Book Review – Knit Christmas Stockings

Hanging Christmas stockings is a long-standing tradition that is enjoyed by many families around the world during the holiday season. The origins of this tradition can be traced back to the story of Saint Nicholas, a kind bishop who lived in the 4th century. According to legend, Saint Nicholas was known for secretly leaving gifts for poor children in their stockings or shoes.

As the story spread, the tradition of leaving gifts in stockings evolved into the practice of hanging them by the fireplace on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill with small gifts and sweets for children. Today, the tradition continues, and many families hang stockings for all members of the household, including adults and pets, as a way to add a festive touch to their home decor.

“Knit Christmas Stockings, 2nd Edition: 19 Patterns for Stockings & Ornaments” by Gwen W. Steege offers 19 simple and fun patterns to help you create your own unique Christmas stockings. With this guide, even first-time knitters can make beautiful stockings for everyone on their list. The book includes a variety of styles and designs, from wacky to whimsical, classic to daintily darling, to suit every taste. It also includes ideas for using smaller skeins and project leftovers to make mini stockings for pets or tree ornaments. With this guide, you can knit yourself a merry little Christmas and make a cherished family tradition.

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Sometimes I feel like knitters get intimidated to try new things because they think they need to start with a big project. Your first time working in the round doesn’t need to be a sock, and your first colorwork doesn’t need to be a sweater, for example. You can find little projects that use the skills you want to learn to build your confidence before you move on to something that requires more time commitment.

This adorable knit bunny, for example.

The colorwork bunny from Knit Picks was designed by Amy Munson and is a kind of bowling pin shaped bunny complete with a knit hat, contrasting inner ears and a little stranded colorwork on its body. Note that the ears are attached the the hat not the bunny, but you could stitch them to the bunny if you’d rather.

It’s worked from the bottom up and also has a tiny pompom tail you can’t see in the picture but it’s a really cute touch. There are a variety of little fair isle patterns to choose from to make the best bunny for you.

The bunny comes out about 8 inches tall (or just over 20 cm) and use several colors to complete the colorwork, depending on the design you choose.

You can purchase the pattern by itself from Knit Picks, or make a kit that includes sport weight yarn in all the colors you need for your creation. There are gray and brown options for the main body of the bunny, but of course if you’re using your own yarn you can make it whatever color you like.

Once you’ve tried colorwork (maybe also working in the round and shaping if those are skills you haven’t used before) in a little project like this you’ll be ready to take on something bigger in no time.

Check out the pattern on Knit Picks.

[Photo: Knit Picks]

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