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

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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