The World’s Biggest Stocking is Finished

I’ve been telling you for a while now about the attempt by Yarnspirations to create the world’s biggest knit and crochet Christmas stocking as a way to raise awareness and funds for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, which gives money to children whose parents have died in military service.

The stocking is done, and will officially be unveiled at the Christmas in the Park at Arnette Park in Fayetteville, North Carolina, tomorrow, Dec. 12. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and is part of a Christmas celebration that includes lights and activities like pictures with Santa and a train ride. Mickey and Diva Dan from the Crochet Crowd will also be on hand with the stocking.

Stitchers from all 50 states, Canada and Ireland contributed 3 foot by 3 foot squares — more than 1,100 in all — to the project. It was assembled in Fayetteville this week and measures 139 feet tall, takes up 7,663 square feet and weighs 1,600 pounds.

Stitchers were encouraged to use Caron United for their squares, and the company donated 15 cents from the purchase of each yarn ball to the foundation. In all, donations collected through the stocking program amount to $100,000, according to the Fayetteville Observer.

After the event the stocking will be taken apart into individual blankets that will be donated to military hospitals. The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed that it will be named the largest knit and crocheted stocking ever made.

[Photo by Raul R. Rubiera, via the Fayetteville Observer.]

Looking for more Christmas themed Knitting patterns? Check out some of our favorite Knitting patterns on Etsy and

These Christmas Knitting Pattern Books on Amazon

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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