Christmas Stocking Pattern

These instructions use almost the entire skein of red Jiffy. If you do not have enough red yarn and do not wish to buy more, use a smaller needle size or make the stocking slightly shorter (in both the leg and foot so it's in proportion). Alternatively, if you have more yarn and want a larger stocking, you may use two strands of yarn at once and a larger size needle.

I have included instructions for how to graft the toe stitches together. There are different methods of doing this; this is the one that works best for me. I strongly recommend that, whichever method you prefer, you finish the toe of the stocking without any outside interruption. It won't take more than a few minutes, but skipping a step can completely fuck up the toe.

Pattern:

Cuff:
With white, cast on 48 sts. Join, being careful not to twist work. Place marker to indicate end of round. Work in K1P1 rib for 16 rounds.

Leg:
Change to red. Work in St st for 9 inches or desired length.

Heel flap:
Note: The heel flap is worked with only half of the sts, worked flat with two double pointed needles instead of in the round. The other half of the sts are moved to one needle and remain there until the flap is done and you pick up and join again. Thusly, for working the heel flap flat, "turn" means you are turning the fabric of the heel flap over and working back across just as you would in flat knitting.

Knit across 12 sts on first needle, moving the 4 remaining sts to needle #2, and turn.
Next row (WS): With empty needle, sl 1 st, purl 11 sts on first needle and 12 sts on needle 3. Move remaining 4 sts to needle #2. Needle #2 should have 24 sts on it now. For the sake of keeping your stocking easier to handle, you may divide needle #2's 24 sts over two needles such that each has 12 sts. These sts will form the instep later. Leave them for now, and concentrate only on the 24 sts for the heel flap, which should all be on one needle. Work back and forth on these sts in rows.
Row 1: (Slip 1, K1) across.
Row 2: Slip 1, P across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until a total of 24 rows have been worked, ending with row 2.

Turn heel:
Next Row (RS): Sl 1, K14, ssk, K1, turn—19 sts.
Next Row (WS): Sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn—18 sts.
Next Row (RS): Sl 1, K6, ssk, K1, turn—17 sts.
Next Row (WS): Sl 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn—16 sts.
Next Row (RS): Sl 1, K8, ssk, K1, turn—15 sts.
Next Row (WS): Sl 1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn—14 sts.
Here you will begin to work in the round again. There will be a bit of redistribution of sts such that the beginning of the round is in the middle of the heel. With needle #1, knit across 14 sts of heel, pick up and k 12 sts along side of heel flap, inc 1 between heel flap and needle #2 (instep needle). With needle #2, work 24 sts across instep needle. With needle #3, inc 1 between instep needle and heel flap, pick up 12 sts along remaining side of heel flap—64 sts. Work across first 7 sts of heel flap and place marker for beginning of round. (Beginning of round should be in the middle of the heel.) Needle #1 should have 20 sts; needle #2 (instep needle) should have 24 sts; needle #3 should have 20 sts.

Gussets:
Rnd 1: K to last 3 sts of needle #1, K2tog, K1; on needle #2, k across; on needle #3, K1, ssk, K to end.
Rnd 2: K even.
Repeat rnds 1 and 2 until 48 sts rem. You should have 12 sts on needle #1, 24 sts on needle #2, and 12 sts on needle #3. If you have a set of 5 double pointed needles, you may divide the 24 sts from needle #2 onto two needles for easier mobility. Take care to leave the 12 sts on needles #1 and #3 alone, though—You will need them in place when working the toe decreases.

Foot:
Work even in St st for 2 ½" (about 13 rnds).

Toe:
Rnd 1: K to last 3 sts of needle #1, K2tog, K1; on needle #2, K1, ssk, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1; on needle #3, K1, ssk, K to end.
Rnd 2: K even.
Repeat rnds 1 and 2 until 12 sts remain. Divide sts evenly onto 2 needles. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.

Graft toe stitches:
You should have 12 sts; 6 sts on each of two needles.

Note:
Hold the stocking so that the heel faces away from you. Do not turn the stocking as you work on it.

Grafting preparation:
Draw the yarn through the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave it on the needle.
Draw the yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if the knit and leave it on the needle.

Grafting steps:

1. Draw the yarn through the first stitch on the front needle as if to knit; slip it off the needle.
   
2. Draw the yarn through the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl; leave it on the needle.
   
3. Draw the yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if the purl; slip it off the needle.
   
4. Draw the yarn through the next stitch on the back needle as if to knit; leave it on the needle.