Easy Knitted Mini Christmas Stocking (Free Pattern)

Here’s a free easy knitting pattern for seamless mini Christmas stocking decorations. They’re quick to knit and look super cute.

They’re knit in the round, so there’s no fiddly sewing up needed. I also have a flat knit mini stocking pattern here if you prefer knitting with 2 straight needles.

You only need a small amount of yarn, so this is perfect for using up scraps of leftover wool or cotton. These little xmas stockings are a quick & easy knit, so ideal for some last minute Christmas knitting.

Materials & Notes

• 3.5mm / size 4 US circular knitting needle or set of double pointed needles
• Small amount of Sport or DK yarn in 1-3 colours (see note below for using other yarn weights).
  I used Rico Creative Cotton Aran (which knits as DK for me) in shades Red (5), Light Green (40) and creamy off-white Nature (60).
• Optional: small amount of white “teddy” fleece style yarn for a fluffy stocking cuff, ideally around dk weight but thicker will still work. For example: Rico Baby Teddy Aran (UK), Bernat Pipsqueak (US) or Sirdar Snowflake chunky.
• Tapestry needle for gathering the end & weaving in ends.

If you want to make hanging loops for your stockings, you will also need:

• Scraps of 4 ply or DK yarn. Heavier weight yarn will do but makes a chunkier loop.
• A 3mm (size D) crochet hook for a quick crochet chain loop,
• OR two 3mm (size 2.5 US) double pointed needles to knit i-cord loops

Knit Mini Stockings with Any Yarn

Tension is not important here so you can use any weight yarn. I suggest using a needle a bit smaller than the standard size recommended so your stocking is nice & solid.

Finished mini stocking size with DK yarn: 4 inches (10cm) tall approx.

• For a slightly bigger stocking: try worsted or aran yarn with size 4-4.5mm knitting needles.
• For an extra wee stocking: try 4 ply/fingering yarn with around size 3mm knitting needles.

Abbreviations

• R: row
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (decrease 1 stitch)
• kfb: knit into the front and back of the next stitch (increase 1 stitch)
• kx: knit next x stitches
• px: purl next x stitches

Mini Stocking Colors

Knit a plain stocking all in 1 color, a plain stocking with a different color cuff, or a striped stocking – the choice is yours. To knit a striped stocking, just change color every 2 rows after knitting the cuff.

In this example below, I used a creamy off white for main color to knit the cuff & every 2nd stripe. I then added alternate red and green stripes to give it a jolly festive look.

Tip: Knitting mini stockings in cotton gives a lovely soft & premium finish. I love Rico Creative Cotton Aran which knits as DK for me.

Knitted Mini Christmas Stocking Pattern

Knit a seamless mini Christmas stocking in the round with this quick and easy free pattern

Total time approx: 1 hour

Option 1: Fluffy novelty yarn cuff

Cast on 18-20 stitches depending on yarn thickness.
Knit 5 rows for cuff.

Option 2: Standard yarn cuff

Cast on 20 stitches for top of cuff.
Purl 6 rows in desired cuff color.

Step 2: Knit the stocking leg

Note: if knitting a striped stocking, change color every 2 rows.
i.e. R1&2 in color A, R3&4 in color B etc until the last row. Knit the final row as third row in final color.
R1: If you knit a fluffy cuff with 18 stitches, just knit 18. Otherwise, decrease by 2: (k1, k2tog, k7) x 2 [18 stitches]
R2-11: Knit 10 rows even.

Step 3: Increases for stocking foot

R12: k7, kfb x 4, k7 [22 stitches]
R13 & all odd rounds to R17: knit
R14: k9, kfb x 4, k9 [26 stitches]
R16: k11, kfb x 4, k11 [30 stitches]

Step 4: Decreases for bottom of foot

R18: k1, k2tog, k24, k2tog, k1 [28 stitches]
R19 & all odd rounds to R23: knit
R20: k1, k2tog, k22, k2tog, k1 [26 stitches]
R22: (k1, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k1) x 2 [22 stitches]
R24: (k1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1) x 2 [18 stitches]

Step 5: Finish stocking

R25: k2tog x 9 [9 stitches]
Leave a long length & cut yarn. Thread it through the 9 stitches & gather to close bottom of stocking & weave in ends. Or just hide them inside your little stocking.

Make a hanging loop for your mini stocking

If you would like to hang your stockings on a Christmas tree or garland, it’s easy to knit or crochet a hanging loop. Alternatively, you could sew on some pretty ribbon or twine string.

How to crochet a hanging loop

If you can crochet chains, this is the quickest way to hang your decorations.

It looks nice and neat too, especially using 4 ply yarn. But whatever you have to hand will work. Just use the recommended hook size or slightly smaller.

1. Using DK yarn and a size D (3mm) crochet hook, insert your hook through your stocking at the top corner of the cuff. Leave a long tail to weave into or hide in your stocking at the end. Yarn over hook and pull a loop of yarn back through to you.
2. Make 22 chain from here, or double the length of your desired loop.
3. Slip stitch to the starting point to secure. Knot both together and weave into the stocking or just hide them inside it.

How to knit an i-cord hanging loop

If you don’t crochet, you can knit a nice loop instead by making an i-cord. It’s best to use 4ply or fingering weight yarn so it doesn’t look too chunky but any yarn will do.

See my full how to knit i-cord tutorial (with video demo) here, which includes step by step instructions for knitting i-cord hanging loops for decorations.

I hope you enjoy making some knitted mini Christmas stockings. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions on the pattern.

This free pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only. It may not be copied, sold, translated or distributed in any way, nor any finished items made using it sold, without permission.