Waiting for Santa Stockings in Red Heart Super Saver Economy Solids - LW2633

Waiting for Santa Stockings – Crochet Pattern Summary (LW2633)

The Waiting for Santa Stockings is a charming crochet accessory pattern published by Red Heart and available as a downloadable PDF. Designed for the whole family, this pattern produces classic holiday Christmas stockings in three sizes — small (child), medium (mama), and large (papa) — measuring 11, 17, and 21 inches long respectively. The finished stockings feature a traditional striped design worked in two colors, making them a festive and personalized addition to any holiday home. According to the pattern description, crocheting a set each year can become a cherished family tradition.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a set of three coordinating Christmas stockings in graduated sizes intended to represent different family members. Each stocking is constructed in flat rows and assembled into a three-dimensional shape, complete with a leg, heel, foot, and toe. The striped colorwork gives each stocking a festive, classic look that suits a wide range of holiday décor styles.

Sizes and Dimensions

• Small (child): 11 inches long
• Medium (mama): 17 inches long
• Large (papa): 21 inches long

The pattern is written with directions for the small size first, with changes for medium and large given in parentheses throughout — a standard convention that makes it easy to follow whichever size you are working.

Techniques Used

This pattern is rated beginner difficulty, making it an excellent project for those who are relatively new to crochet but are ready to move beyond simple flat rectangles. Several fundamental shaping techniques are employed:

• Flat row construction: The leg, heel, foot, and toe are all worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round, keeping the construction approachable for beginners.
• Stripe colorwork: A repeating stripe sequence of 8 rows in Main Color (MC) and 2 rows in Contrast Color (CC) is worked throughout the leg and foot sections. Joining and fastening off colors at regular intervals creates the classic two-tone striped effect.
• Heel shaping: The heel is worked by picking up stitches across both sides of the leg opening, then working decrease rows to shape the heel cup, followed by increase rows to restore the stitch count — a simple but effective method that gives the stocking a realistic three-dimensional form.
• Foot construction: After the heel, stitches are picked up across the heel and leg to form the foot, with strategic decreases worked at the joins to create a smooth transition.
• Toe shaping: The toe is tapered by working decrease rows at each end until only 3 stitches remain, creating a neat, rounded point.
• Seaming: Because the stocking is worked flat, the sides are seamed together to form the finished three-dimensional stocking.

Stitches Used

The construction relies primarily on a small set of fundamental crochet stitches and techniques, keeping the pattern accessible for beginners:

• Chain stitch (ch): Used to begin each section and at the start of every row.
• Single crochet (sc): The primary stitch used throughout the entire pattern for the leg, heel, foot, and toe. The entire fabric is worked in single crochet, which produces a dense, sturdy fabric well-suited to a decorative stocking.
• Decrease (dec): Defined in the pattern as drawing up a loop in the next 2 single crochet stitches, then yarn over and drawing through all 3 loops on the hook. This is a standard single crochet two-together (sc2tog) decrease used to shape the heel and toe.
• Increase (inc): Defined as working 2 single crochet stitches into a single stitch, used to restore stitch counts after heel shaping.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 12 stitches = 4 inches and 15 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. Checking gauge before beginning is important, as the finished length of each stocking depends on achieving the correct row gauge. The pattern notes that