
- PFB = Purl Front + Back to Increase
- K2TOG = Knit Two Sts Together to Decrease
- P2Tog = Purl Two Stitches Together to Decrease
- SSK = Slip, Slip, Knit to Decrease
- SSP = Slip, Slip, Purl to Decrease
- Cast Off
- Weave in Yarn Tails
- * * = Repeat Pattern Between Asterisks
- PM = Place Marker
- Rem = Number of stitches remaining needle
Chunky Christmas Stocking Construction
Knitted Top is Cuff Down
This pattern is knitted top/cuff down, which is a method of making socks that uses the top of the cuff as the starting point.
Top Cuff
Begin by casting on 40 stitches on your knitting needle in Color A yarn, which is white in my pictured sample. We are casting on the edge of the rib stitch cuff.
Helpful Tip: Begin Cast On with an 80-inch long yarn tail.
I recommend alternating your cast on with two stitches knitwise and two purlwise for the best-textured edge. Just want to keep it simple? You may cast on the basic long-tail knitwise for all stitches.
Knit up the cuff in the classic 2×2 Rib Stitch. Once you see how quickly these first eight rows knit up, you’ll start getting excited about how soon your work will be created.
Colorful Stripes in Stockinette
Follow the written pattern to knit up colorful stripes in the smooth Stockinette Stitch.
PRO TIP! Each time the pattern changes yarn color, make certain you are doing so while knitting the right side of your knitted piece. This assures that your colored stripes will look neat and bold without any purl dash lines.
Shape Foot
This pattern is designed to create a beautifully shaped foot as easily as possible. We are using simple knit and purl increase and decrease techniques to create the shape.
Casting Off Stitches
Once you have completed knitting, increasing, and decreasing all 70 rows, it is time to cast off your stitches.
You will begin by Knitting 2 Stitches together (K2Tog) twice, then pass the second stitch over to cast off.
Wrong Side of Knitted Work
Here’s a quick look at what the wrong side of your knitting looks like. This is the backside, which has never-to-be-seen purl dash lines in reverse stockinette stitch.
Seam Edges
Fold your piece with the right sides touching. The wrong side is visible on the outside so you can easily tack the piece together using yarn and a tapestry needle with the Mattress Stitch. (See Video Instructions by Purl Soho)
Finishing
Simply fold right-side-out.
Wet blocking is optional. I feel the super bulky yarn shape looks great unblocked!
Make Hanging Loop
• Cut 9 strands of yarn 16 inches long each.
• Knot one end, braid, knot to finish.
• Insert each knotted end into the top of the seam.
• Tack loop with yarn and tapestry to hold in place.
Printable Knitting Instructions
Printable Knitting Pattern
This Chunky Christmas Stocking Knitting Pattern is quick-knit with super bulky yarn.
Materials
- Yarn: Super Bulky Weight #6.
- 200 yards (184 m) total = 100 yards (92 m) each of two colors.
- Select any fiber and colors of your choice.
Tools
- 1 Circular Needle: Size 11 US (8 mm) - Length 29" or longer
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
- Stitch Marker (optional)
Instructions
- STEP 1: Cast On 40 Sts
Either Long-Tail Cast On or Alternate 2 Knit and 2 Purl Cast Ons.
Helpful Tip: Begin Cast On with 80 inch long yarn tail. - STEP 2: CUFF
Color A (pictured sample is white)
2 x 2 Rib Stitch
Rows 1 - 8: * K2, P2 * - STEP 3: BODY OF STOCKING
Row 9: SSK, K36, K2Tog (38 rem)
Row 10: P38
Cut Yarn, leaving about 16 inches of a yarn tail to use for seaming.
_____
Switch to Color B (pictured sample is red)
Stockinette Stitch
Row 11: SSK, K34, K2Tog (36 rem)
Row 12: P36
Row 13: K36
Row 14: P36
Row 15: K36
Row 16: P36
Row 17: K36
Row 18: P36
Row 19: K36
Row 20: P36
Row 21: K36
Row 22: P36
Row 23: K36
Row 24: P36
Row 25: K36
Row 26: P36
Row 27: K36
Row 28: P36
Cut Yarn, leaving about 16 inches of a yarn tail to use for seaming.
