I designed this little pattern for a swap over on Ravelry’s OTF group. We’re making stockings, popping in a few little treats and posting them off to each other for some festive cheer.

They’re just a very simplified, easily adaptable sock pattern. I wouldn’t suggest using this heel on a real pair of socks, but it works very well for something decorative.

This pattern looks great in a variety of sizes, from the smallest lace weight stocking to put on a gift to the larger sizes to hang on the foot of a bed with something nice tucked inside.

You will need the yarn of your choice and a circular needle or DPNs in the size recommended on the label, plus a tapestry needle to close the toe..

For my sample knits, I used the following:

2 g of Dream in Color Baby and 2 mm / US0 needles (green)

89g of Cleckheaton Gusto 10 and 10mm / US15 needles (black and aqua)

10g of Malabrigo Worsted and 5mm / US8 needles (red)

4 g of Tempted Good Grrl and 2.25mm / US1 needles (navy and purple)

Using long tail cast on, and leaving a foot or two of yarn in the tail, co 24 stitches.

Join in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches. Mark beginning of round.

Knit 20 rows.

Make a basic short row heel as follows:

Row 1: k6, turn work, slip 1 purlwise, purl 11, turn work
Row 2: slip 1, k10, turn
Row 3: slip 1 purlwise, p9, turn
Row 4: slip 1, k8, turn
Row 5: slip 1 purlwise, p7, turn
Row 6: slip 1, k7, turn
Row 7: slip 1 purlwise, p8, turn
Row 8: slip 1, k9, turn
Row 9: slip 1 purlwise, p10, turn
Row 10: slip 1, k11

Return to working in the round. Don’t worry too much if you have small holes in your heel, it won’t see too much wear and tear and you can sew up the holes later.

Knit 15 rows. Your round will end in line with the middle of the heel.

Make toe as follows, with twelve stitches on each needle, N1 will have the round marker in the centre.

Row 1: knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1
Row 2: k1, ssk, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k
Row 3: k1, ssk, knit to end
Row 4: knit

Repeat rows 1 – 4 twice and rows 1 – 3 once more.

You will have 12 stitches in total remaining.

Graft stitches together using kitchener stitch, or simply bind off and sew the two sides together.

There are two ways to make the hanging loop:

1. Pick up two stitches beside the cast on tail and knit an inch or so of icord (length dependant on the size of your stocking), loop it around and secure it to the inside of the stocking.
2. Cut a length of yarn twice the length of the cast on tail, thread it through the stocking beside the tail and braid an inch or so (length dependant on the size of your stocking), loop it around and secure it to the inside of the stocking.

Notes on personalising your stocking:

• You can use any yarn you fancy, just use the recommended needle size.
• Try striping two different colours of the same yarn.
• Try knitting the first few rows with a novelty yarn before switching to your main yarn.
• Knit two rows, purl two rows for an interesting effect.
• Use it as a small canvas to try a new technique, like intarsia or duplicate stitch.
• Try a small cable on the leg of the stocking. Remember that the cable will draw in the rows, so you may want to shorten the leg and foot by a few rows.

Enjoy!

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.