It’s not even Thanksgiving yet and it’s been “all Santas, all the time” chez moi! Last week we had a comment on our blog from my cousin, Bonnie. Her mom, my Aunt Ceil, was the person who knitted their family Christmas stockings. Unfortunately for many reasons, Aunt Ceil died before Bonnie’s son was born. He is now 3 and no family stocking. The stockings carry a lot of emotional weight in our family: you aren’t really a part of the family until you have ‘the’ stocking with your name on it. Bonnie wrote asking for the pattern. It is now available as a free Ravelry pdf download, so I sent her the pattern and told her that many shops have knitters who will knit on commission and that because she has the original pattern and a sample stocking, they would have no problem reproducing the stocking.
I clicked “send” on the email last Thursday morning, and then off I drove to work. Well before I got there, I realized what a king-sized %^^&&^% I was by not offering to make the stocking myself! Because, I realized, the most inportant ingredient in the stocking is the love that is knit into every stitch by someone who cares about the new arrival. So, I quickly emailed her and offered to make the stocking. All I asked for was reimbursement for the materials.
So, last Thursday, I collected the materials for the stocking and got it mailed on Saturday.
I used Cascade 220, real angora and US 7 needles. I usually use Size 6 needles, but I wanted Nathaniel’s stocking to more closely match the gauge of his family’s stockings. The stockings have to be absolutely identical, so I cannot do any pattern adapting! Do you know what that means to me? It was strangely calming to know I did not have to think about anything…just do what it says, Susan!!
Here are my family’s stockings:
And hanging by the Santa mantel:
Bonnie received her stocking and loved it. I loved making it. And now I don’t feel like such a a king-sized %^^&&^% !! 😉
PS to June:
June said, “I noticed in your group pic that one stocking is smaller than the others – is it for the family dog? (I saw the bone…?) Does the dog feel short-shrifted on Christmas morning? LOL.”
It’s true! That short stocking is for our dog Molly. Santa replaces the felt bone with a chew bone every Christmas. I don’t think she feels short changed because she is too busy with her new bonie!!
I love your family stockings and the fact they all match. I have really wanted to make stockings for my family but just wasn’t sure how I wanted them to look. Um, I think I may be copying the whole matching idea from you 🙂
Comment by Andrea — November 19, 2009 @ 9:13 am
I love the angora for Santa’s beard. So fluffy. I’ll bet those little fingers won’t be able to resist.
My mom knit us all the Mary Maxim stockings. They match in basic pattern, but differ in details.
Comment by LaurieM — November 19, 2009 @ 10:03 am
Very nice! I’m sure Bonnie appreciated the family love as much as the stocking itself.
I noticed in your group pic that one stocking is smaller than the others – is it for the family dog? (I saw the bone…?) Does the dog feel short-shrifted on Christmas morning? LOL.
Comment by June — November 19, 2009 @ 10:19 am
I did stockings for twin babies in law under the same circumstances. Fortunately, the mother request that they not match exactly, since she thought the Aunt Lydia’s rug yarn used in the originals was repulsive. I went with Lamb’s Pride Bulky, a big improvement!
Comment by Mary Lou — November 19, 2009 @ 11:52 am
What a lovely family tradition! Years ago I made stockings for my husband and I, and later for each of our boys, but they do not match. Oh, and the angora halo is, once again, perfect.
Comment by kmkat — November 19, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
wonderful stocking!
i have to say i’m glad you posted this, because i was worried about bonnie, to the extent that i looked for santa face stockings on ravelry :).
but it seemed such a familiar sort of note, that i thought she must not be a perfect stranger — i didn’t post but was tempted! what a nice cousin you are.
happy thanksgiving!
Comment by Elise /knitinsage — November 19, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
Gasp! That is my mom’s stocking! She has had it as long as I can remember – I will have to ask her who made it. Identical!! (except hers says Claudia : )
Comment by Becky c. — November 19, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
My sister, brother and I were adopted when I was 5. My paternal grandmother knit each of us a stocking for our first Christmas with our new family. (We were the only grandchildren.) This is my stocking except that mine does not have the name. I was thrilled to go to ravelry and get the pattern! Thanks for this posting on your blog. I can’t wait to send it to my sister!
Comment by Jackie Craig — November 19, 2009 @ 9:29 pm
I too have my childhood Santa stocking, as does my sister.
I am not sure I will ever make one, but it is good to know the pattern is out there.
Thanks for the post!
Comment by Lisa in Toronto — November 20, 2009 @ 12:28 am
I love your stockings! Thanks for sharing the story as well as the link to the free pattern. Would you care to share you pattern modifications for the doggie version? Thanks!
Comment by Rebecca Friend — November 20, 2009 @ 1:48 am
Long-time lurker. Sniff, sniff. I have the original of this pattern from my grandmother’s collection as well as one of the ones she knit. (My own is another Bernat pattern with a standing Santa).
Comment by Kate — November 20, 2009 @ 10:44 am
I have knit a stocking from that pattern. I’m a dressmaker and this was one of the”odd” requests I have gotten. Bernat must have put out a stocking pattern or kit every year for a while. I have done some othe others too.
Comment by Lorraine — November 21, 2009 @ 10:03 am
We have a different family pattern on my husband’s side, but similar. I knew I was part of the family when Aunt Fern knit me my own. It is the little things that can be huge. Good on you for making that stocking!
Comment by twinsetellen — November 21, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
That is my stocking! How exciting to have the pattern. My two younger brothers each have a similar but not identical stocking. The youngest’s has a Christmas tree with sequin ornaments. I was so jealous. 🙂
Comment by Lee — November 30, 2009 @ 2:49 pm