Christmas stockings have been an integral part of my holiday tradition since I was a child. My mom knitted stockings for my brothers and me that we continue to use to this day. When my oldest brother began having children, I made stockings for his boys, but in cross-stitch rather than knit (my color stranding skills are not advanced enough for that). I have made cross-stitch stockings as well for my son and husband and each year, we all look forward to opening the various and sundry small gifts inside. It is one of my absolute favorite parts of Christmas!

In addition to being needle-worked, stockings can be sewn as well. For those of you wanting to start a memorable Christmas tradition in your family, I have looked around the web for patterns to sew unique and beautiful stockings for your use. Now is the time to get started on these projects!

When you make your stockings, think about where and how you will want to hang them. Do you want all the toes facing the same direction or do you want half facing one way and half facing the other?

Free Stocking Patterns

Free Christmas Stocking pattern
This pattern is printed in four parts and then taped together to make the complete pattern.

Bird Stockings
This free pattern is presented by Martha Stewart and though it calls for cashmere fabrics, you can substitute other fabrics as well.

Crazy Patch stocking
This link opens a .pdf file for a Crazy Patch stocking pattern.

Holiday Lights Christmas Stocking
A free quilted stocking pattern.

Classic Stocking
A free pattern from Family Fun for a classic red and white stocking with fur trim.

Ballet Slipper Stocking
A free pattern from Family Fun for a ballet slipper stocking with ribbon trim.

Elf Boot Stocking
A free pattern from Family Fun for a whimsical elf boot stocking with jingle bells.

Bare Foot Stocking
Have someone in your family who prefers bare feet? Here is the perfect stocking for them!

Fancy Boot Stocking
This stocking would be a perfect complement to Victorian style holiday decorations.

Ice Skate Stocking
This ice-skate shaped stocking is perfect for the budding Olympic skater in your family!

Dog Paw Stocking
With this pattern, you can make stockings for your beloved canine family members!

Easy Stocking
This link opens a .pdf pattern for a simple stocking provided free by McCall's.

Victorian Christmas Stockings
Free patterns and instructions for four Victorian style stockings.

For links to more free patterns, click here

Recommended Reading:

New Noel (Leisure Arts #4139)
Make your holidays extraordinary with the exciting colors in Linda Lum DeBono's home decor creations! From a curly-toed stocking that will tickle Santa's funny bone to a fun flurry of red-white-and-black ornaments, you're going to set an all-new Yuletide scene. The machine applique and sewing are supremely easy, and the results are simply spectacular! Book includes 22 fun designs!