Day twelve!

three little knitted stockings filled with chocolate & candy balls...

Christmas tree stocking

You will only need:

Set of 3mm (US size 2) double pointed needles

4-ply (fingering) or DK (light-worsted) weight yarn in two shades

Stitch marker

Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Pattern

Leaving a long tail end cast on 18 sts.

Divide sts equally over 3 dpns. Place stitch marker and begin to knit in the round.

Rnd 1 [K1, p1] 9 times.

Rep last rnd three times more. Break yarn (leave a long tail end). Leaving a long tail end (these tail ends will eventually be plaited to create a hanging loop) change to a different colour for the main part of the stocking.

Rnd 5 K18.

Rep last rnd ten times or until stocking, so far, measures 4cm/ 1½in from CO.

Heel

K5, turn, p10 – work back and forth in st st across these 10 sts from Heel as follows:

Next row (RS) Sl1, k7, psso, turn. (9 sts)

Next row (WS) Sl1, p6, p2 tog, turn. (8 sts)

Next row (RS) Sl1, k5, psso, turn. (9 sts)

Next row (WS) Sl1, p4, p2 tog, turn. (8 sts)

Next row (RS) Sl1, k3, psso, (5 heel sts). Onto a new needle, pup&k 6 sts along decreases edge. K across 8 sts from Upper, pup&k 6 sts down other decreases edge, k across 5 heel sts. (25 sts) Place marker, cont in the rnd as follows:

Next rnd (dec) Psso, k16, k2 tog, k5 heel sts. (23 sts)

Next rnd K23.

Next rnd (dec) Psso, k14, k2 tog, k5. (21 sts)

Next rnd K21.

Next rnd (dec) Psso, k12, k2 tog, k5. (19 sts)

Next rnd K19.

Rep last rnd 5 times more.

Shape toe

Next rnd K1, psso, k8, k2 tog, k6. (17 sts)

Next rnd K1, psso, k6, k2 tog, k6. (15 sts)

Next rnd K1, psso, k4, k2 tog, k6. (13 sts)

Slip next 6 sts onto one needle, slip last 7 sts onto one needle. Cut yarn leaving 30cm/ 12in to sew up with.

Join toe with Kitchener stitch as follows:

Hold both needles parallel in your left hand with the needle with the least sts on the top.

1. Thread up a yarn needle with the tail end, insert the threaded needle purl-wise into the first stitch on the dpn closest to you, pull the yarn through, leave the st on the needle.

2. Insert the threaded needle into the first stitch on the back dpn, as if to knit, pull yarn through, leave that stitch on the dpn.

3. Insert the threaded needle into the same front stitch, this time knit-wise, then slip that stitch off the dpn then bring threaded needle through the next front stitch as if to purl it – leave this stitch on the dpn.

4. Pass the threaded needle through the same stitch on back dpn – this time purl-wise, slip that stitch off the dpn, then bring threaded needle through the next back stitch as if to knit it – leave this stitch on the needle.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there are two stitches left on the back dpn. Thread yarn needle through both sts at the same time, p-wise. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Plait the three yarn ends at the stocking top together, then bend the plait into a loop and secure end.