Christmas Stocking Crochet Along, Part Three

Intro to the Christmas Stocking Crochet Along is here.

Part One is here. Part Two is here.

Your stocking should be looking like a stocking by now! You just need to finish the toe, make the hanging loop, then decorate it to suit your style. Instructions are below, and the how-to video is at the bottom of the post

I’ve provided some ideas of how to embellish your stocking, but I’m REALLY looking forward to seeing what you do with yours!

Toe

Rnd 1 (RS): With CC if desired, ch 1, sc in next 20 sc, sc2tog; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc, turn—42 sts.

Rnd 2 and all WS rnds: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to first sc, turn.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sc, sc2tog; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc, turn—36 sts.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog; rep from * around, join with slip st to first sc, turn—30 sts.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog; rep from * around, join with slip st to first sc, turn—24 sts.

Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with slip st to first sc, turn—16 sc.

Rnd 11: Ch 1 (sc2tog) around—8 sc.

Fasten off, leaving a 6″ [15 cm] tail. Thread tail through remaining sts and pull tight to close hole.

Use yarn tails to close any holes at heel. Weave in ends.

Top Edging

Pm in first foundation chain at back leg. With RS facing and contrasting color if desired, standing sc 1 st to right (left) of marked st, ch 9, slip st in 2nd ch from hook and next 7 ch, insert hook into free end of piece just made and into marked st, yarnover, pull up a loop, yarnover and pull through all loops on hook (hanging loop complete), sc in both loops of each foundation ch around, join with slip st to first sc. Fasten off.

Embellishments: The Fun Part

OK, I’ll admit that unless you added stripes or used a fancy variegated yarn, at this point your stocking is pretty plain. Consider a plain stocking as a blank canvas. How many ways can you think of to decorate it?

When I first had the idea of doing a Crochet Along, I wasn’t sure what the stocking would look like in the end. But once I made one, and another, and another, I started having all kinds of ideas about what to do with my blank canvas.

Here are just a few ideas of things you can do to decorate your stocking.

Choose a favorite crocheted edging or three. With right side facing, starting at back of leg, crochet the edging onto the free loops around. You’ve got 44 stitches, so you can use an edging that uses a multiple of 4 or 2, or you can fudge the edging to make it fit.

In the stocking pictured here I used three different edgings, crocheted into every 3rd round of free loops (that is, every six rounds). Need some edging inspiration? Check out Around the Corner Crochet Borders. The stocking pictured uses edgings from my soon-to-be-released Every Which Way Crochet Borders (coming January 2017).

Embroider a design by weaving up and down under the free loops. Use the rounds and stitches to help you place the embroidery stitches evenly spaced. Or embroider directly onto the stocking with floss, in a more free-form manner.

Use sewing thread to sew beads onto the stocking in a pattern of your choice. In the swatch shown here I used 2×4 mm and 3×7 mm wooden beads that I picked up at HobbyLobby.

Make pompoms in different sizes and with as many different colors as you like, and sew them or tie them onto the stocking. What would it look like to put colorful little pompoms around the top of the stocking? I ran out of time to try it, but I hope some of you will!

Scour your craft supplies on hand for other types of embellishments. Hit the craft stores now for the best selection of holiday doo-dads or make a note to hit after-Christmas sales in preparation for next year.