Christmas stocking patterns knit with so-called chunky or bulky yarn aren’t just pretty to see, they also have the advantage of knitting up relatively fast. Still, though… If you want to come out with some beautiful handmade stockings by Christmas, August is not a bad time to start.
Generally speaking, of course, as certain things can play in your favor – or the opposite. Aside from the already mentioned needle and yarn size: the choice of pattern and its intricacy, knitting speed and experience, and family size, if the plan is to make one for everyone.
As for me, I’ll be needing four. Somewhere in December, but preferably by the end of November. When pouring precious time and sweat-equity into a set of homemade Christmas stockings, you might as well get a decent timeslot of enjoyment out of ’em!
And even though at the time of writing it’s August, it doesn’t exactly feel like I’m early. Good thing this party is for Christmas stocking patterns knit with BULKY yarn only. That certainly makes it do-able.
Why Bulky Yarn Rocks
As a relatively experienced but by no means good knitter, you can’t beat the satisfaction of working with bulky wool.
By ‘relatively experienced’ I mean that I’ve been able to knit very basic stitches only for quite some time. (Since my grandmother taught me as a child, to be exact.) However, I’m not a good knitter. I just don’t do it often enough to rival the fluency, speed, and whatnot of the actually experienced bunch out there. Needless to say, the bravoure to tackle complex-looking patterns is also somewhat lacking.
Knits made with bulky wool have an undeniable coziness about them. Those super chunky blankets take it to the extreme, but don’t you just want to live in one and never come out?
It works up fast, which is ideal when short on time, or impatient of nature.
Chunky wool doesn’t exactly make it easier to spot and understand potential mistakes. Then again, in full contradiction, it kind of does. Tracking and tracing errors is no different than it would be with thinner wool. Except for the sheer size. Let’s call it the Duplo-factor!
So yes, knitting with chunky wool is awesome, because:
- it’s very rewarding to see projects increase in size quickly
- it’s also nice to see progress happen even when you don’t have much time to spend
- due to its size, errors can be easier to spot and less intimidating to fix
- the large texture is lovely and right on par with the “hygge” trend.
Any knitting pattern can obviously be made with large needles and bulky yarn… It’ll simply turn into a BIG item. In the case of a sweater, that’s probably not the way to go most of the time. In the case of a Christmas stocking, quite the opposite! Since it doesn’t have to fit anyone, a supersized version of just about any pattern would be AWESOME.
However, the idea here is also to minimize the amount of legwork a.k.a. needlework and time spent, so for this compilation I’ve specifically searched for Christmas stocking knitting patterns that were created for chunky yarn. Nothing lower than needle size US 10 (6 mm). Most are for needle size US 13 or larger.
Christmas Stocking Patterns Knit in Solid Colors
The following patterns are either made in one solid color, or single color blocks and stripes. No intricate color-changes, patterns, textures, or cables.
Price: $6.50. Needle size US 19 or 15 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 17 or 12 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 15 or 10 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 15 or 10 mm.
Price: $ 7.00. Needle size US 10-11 or 6-8 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 13 or 9 mm.
Price: $ 4.24. Needle size US 10.5 or 7 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 17 or 12 mm.
Price: $ 2.99. Needle size US 13 or 9 mm.
Price: $ 5. Needle size US 11 or 8 mm.
Price: $ 1.50. Needle size not specified.
Price: $ 5. Needle size US 15 or 10 mm.
Beyond Super Bulky!
In the case of these two stockings, super bulky doesn’t even cover it…
Price: $ 5. Needle size US 35 or 19 mm.
Price: approx. $ 5.47. Needle size US 35 or 20 mm.
More Intricate Patterns
The patterns found in Scandinavian or Fair Isle knit-work give these stockings a classic flair and a cozy, winter vibe.
Price: $ 4.17. Needle size US 10.5 or 7 mm.
Price: $ 4. Needle size US 13 or 9 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 10.5 or 6.5 mm.
Price: $ 6. Needle size US 10.5 or 7 mm.
Christmas Stocking Patterns Knit Flat
Don’t want to knit in the round? These two patterns work up flat with a seam.
Price: $ 4.17. Needle size not specified, pattern description only mentions “super bulky”.
Price: $ 4.99. Needle size US 15 or 10 mm.
Textured Effects
One single color and a beautiful textured stitch is what makes these stockings look like they were scooped up at some high-end department store. Classy, simple, anything but boring.
Price: $ 3.95. Needle size US 11 or 8 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 17 or 12 mm.
Last But Not Least: Cables
Starting on a garment when you’ve never tried your hand at knitting cables before might seem daunting. A stocking, on the other hand, is the perfect project. No pressure, it’s just Christmas… 😉 and the stores will be full of back-up plans.
Price: Free on the blog, $ 1.96 on Ravelry for an ad-free PDF. Needle size US 11 or 8 mm.
Price: $ 6.00. Needle size US 10-11 or 6-8 mm.
Price: $5.37 (Both variations are included!) Size 10.5 needles, 6.5 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size varies.
Price: $ 6.50. Needle size US 17 or 12 mm.
Price: Free. Needle size US 11 or 8 mm.
Price: $ 5. Needle size US 15 or 10 mm.
