A Christmas stocking with cabling worked into it, knitted in worsted weight yarn on 6 mm (US 10) and 5.5 mm (US I-9) needles.
The two needle sizes
The smaller needle works the cuff ribbing, which needs to be firm enough to hold its shape and support the weight of a full stocking. The larger works the body.
That difference matters more on a stocking than on most garments, because the cuff is doing structural work – it is what stops the top of the stocking sagging open when the rest is loaded.
Cables on a stocking
Cables suit this well. A Christmas stocking is looked at rather than worn, so texture is the whole point, and cable patterns read clearly from across a room in a way that subtle stitch work does not.
Be aware that cables pull the fabric in significantly. A cabled stocking will be narrower than the same stitch count in plain knitting, so work from a swatch in the cable pattern rather than in stocking stitch.
Yarn
Worsted weight with good stitch definition and a light or mid colour. Cables are shadow, and a dark yarn hides them completely – a beautiful cable pattern in charcoal is wasted work.
Cream, red and forest green all show cables well. A wool or wool blend has the springiness to make the crossings stand up crisply; acrylic will give a flatter result but is more practical for something stored eleven months a year.
Gauge and size
Knit at a firm gauge. A loose fabric will stretch under the weight of a full stocking and end up long and thin.
Hanging
Work a strong loop at the back of the cuff and secure it well. A stocking full of presents puts real weight on a single attachment point, and this is the part that fails.
Storage
Store flat rather than folded. A crease across a cable panel is stubborn and needs a full blocking to remove.
