Mini-Stockings: Knit Your Own Holiday Decorations

The holiday season is fast approaching, and what better way to infuse your celebrations with warmth, charm, and a touch of handmade magic than with these adorable mini-stockings? These tiny treasures are essentially little socks, perfect for decorating your tree, embellishing gifts, or even stringing together into a festive garland. They’re quick and fun to knit, making them a wonderful project for beginners and seasoned knitters alike. Plus, they offer a fantastic way to use up those leftover bits of yarn from past projects—because let’s be honest, we all have a stash of cherished scraps just waiting for the perfect purpose!

With these versatile instructions, you can adapt your mini-stockings to suit any yarn weight. Simply choose needles that create a fabric you love, cast on, and watch your festive vision come to life. Whether you knit them in traditional holiday hues, soft neutrals, or bold, unexpected colours, each tiny stocking carries a bit of your creativity and heart. So, grab your yarn and needles, and let’s embark on a merry knitting adventure—one tiny stocking at a time!

Pattern Notes

These mini-stockings instructions are incredibly versatile, as we can adapt them to suit any yarn weight of your choice. Select a needle size that results in a fabric you adore, and cast on! It’s a fantastic way to use up those leftover yarns accumulated from various projects throughout the year and declutter before the new year begins.

For reference, I crafted my mini-stockings using Turtlepurl Yarns – Striped Turtle Toes, a light fingering weight yarn, and used US1 (2.25mm) needles. For perspective, my mini-stockings have mini-candy canes in them. If you opt for heavier-weight yarns, you’ll end up with larger mini-stockings, providing you with even more room to include extra treats and surprises.

Create a project page for your project here on Ravelry!

I can’t wait to see your Mini-Stockings come to life! Share your WIPs and FOs on social media using #rhyFlowerBlog and #MiniStockings —let’s celebrate your creativity together!

Pattern Support

Please see our Pattern Support page regarding pattern support for our freebie patterns; https://rhyflowerknits.com/pattern-support/

Abbreviations Used in our Mini-Stockings

Cm: Centimetre(s).

Dec: Decrease.

K: Knit.

K2tog: Insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and knit the 2 stitches together. (1 st dec)

P: Purl:

P2tog: Insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and purl the 2 stitches together. (1 st dec)

Rep: Repeat.

RS: Right side.

Sl1: With the working yarn in the back of the work, insert the right needle into the next stitch as if to purl and transfer the stitch from the left needle to the right.

Sl1 wyif: With the working yarn in front of the work, insert the right needle into the next stitch as if to purl and transfer the stitch from the left needle to the right.

Ssk: Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, knitwise. Knit the slipped stitches together through the back loops. (1 st dec)

St(s): Stitch(es)

WS: Wrong side.

Directions for our Mini-Stockings

Cast on 2 stitches. *Slip stitches purlwise to left-hand needle, k2; rep from * until your i-cord measures 4″ / 10 cm.

Slip stitches purlwise to left-hand needle, k2tog. With a Cable Cast-on, cast on 23 stitches. Join to work in the round. (K1, p1) 3 times and place a marker to denote the beginning of the round. This has situated your I-cord at the back of the leg so your stocking will hang properly.

Cuff

Rounds 1-10: *K1, p1; rep from * across round.

Leg

Rounds 1-20: Knit across round.

Heel Flap

Turn your work to face the WS. The heel flap is worked flat across 12 stitches.

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 wyif, purl to end of your heel flap stitches. Turn your work.

Row 2 (RS): Sl1, *k1, sl1; rep from * to last st of your heel flap, k1. Turn your work.

Repeat Rows 1-2 five more times.

Heel Turn

Continuing to work flat, work the heel flap stitches using short rows:

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 wyif, p5, p2tog, p1. Turn your work.

Row 2 (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k1. Turn your work.

Row 3: Sl1 wyif, p2, p2tog, p1. Turn your work.

Row 4: Sl1, k3, ssk, k1. Turn your work.

Row 5: Sl1 wyif, p4, p2tog. Turn your work.

Row 6: Sl1, k5, ssk. Do not turn your work.

Facing the RS, pick up and knit 6 stitches along the side of the heel flap to form a gusset. To prevent a gap, pick up an extra stitch just before knitting across the instep. Knit across the instep, then pick up an extra stitch before picking up your 6 edge stitches along the side of the heel flap, and then knit to the end of the round.

Gusset

Resume working in the round, work the gusset as follows:

Round 1: Knit across the instep, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec)

Round 2: Knit across round. 

Repeat Rounds 1-2 until you return to your original 24 stitches.

Foot

Rounds 1-10: Knit across round.

Toe

Round 1: *K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts on the needle, k2tog, k1; rep from * once more.  (4 sts dec)

Round 2: Knit across round.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 until you have 10 stitches (5 stitches on each needle). Cut yarn, leaving an 8” / 21 cm tail, and pull through the remaining stitches to cinch up the toe.

Finishing your Mini-Stocking

Weave in all your ends, attach the I-cord end to the ribbing to make a loop, and soak your stocking in water for 20 minutes with a gentle soap or wool wash. Lay them flat to dry. Let air dry completely. 

As you immerse yourself in the joy of knitting mini-stockings, you’ll find that the process becomes just as rewarding as the result. These charming decorations hold the warmth of handmade craftsmanship and add a touch of nostalgia to your holiday celebrations. So, pick up your needles, unleash your creativity, and let your mini-stockings become a cherished part of your holiday traditions, year after year. Below are the ones I adorned my aunt’s tree with. ♥

Merry knitting and a happy, cosy holiday for all!