Our Basic Christmas Stockings come in three sizes—wee, medium, and jolly big—and any length you like! Their simple shape gives you plenty of space to add your own personal touches—perhaps a colorwork cuff? We’ve picked a striking houndstooth pattern for this one. It’s sure to prompt a hearty “Ho! Ho! Ho!” from St. Nick.

We chose to knit this stocking in Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted. A sleeper favorite, we love the hardy durability and woolly softness of this worsted-weight, single-spun yarn. Take a look at the Lamb’s Pride color palette—you’ll find a range of rich classics, heathers, and fun accents.

FINISHED WIDTHS (half circumference)
Wee: 5"/13cm; Medium: 6½"/16.5 cm; Jolly Big: 8"/20cm.

YARN
Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted (190 yds174m each).
Wee size: 1 skein each of colors A, B, & C.
Medium and Jolly Big size: 2 skeins color A, 1 skein each color B & C.
Shown in Medium, color A=M140 Aran, color B= M05 Onyx, and color C=M180 Ruby Red.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 7 (4.5mm) 16"/40cm circular and double-point needles, or size to get gauge.
Locking stitch markers, blunt darning needle.

GAUGE
Approx. 20 sts/27—28 rounds = 4"/10cm, in stockinette stitch in the round.

Errata & Clarifications

Please refer to the original pattern for complete instructions. Only changes are covered in this adaptation.

A bit on color dominance:
In two-handed stranded knitting, the color carried in your left hand will show up more than the other, by virtue of the fact that it is carried along below the other yarn; it essentially has a shorter commute. Known as ‘left hand color dominance’, this phenomenon is unrelated to which hand dominates in your everyday life, or which hand normally carries your yarn. Typically then, your ‘pattern’, or motif, color is held in your left hand, and your ‘background’ color in your right, so the motif will ‘pop’. However, with a balanced pattern like houndstooth, there really isn’t a background color. Here’s an opportunity to take advantage of this theory: Since darker colors tend to recede, hold your darker color in your left hand (the dominant position), to bring it visually forward and balance it with the lighter color. Feel free to experiment—just be sure to hold colors in the same hands throughout—it’s surprising how different your pattern repeats can look if you aren’t consistent!

Cuff:
With Color B, cast on and work through Round 2 as directed in original pattern.

Round 3: Continuing with Color B, knit to end.

Round 4: Join Color A, and with both yarns, begin working houndstooth chart in the round, repeating the 4-st repeat a total of 12 (16, 20) times. Note: Take care to strand floats evenly across back of work. To keep floats loose, stretch out sts of your last color on right needle before you bring your new color across the back.

Rounds 5–7: Continue working Rounds 2–4 of houndstooth chart, always reading chart from right to left.

Repeat four rounds of houndstooth chart, 2 (3, 4) more times. [chart worked a total of 3 (4, 5) times] Cut Color A yarn, leaving 8"/20cm tail to weave in later.

Next round: With Color B, knit to end.

Continuing with Color B, turn work so wrong side is facing you; with yarn in back, slip the first stitch purlwise, and begin knitting back in the other direction for 11⁄2 (2, 21⁄2)"/4 (5, 6)cm, knitting every round. Note: This will put knit side out when you fold over the cuff, and leave a decorative purl edging at the natural fold. Cut Color B yarn, leaving 8"/20cm tail to weave in later.

Leg:
Change to Color A and work as directed in original pattern through Foot.

Toe:
Change to Color C and work as directed in original pattern through Graft toe.

‘Afterthought’ heel:
With Color C, work as directed in original pattern.

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