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.
Table of Contents
Materials & Notes
- 3.5mm / size 4 US circular knitting needle or set of double pointed needles
- 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 knit hanging loops for your stockings, you will also need:
- 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). - Scraps of 4 ply or DK yarn. Heavier weight yarn will do but makes a chunkier loop.
- 3mm needles (or 3.5mm will do) for a cast on & off loop, or 2 short DPNs (any thickness up to 4mm) to knit an i-cord loop.
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.
Knit a Hanging Loop for your mini stocking
If you would like to hang your stockings on a Christmas tree or garland, here are 2 ways to knit a hanging loop. Alternatively, you could sew on some pretty ribbon or twine string.
Tip: If you also crochet, 24 chains makes a nice loop in a jiffy.
Option 1: Cast on & off loop
This is the quick way, but it makes a slightly chunkier loop, so fingering, 4ply or sport weight yarn works best.
- Cast on 30 stitches or double the length of hanging loop you want.
- Cast off all the stitches without knitting any rows and leave a long tail.
Cast off in the usual way, by knitting the 1st 2 stitches and passing the 1st stitch over the 2nd etc.
Option 2: I-cord loop
If you have a couple of short double pointed needles (DPNs), knitting a length of 2 stitch i-cord makes a lovely neat hanging loop that is not too chunky.
Cast on 2 stitches and knit 5 inches of i-cord, or double your desired loop length, before casting off.
See my how to knit i-cord tutorial (including video demo) for a full step by step guide for knitting i-cord hanging loops for decorations.
Tip: You don’t have to use 3mm DPNs, any thickness up to 4mm approx works well.
Attach your Hanging Loop
Thread one of the tails of your hanging loop with a tapestry needle andstitch it to the inside of the top left of the stocking (with the foot pointing to the right).
Attach the other tail of the loop with a few stitches around the same spot. Weave in the ends on the inside of the stocking or just knot them and hide them inside it.
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.
