T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, nothing was stirring, except for… two children attempting to set a Santa trap, some last minute present wrapping, and an argument about whether the turkey will fit in the oven. Christmas doesn’t always run smoothly, but when I go to bed, I love the excitement in my children’s eyes when they hang out their stockings, even if they’re a little sceptical about whether Santa will actually have delivered any presents in the morning.

No matter how chaotic your Christmas Eve is, there’s still space for a traditional Christmas stocking, either hung over the fireplace, or on the bedstead. The Fireside Stocking is knitted from the top down in the round, with stripes of traditional festive colourwork motifs: trees, stars, hearts and reindeer. The stocking is a good size, with plenty of space for all those gifts that Santa will deliver on Christmas Eve. So your beautiful colourwork doesn’t get caught while Santa is filling the stocking, I’ve included tips on how to take control of your floats.

The top of the stocking has plenty of space to embroider a name, which solves any later arguments about whose stocking is whose! Adding a name also makes the Fireside Stocking a perfect gift. A tutorial is included on how to embroider the name if you’re new to embroidery.

Sizes
One size:

• Circumference: 37 cm (14.75 in)
• Leg length to heel: 37.5 cm (15 in)
• Foot length from heel to tip of toe: 28.5 cm (11.5 in)

Tension
19 sts and 26 rnds = 10 cm (4 in) in stocking stitch worked in the round on 4.5 mm (US 7) needles after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

You may find that you need to use a different needle size for the colourwork sections to maintain the same gauge throughout.

Yarn
Aran-weight yarn in the following colours and amounts:

• A (red): 185 m (200 yds)
• B (cream): 165 m (180 yds)
• C (green): 80 m (90 yds)

Needles

• 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle 40 cm (16 in) in length and DPNs
• 4 mm (US 6) circular needle 40 cm (16 in) in length

Notions

• Stitch markers x 3
• Chart row marker
• Scissors for cutting paper
• Sewing pins
• Tapestry needle
• Sewing thread (optional)

Pattern notes
The sample is knitted in Drops Alaska (aran, 70 m per 50 g ball, 100% wool) in Dark Red 11 (A), Off White 02 (B) and Light Olive 45 (C).

Links to the following resources are given at the end of the pattern:
• Wrap and turn
• Yarn dominance
• Catching long floats
• Ladderback jacquard

This pattern was tech edited by Jo Torr.