Mini Christmas Stockings: Free Crochet Pattern

I went to peel an orange for my dog today.  It had a tough outer rind that I couldn't seem to break through with my fingers.  And being too fully absorbed in writing this post I was too preoccupied to go and GET the orange peeler.  So I bite into it with my teeth.  And let me tell you was it ever bitter!!!!

So that thought of bitterness on my tongue caused me to begin wondering why anyone would ever have thought:  "hey, lets rip this round orange ball open!  Bet the inside tastes better than this nasty outer shell!"

And not only that, we use to think they were awesome enough to put at the bottom of a stocking as a gift from St. Nicholas on Christmas morning!!  Perhaps it was to remind the recipient of the true meaning of Christmas and from whence the important things reside.

And that lead me to think, you know what, whoever it was likely was some prehistoric type life philosopher who understood the concept that the best of anything almost invariable lies on the inside.  

I feel like now might be the time to make some kind of life parallel to this odd epiphany but instead, lets just leave it there, let you ponder this strangeness for yourself while we carry on to the pattern and beginning crocheting a Mini Christmas stocking.  

I'll finish this intro blurb with something sounding a little prosaic:  May the items that you put in your Christmas stocking be as profoundly more beneficial than the outer shell we are about to create

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skill level

easy

size

approx. 4.5 inch tall

needles & notions

5 mm crochet hook

tapestry needle

stitch marker, optional - use if desired

stitch holder, optional

yarn

Bernat Premium, evergreen (MC)

Bernat Premium, aran (CC)

gauge

16 sc sts x 14 rows = 4 inch

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special note

the stocking is worked in non-continuous rounds from the toe up.  All rounds end with a slip stitch and begin with a Ch1.  Neither the slip stitch nor the ch1 count as stitches unless otherwise stated.

pattern

with CC yarn, in a magic loop, Ch1 (does not count as a stitch).  place 6 sc sts into loop.  slip stitch to join round (6 sts)

Rnd 1:  Ch1.  2HDC in same st as ch1.  2HDC in each st around.  Sl st to join (12 sts)

Rnd 2:  Ch1.  2HDC in same st as ch1.  HDC in next.  *2 HDC.  HDC in next.  rep from * to end of round.  Sl st to join (18 sts)

bind off CC yarn.  join MC yarn.   hide ends

Rnds 3 - 6:  Ch1.  HDC in same st as ch1.  HDC around.  Sl st to join (18 sts)

bind off MC yarn.  join CC yarn with a slip stitch

heel (worked in short rows)

Row 1:  (worked over a total of 13 sts, including the sl st yarn join).  sc in next st.  HDC in next 2 sts.  DC in next 5 sts.  HDC in next 2 sts.  sc in next st.  sl st into next st.  TURN

Row 2:  skip previous rows sl st.  sc in top of previous rows sc.  HDC in next 2 sts.  DC in next 5 sts.  HDC in next 2sts.   sc in next st.  sl st into next st (where CC was joined).  TURN

Row 3:    skip previous rows sl st.  sc in top of previous rows sc.  HDC in next 2 sts.  DC in next 5 sts.  HDC in next 2sts.   sc in next st.  sl st into next st (same location as ROW 1’s slip stitch).  DO NOT TURN

bind off CC yarn and join MC yarn.   hide ends

return to working in rnds

Rnd 7:  Ch1.  HDC in same st as Ch1.  HDC in each stitch around (including in the stitch at the heel colour joins where the sl sts for the short rows were placed) (18 sts)

Rnds 8 - 11: Ch1.  HDC in same st as Ch1.  HDC in each st around (18 sts)

bind off MC yarn and join CC yarn.   hide ends

Rnds 12 - 13:   Ch1.  HDC in same st.  HDC in each stitch around.  Sl st to join (counts as a st st for next rnd) (18 sts)

Rnd 14:  sl st in next st.  Slip stitch around to center back of stocking.  Ch 5.  Sl st to stitch at the bottom of the chain.  Sl st to end of rnd. 

bind off and weave in any remaining ends

Want to make that Christmas Chicken in the picture with the stocking? Find it HERE

Finished your Mini Christmas Stocking?  Did you make a whole bunch of them?  Share it online and tag @redmittendesigns on Instagram or Facebook!  

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If you use this pattern for sale items please provide a link back and give credit to the designer:  Red Mitten Designs.  DO NOT claim this pattern as your own and please do not give printed versions of the pattern without permission from the designer. Please consider purchasing copies for friends or family if you liked this pattern and want to give it to others  

All photos copyright Jocelyn Windover and Red Mitten Designs (do not use without permission).  

Once again, thank you for choosing a Red Mitten Designs pattern!