✨ First 100 downloads can get the pattern for just £1 with the code STARRY ✨

This busy stars-and-snow-flurries-patterned stocking is long and skinny, designed to hold the kind of gigantic novelty festive Toblerones and Smartie tubes you unfortunately can’t find any time of the year but December! Use the contrast drawstring to cinch the top of the stocking closed instead of using wrapping paper, or just hang the stocking on a sad narrow bit of wall that’s not wide enough to handle too much festive fuss. (I’m not the only one to have about five of these awkward places in my house, right?!)

The pattern includes instructions for a rounded toe and forethought/peasant heel, which after much experimentation gave the amount of smooth curves (the toe), subtle decoration (the diagonal line of heel decreases), and sturdy flatness (for hanging up on the wall empty for several weeks before presents are added) that I personally prefer. Feel free to substitute whatever methods you like best.

The stranded pattern, included here as a chart, can be repeated seamlessly in all directions – try it on a hot water bottle cover, a cushion, an ugly Christmas jumper, a blanket, or anything else you can think of!

Yarn:

Stylecraft Special DK, one ball each of your chosen MC (Bottle) and CC (White). Both the outside and inside ends of the yarns are held together throughout, so substitute a bulky weight if you prefer – I just have very limited yarn options in my local shops! You will have leftovers from Stylecraft Special DK’s yardage, which would be perfect for making matching pompoms to decorate the ends of the drawstring.

Needles/Gauge:

6-7mm needles – instructions are written for a 40mm circular and DPNs for the toe and heel.

Approximately 15 stitches/4” for my stocking (I used 7mm), giving a finished size of about 24”/60cm long and 6”/15cm wide. Please be aware that a looser-than-real-socks gauge like this lets the stitches stretch more easily and this might make the floats visible if the stocking is stuffed too full with presents! Try smaller needles or thicker yarn/another strand to help fill the gaps if you’re planning some extra generous gifting.

You’ll also need:

A stitch marker.

Scissors or snips.

A tapestry needle.

A spare circular needle the same size or slightly smaller than your main one. (Optional – used to pick up the cast on stitches so they can be knitted together with the live stitches to create the folded cuff. Alternatively, you can just sew the cuff down at the end instead.)

Scrap yarn for a provisional cast on and to mark the placement of the forethought heel. (Optional – or you can use a standard longtail cast on and insert your preferred short row/flap/afterthought/etc heel wherever you like.)

Yarn, cord, ribbon, twine, or similar for the drawstring. (Optional – or omit the YO row in the pattern and leave the drawstring off.)

Small ornaments or pieces of jewellery to decorate the wide cuff. (Optional – see the sparkly brooch I added to mine!)

#starrystocking