_____
Switch to Color A
Row 29: K36
Row 30: P36
Row 31: K36
Row 32: P36
Row 33: K36
Row 34: P36
Row 35: K36
Row 36: P36
Cut Yarn, leaving about 16 inches of a yarn tail to use for seaming.
_____
Switch to Color B
Row 37: K36
Row 38: P36
Row 39: K36
Row 40: P36
Row 41: K36
Row 42: P36
Row 43: K36
Row 44: P36
Cut Yarn, leaving about 16 inches of a yarn tail to use for seaming.
_____ - STEP 4: STOCKING FOOT
Switch to Color A
Increase and Decrease Rows Begin
Row 45: K36
Row 46: P36
Row 47: K36
Row 48: P36
Row 49: K17, KFB, KFB, K17 (38 rem)
Optional: Place Marker after first KFB to keep track of the mid-point.
Row 50: P38
Row 51: K18, KFB, KFB, K18 (40 rem)
Row 52: P40
Cut Yarn, leaving about 16 inches of a yarn tail to use for seaming.
_____
Switch to Color B
Row 53: K19, KFB, KFB, K19 (42 rem)
Row 54: P42
Row 55: SSK, K18, KFB, KFB, K18, K2Tog (42 rem)
Row 56: P20, PFB, PFB, P20 (44 rem)
Row 57: SSK, K19, KFB, KFB, K19, K2Tog (44 rem)
Row 58: P21, PFB, PFB, P21 (46 rem)
Row 59: SSK, K20, KFB, KFB, K20, K2Tog (46 rem)
Row 60: P22, PFB, PFB, P22 (48 rem)
Cut Yarn, leaving about 16 inches of a yarn tail to use for seaming.
_____
Switch to Color A
Row 61: SSK, K44, K2Tog (46 rem)
Row 62: P46
Row 63 SSK, K20, KFB, KFB, K20, K2Tog (46 rem)
Row 64: SSP, P42, P2Tog (44 rem)
Row 65: SSK, K40, K2Tog (42 rem)
Row 66: SSP, P38, P2Tog (40 rem)
Row 67: SSK, K16, SSK, K2Tog, K16, K2Tog (36 rem)
Row 68: SSP, P14, SSP, P2Tog, P14, P2Tog (32 rem)
Row 69: SSK, K12, SSK, K2Tog, K12, K2Tog (28 rem)
Row 70: SSP, P10, SSP, P2Tog, P10, P2Tog (24 rem)
Cut Yarn, leaving about 16 inches of a yarn tail to use for seaming.
_____
Cast Off: K2Tog * K2Tog, Pass Stitch Over *
_____ - STEP 5: FINISHING
• With right sides facing, seam edges with mattress stitch.
• Weave in and cut off remaining yarn ends.
• Turn right side out.
• Fold stocking cuff down.
_____ - STEP 6: MAKE HANGING LOOP
• Cut 9 strands of yarn 16 inches long each.
• Knot one end, braid, knot to finish.
• Insert each knotted end into the top of the stocking seam.
• Tack loop with yarn and tapestry to hold in place.
Notes
Construction: Knitted Top Down
Sizes: One Size, 8" wide x 18" tall.
_____
Gauge Swatch: 10 stitches and 13 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch.
_____
Knitting Techniques
Slip Knot
CO = Cast On Long Tail Knitwise and Purlwise
K = Knit Stitch
P = Purl Stitch
* * = Repeat Pattern Between Asterisks
KFB = Knit Front + Back to Increase
PFB = Purl Front + Back to Increase
K2Tog = Knit 2 Stitches Together to Decrease
P2Tog = Purl 2 Stitches Together to Decrease
SSK = Slip, Slip, Knit to Decrease
SSP = Slip, Slip, Purl to Decrease
Rem = Number of stitches remaining needle
Cast Off
Weave in Yarn Tails
Kristen McDonnell
Author & Designer
After publishing her first knitting tutorial video, Kristen founded StudioKnit LLC. Enamored with teaching online, she films knitting lessons and designs from her vibrant production studio on Half Moon Bay’s California coast.
Kristen McDonnell is the author of the highly acclaimed book Knit Stitch: 50 Knit + Purl Patterns featuring vintage and unique designs.