Your step-by-step guide to knitting our Christmas stocking 🎄
Hey there, stitch superstar! You’ve just unlocked the secret sauce to making your very own DIY Christmas stocking — and we’re excited to be stitching it out with you.
This guide will be your BFF through the entire journey. Whether you’re brand new to knitting or just here for a refresh, we’ll take you from “how do I hold these sticks?” to “look what I made!” — one cozy row at a time.
INCLUDED IN YOUR KIT
Your kit comes with everything you need to make your masterpiece. Inside your drawstring bag you'll find:
🕺 Knitting needles |
We'll use 12mm circular needles for this pattern. |
🧶Cardigang Chunky Yarn |
Soft and cosy, your yarn is 100% Aussie Merino Wool. |
👆 A darning needle & stitch marker |
To finish your piece. |
🤓 Your printed pattern |
We assume you've got that since you made it here! |
🫶 A 'Made By Me' tag |
To affix to your finished masterpiece. |
You'll also want to have a pair of scissors, a pen and a tape measure handy.
Let’s Start with Some Practise
Before we dive into the good stuff, let’s warm up those hands and needles. Think of this like stretching before a workout — except comfier, cuter, and way more fun.
Grab some of the yarn from your kit (just a little, you’ve got enough to spare!), and get familiar with the motions. Try out the stitches you’ll be using in this pattern. This is your time to mess it up, try again, and feel things out — no pressure, no judgement, just you and your new fave hobby.
Bonus: practising now = fewer headaches later (trust us on this one).
Here’s what you’ll need to know for this pattern — we’ve linked each tutorial so you can follow along step-by-step:
Take your time, replay the videos as many times as you need, and don’t stress if it feels a little awkward at first — every knitter starts here 💖
Testing your gauge
Once you’re feeling comfy with the stitches, it’s time to check your gauge. We know, we know — it sounds technical, but it’s really just about making sure your tension matches the pattern.
Why? Because different knitters = different stitch tightness. And we want your finished masterpiece to fit like a dream.
So grab your measuring tape, knit up a little swatch (there’s a guide for that below!), and let’s make sure you’re on track before the main event begins.
If done correctly, your 10x10cm knitted swatch should be 8.5 stitches wide and 11 rows high when knitted in stockinette stitch on your 12mm needles.
FAQs A.K.A. Fast Answers, Quick!
⚡ No time to purl? We got speedy support for you over on our FAQs page. No gatekeeping, no silly questions — just fast, friendly help to keep you stitching with confidence. It's the best place to go to get answers quick-smart so you'll be knitting again in a flash.
Ready to take your knitting and crochet game to the next level?
Join The Cardigang Click on Facebook. It’s THE place to share your creations, ask for advice, and get inspired by fellow yarn lovers. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, you’ll find a supportive and fun community eager to help and cheer you on.
Stitch out in style.
Whether you’re deep in a knitflix binge or vibing with your needles on a Sunday arvo, we’ve curated the ultimate Spotify playlists to match your mood and your project. From mellow loops to main-character anthems, it’s the soundtrack to your next DIY moment.
Let's get this show on the road!
We knit our stocking in the round before we start knitting back and forth to make the heel and then we go back to knitting in the round to complete the stocking! If you’re making the two-colour matching set, you’ll change colour after the first 6 rows.
STEP 1
Cast on your stitches.
STEP 2
We start by knitting in the round. Knitting in the round is where we use our circular needles and knit continuously in loops, rather than back and forth in rows (like a lot of beginner patterns do). Now don't worry! It's not anywhere near as hard as it sounds. When knitting in the round, you're always knitting on the "front" side of your work so you don't need to turn the piece to knit on the "back" side. Plus, you don't need to sew your piece together at the end!
So once you've cast on the right number of stitches, join your work and knit for 17 rounds. Use your stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch in each round.
🎬 Watch How To Knit In The Round
STEP 3 to 5
Now for this section you're just going to knit the stitches which make up the heel and you're knitting back and forth. The rest of the stitches will wait for you on the needle.
STEP 6 to 11
We start to shape the heel now by decreasing stitches. You'll use two techniques for this. Slip, slip purl two together and knitting two together.
🎬 How to slip, slip purl together
STEP 12
Here we're going to join our heel piece back up to the rest of your work - bringing you back to knitting in the round.
Pick up 5 stitches along the edge you’ve just made for your heel. Then continue to knit stitch until you’ve made your way back around to the other edge of the heel. Pick up 5 stitches, then knit your last 3 stitches. Well done. Your work is now joined back together and we're on the home straight! 🔥
STEP 13
Knit another 10 rounds of knit stitch.
STEP 14 to 17
We're going to shape the toe of our stocking now. Because we're back to knitting in the round you'll only use knit stitches for this section and our decreases will be made by knitting two together.
STEP 18
Use your darning needle to collect the last of your stitches and cinch the end close - like pulling a drawstring bag closed. Secure with a knot on the inside of your stocking.
TASSEL TIME!
The final step is to make a tassel for your stocking. You'll use your left over yarn for this part.
Cut a piece of card to shape and then wrap your yarn around the cardboard. The more you wrap, the ticker your tassel will be. Once you've wrapped enough yarn, use another length of approximately 40cm and thread it between the wrapped yarn and the cardboard. Tie a knot to secure - this is the top of your tassel. Then use your scissors to cut through the opposite end (the bottom of your tassel) to release the yarn from the cardboard.
Finally, use one more length of yarn to tie a knot about 3cm from the top of the tassel to create the tassels head. Then trim the tassel ends to make it neat!
In a bind and need a little more help?
Email us at stitchup@cardigang.com.au and we'll be able to help! Whether you're just starting out, or you've got a specific question or problem (dropped a stitch, no stress!), we're here to get you out of a bind.
WEAR, SHARE AND FLAUNT YOUR MASTERPIECE
You stitched it. You slayed it. Now it’s time to share it! 💖 Tag us @cardigang_knits so we can lose our minds over your masterpiece. Compliments guaranteed. 💅🧶
