Christmas Stocking in Plymouth Encore Worsted - F475

Christmas Stocking Knitting Pattern – Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted F475

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio provides complete instructions for knitting a classic Christmas Stocking using Plymouth Encore Worsted yarn. Worked flat on two straight needles, this festive stocking is a satisfying project for knitters of intermediate skill, featuring a ribbed cuff, a smooth stockinette leg, and a shaped short-row heel. The finished stocking makes a charming holiday decoration or gift, sized generously enough to fill with treats and small presents.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a traditional Christmas stocking knitted flat in two pieces and seamed. It features a contrasting color ribbed cuff at the top, a long stockinette leg worked in the main color, and a turned heel constructed in the contrasting color. The design is straightforward and classic, making it an ideal seasonal knitting project for home décor or gifting.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted – a worsted-weight yarn used doubled throughout the pattern
• Main Color (MC): 2 balls of Encore Worsted #1003
• Contrasting Color (CC): 1 ball of Encore Worsted #208
• Needles: US Size 10 straight needles (used with two strands of yarn held together)
• Gauge: Not crucial for this project, giving knitters flexibility in their tension

The pattern calls for yarn to be held doubled throughout — two strands of the same color worked together at all times. This technique creates a thicker, sturdier fabric that gives the stocking excellent structure and a lush, substantial feel, well suited to a decorative holiday piece that needs to hold its shape when hung.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting on two straight needles, worked back and forth in rows
• Holding yarn doubled (two strands of Encore Worsted held together throughout)
• Color changes between the contrasting color cuff and main color leg, and again for the heel
• Short-row heel turning using decreases and partial rows to shape a traditional stocking heel
• Picking up stitches along the inside edge of the heel to rejoin the full stocking width
• Cast on of 50 stitches to begin the cuff

Stitches Used

• 1x1 Rib (k1, p1): Used for the cuff section in the contrasting color, worked over rows 1 through 5 to create an elastic, decorative top edge
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch for the leg of the stocking, worked over 9.5 inches in the main color by alternating knit rows and purl rows
• k2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease used repeatedly during the heel-turning rows to shape the heel cup
• Short rows: Used during the heel turn, where stitches are worked across only a portion of the needle before turning, building the curved heel shape row by row

Construction Overview

The stocking begins at the cuff with 50 stitches cast on using two strands of CC. A brief 1x1 rib section establishes the cuff, after which the yarn changes to MC and the leg is worked in stockinette stitch for approximately 9.5 inches. The heel is then worked separately on 16 stitches using CC, beginning with 12 rows of stockinette before the short-row shaping begins. Each heel-turn row knits one additional stitch before working a k2tog decrease and turning, gradually consuming stitches until only 8 heel stitches remain. Stitches are then picked up along the heel edge to restore the full stitch count, and the foot is continued in MC.

Pattern Availability

This pattern is available as a