Nutcracker Christmas Stocking

by Jessika Zontini


Craft some wonder this winter season with our Nutcracker Christmas Stocking.  Inspired by the strangely captivating themes of the Nutcracker, you'll enjoy every stitch of this piece.  Blue Sky Fibers' Metalico in a slightly nontraditional shimmery color palette creates a drapey irresistible fabric.  Work the colorwork charts and watch the magical imagery of the mouse king, candy canes, and gentle snow appear before your eyes.  The final touch of wool fleece for the nutcracker's beard adds some dimension and texture.  The stocking is constructed just like a large cuff-down sock, with a heel flap and gusset, and is finished with an umbrella toe.

Click here to download a PDF version of this pattern.

MATERIALS

 

· Blue Sky Metalico - Sport weight 50% Alpaca, 50% Silk. 147 yards / 50 grams.

 

Color A - Opal

Color B - Turquoise

Color C - Rose Quartz

Color D - Jade

Color E - Sterling

Color F - Platinum

Color G - Gold Topaz

Get your yarn kit here!

• US 2 (2.75mm) circular needle, 37” cable (we recommend ChiaoGoo Lace interchangeables)
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle for finishing

 

 

CUFF

With color A (Opal),

Cast on 128 stitches using German Twisted Cast On, or your cast on of choice.

 

Round 1-

With color B (Turquoise), Join to knit in the round by knitting 2 stitches.

With color A,  purl the next 2 stitches.  This will be what actually joins the work in the round.

Continue working 2x2 ribbing: (Knit 2 with color B, Purl 2 with color A) Repeat to end of round.  You can place a marker here to denote the beginning of the round if desired.  

 

Repeat Round 1 5 more times for a total of 8 rounds.

 

LEG

The leg is worked in stockinette stitch.

Follow Chart 1 for the colorwork.

Work one more row of stockinette in Color A, stopping 32 stitches from the end of the round.

HEEL FLAP

This section is worked back and forth in rows.

 

Setup Row : Sl1, Knit 63 stitches in Color D. Turn work over.

 

Row 1: Sl1, (P1 with Color B, P1 with Color D) repeat to end of row.

Row 2: Sl1, (K1 with color B, K1 with Color D) repeat to end of row.

 

In other words, you will always be working the stitch from the previous row with the opposite color.  If the stitch below is in Color D, you will knit / purl it with Color B.  If the stitch from the previous round is in Color B, you will be knitting or purling it in Color D.

 

Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for 60 rows

 

HEEL TURN

 

Knit 43, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn

Sl1, p22, p2tog, turn.

 

Sl1, knit to first stitch before the gap, sl1, k1, psso. Turn.

Sl1, purl to first st before gap. P2tog. Turn.

 

Repeat until all stitches have been worked. 27 sts?

 

Switch to color A.

 

Pick up 30 sts along side of heel.

Pick up two extra stitches.

Place marker.

 

Knit 64 stitches  (across instep).

 

Place marker.

Pick up two extra sts and then pick up 30 sts along other side of heel flap.

 

 

Knit to center of heel. This is new beginning of round. Place marker if desired.

 

 

Round 1: Knit around

Round 2: Knit to 3 stitches before first marker.  SSK.  K1. Knit to the next marker.  K1. K2tog. Knit the rest of the round.

 

Repeat the last two rows until total stitch count is 128, while making the following color changes:

 

3 rounds Color A (Opal)

2 rounds Color B (Turquoise)

2 rounds Color A (Opal)

2 rounds Color E (Sterling)

1 rounds as follows: (K5 in Color E, K1 in Color A) repeat to end of round.

2 rows Color E (Sterling)

2 rows Color A (Opal)

2 rows Color F (Platinum)

4 rows Color A (Opal)

 

Follow colorwork Chart 2.

TOE

 

Round 1: (Knit 6, k2tog) repeat to end.  

Round 2: (k5 in white and k1 in grey) Repeat to end of round

Round 3: (Knit 5, k2tog) repeat to end.

Round 4: K2 white, (k1 grey, k5 in white) repeat to end of round

Round 5: (Knit 4, k2tog) repeat to end.

Round 6: (k5 in white and k1 in grey) Repeat to end of round

Round 7: (Knit 3, k2tog) repeat to end.

Round 8: Knit.

Round 9: (Knit 2, k2tog) repeat to end.

Round 10: Knit.

Round 11: (Knit 1, k2tog) repeat to end.

Round 12: Knit.

Round 13: k2tog all the way around.

Round 14: Knit.

Round 15: k2tog all the way around.

 

Break yarn. Thread through a tapestry needle and draw through the remaining stitches. Pull tight, through the wrong side and weave in the end.

 

HANGING LOOP

 

Pick up 10 stitches, centering them 4 stitches to the right of the beginning of round and 4 stitches to the left of beginning of round.

Work in stockinette.

 

Fold hanging loop in half with purl sides together and knit sides facing out.  

Pick up one stitch at inside of stocking.  K2 tog.  *Pick up another stitch inside stocking.  K2tog. Bind off one.*
Repeat until one remains. Fasten off.

 

Weave in all ends and block.

 

FINISHING TOUCHES

 

Thread a length of wool fleece through a tapestry needle.  Insert the needle from the front of the stocking inside, on the middle nutcracker, at the center of the moustache, emerging back to the front side under the teeth.  Twist the wool into a moustache shape, pulling it toward the right side of the face.  Repeat for left side of the nutcracker face.  Then thread a thin length of fiber through the tapestry needle. Beginning inside the stocking, emerge the needle to the front side, coming through the Color F stitches to the right side of the teeth, directly under the moustache.  Insert the needle from front to inside at the bottom of this length of facial hair at the side of the teeth.  In other words, you are covering these stitches that form the facial hair at the side of the teeth, between the moustache and beard.  Repeat for other side.

 

Thread a small length of Color F into a tapestry needle and sew on an eye for your mouse king.

 

Block your stocking and enjoy throughout the holiday season.