Christmas Robin Stocking

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there

from Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, my favourite poem at this time of year.

I made this stocking for my Mum, who loves robins, last Christmas Eve but it was too late to show you by the time I finished it that evening, just in time for her to hang it up.

I adapted the Red Heart pattern I wrote about when I made a little photo tutorial as this yarn was slightly finer. I used a white acrylic yarn with a glitter thread running through it to emulate crisp, glittery, frozen snow. I just love it when snow is like that and not the wet slushy stuff we get so often. Isn't it lovely going out in pristine snow and hearing your footsteps crunching through it as you go along?

There was always only ever going to be a robin to decorate this stocking, nothing else would do but it had to be a flat motif I could applique. I didn't have a pattern for the robin so made it up as I went along. I added a small black button for an eye, three of  Lucy from Attic 24's holly leaves and two little red buttons as berries. It was all stitched on to the stocking and voila, a robin and holly stocking of which I am rather proud.

Mum loves her stocking, hanging from a candy cane stocking holder on her mantel.


I haven't blogged this year as I haven't been able to crochet much, I hope this changes soon as I have several unfinished projects waiting for me and I'm itching to get back to it. Thank you for popping in to check out my blog and your patience during my extended  break.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Til next time,
Hx

Christmas Stocking Decorations

Hi there,

Where does the time go, I always seem to be playing catch up at this time of year as it seems no time since I was writing about my autumn projects (more about them later). As storm Caroline passed over last week bringing freezing temperatures and just a tiny snowfall here afterwards I took some time out to to enjoy a lazy afternoon with a glass of mulled apple juice, a small crochet hook and some Christmas cards.

Yes, it's that time of year again when I like to write my cards and slip a little crocheted gift in some of them and this year it's all about stockings. I dug out all my fine crochet cotton threads and piled them on the table to choose what colours would make the most Christmassy stocking decorations.

Red and green were a given and I couldn't resist  the rich purple and royal blue cottons too with just one all white stocking.

The white one makes me think of vintage crochet decorations though the pattern I used is a modern one by Caitlin Sanio. Although I prefer bright Christmas and rich jewel colours I know just the right person for a vintage style decoration like the white stocking.

These tiny stockings are made from the top down and are worked mostly in double and triple crochet (single and double crochet in American terms). I used a 2mm hook and a mix of size 8 and size 10 threads so the stockings are not all the same size.

 Starting with the white lacy top then changing colour to work the body of the stocking.

Then simple shaping to form the foot and finish at the heel.

I like these little stockings, I wasn't sure about them when I made the first one but they've really grown on me. I think they go well with the nostalgic style of cards I'm using this year too.

I think a bundle of these little stockings in lots of different colours would make a nice garland or they could be added to gift tags for a little something extra. I love doing this each year and am so glad I started this Christmas tradition.
 

Til next time,
Hx

Christmas Stockings

Hello there, do you like to hang a stocking up for Christmas? We usually don't as there are no children in the house, however a couple of weeks ago N dropped a bit of a bombshell on me when he suggested we make each other something this year. I often make gifts for people but I don't usually make them for N as he has quite definite tastes so I had to put my thinking cap on and fast. He didn't want any of the usual crocheted garments so I felt stumped until I came up with one of these.

I've made crocheted stockings before for our niece and nephews which they loved, each one had their names either embroidered or appliqued with tatted lace letters and decorated with Christmas buttons. Why not make N a stocking and fill it with little (bought) gifts as a compromise? Yes, that might work but one lonely stocking hanging up? Wouldn't two look better? Perhaps more? Before I could change my mind (or have N find out) I was crocheting two stockings along with another decoration this week.

I chose this free Waiting For Santa Stocking pattern from Red Heart. I've used this pattern before and as it is a beginners level pattern it is very easy and quick if you have a couple of hours to spare. It uses a 5.5mm hook and I chose dark green DK acrylic yarn from my stash for N's stocking and purple DK for the second one.  The stocking doesn't need a lot of yarn, I had just under 100g each of the purple and green yarns and still have some left after finishing the stockings. I've only used the purple for photos as it shows up better than the very dark green.

The pattern is worked from the top down and is written in American terms but is easy to follow as it only uses double crochet throughout (written as sc on the pattern). It is a great pattern for a first attempt at a crocheted stocking or if you need to make something in a hurry. The pattern uses two colours of yarn for the stripes however I worked the stocking all in one colour instead of stripes, only using a contrast for the heel, toe and a band at the top. I chose cream as the contrast colour for both stockings and took photos as I worked the heel and toe in case it helps anyone new to crochet wanting to make a stocking.

The heel is worked by joining the contrast colour yarn in the stitch indicated on the pattern for the chosen size and double crocheted to the end.

The dc is then continued along the opposite edge to join the two sides.

The heel is shaped by decreasing,

and then increasing before moving on to the foot.

The main colour is joined to the heel in the relevant stitch and a row of dc is worked to the end of the heel where it then joins to the bottom of the leg.

The pattern continues in dc to the end of the row. The foot is worked by continuing in dc until the desired length is reached before joining the contrast colour to work the toe.

The toe is worked in one section at a time and shaped by decreasing, then the foot is folded and all the seams are sewn together to finish the stocking.

I tweaked the pattern by making the leg slightly shorter and finished it by joining the contrast yarn to the top of the leg, working in the round to create the cream band at the top. Before fastening off I made the loop by crocheting a 3 chain strap and attaching at the bottom of the contrast band. If you leave long yarn ends they can be used to sew the seams and reduce the amount of weaving in when you finish the stocking. All the stockings need now is to be decorated. Buttons, motifs, felt, whatever you fancy could be used for decoration.

I enjoy the whole of December leading up to Christmas but this weekend before Christmas is especially nice as I always decorate the house this week and finish with putting the tree up. I make mulled apple juice and mince pies and with some carols playing will enjoy decorating the tree with N. I've also been making a Christmas garland this week which has just been blocked, starched and is now drying, more on that soon.


Til next time,

Hx