Cats Rule ... Christmas Stocking

Cats Rule…Christmas Stocking by Darlene Swaim

Project Overview

This is a decorative Christmas stocking knitting pattern designed by Darlene Swaim. The finished stocking measures 6½ inches wide when laid flat, 13 inches in circumference, and 18 inches from cuff to toe, making it a substantial holiday decoration suitable for displaying on a mantel or as a festive gift container.

What Is Being Made

A complete Christmas stocking featuring a cuff, leg, heel, foot, and toe. The design incorporates a cat-themed aesthetic with decorative beading and colorwork details throughout. The stocking is constructed as a single continuous piece using circular knitting techniques.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project uses knitting as the primary construction method. The stocking is worked in the round using double-pointed needles, a fundamental technique for creating seamless tubular garments and accessories. The intermediate difficulty level indicates that knitters should be comfortable with basic increases, decreases, and working with multiple needles simultaneously.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Knit and purl stitches for establishing the foundational fabric
• Increases and decreases for shaping the heel and toe sections
• Colorwork techniques to create the cat-themed pattern elements
• Bead application using a beading needle and matching thread for embellishment
• French knots as an alternative to beads for decorative accents
• Circular knitting in the round to eliminate seaming

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The stocking is worked in worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that produces a fabric with good stitch definition and drape. The sample was created using Cascade 220 yarn in five coordinating colors:

• Natural (#8010) – 75 yards
• Highland Green (#9430) – 50 yards
• Heather (#2420) – 125 yards (used for the hanger, heel, and toe)
• Deep Red Heather (#9488) – 65 yards (or substitute Ruby #9404 if this discontinued color is unavailable)
• Straw (#4010) – 75 yards (or substitute Sunflower #2415)

Needles and Notions

The stocking is worked on Size 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs), which are essential for knitting in the round. The gauge is 24 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches, which is typical for worsted weight yarn on this needle size.

Additional supplies include a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends, a beading needle for attaching embellishments, and thread to match the beads. Optional beading elements include twenty-two (22) size 6 red beads, twenty (20) size 6 gold beads or straw-colored yarn for French knots, and eight (8) size 6 green beads or green yarn for French knots. A stitch holder or waste yarn is needed to hold stitches temporarily, and stitch markers are optional but helpful for tracking pattern repeats.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters who have progressed beyond basic stockinette stitch projects and are comfortable working with double-pointed needles, managing multiple colors, and executing shaping techniques such as heel and toe construction.