Houndstooth Christmas Stocking – Free Crochet Stocking Pattern
My absolute favorite thing to make this time of year is a crochet Christmas stocking. While you’ll find a large variety of design styles from stocking to stocking, many of them also seem to have a classic flare. What’s the best part of a classic crochet Christmas design? The simple fact that you are crafting an heirloom your family will cherish for years to come. Then, once a year at Christmas time, even after you’ve left this earth, that simple crochet stocking you made years before will fill their hearts and minds with memories of Christmases past. The free crochet pattern for the Houndstooth Christmas Stocking can be found below, or you can find an ad-free print friendly version on Love Crafts here, Ravelry here, or on Etsy here.
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My Big Bold Cabled Christmas Stocking has been a fan favorite for several years, but I hope you’ll find a new favorite with this year’s 2021 Christmas Stocking Crochet Along (details coming soon)! While designing this year’s stockings I had a really hard time deciding on just one, so I ended up with two new crochet stocking designs. The Joyful Textures Christmas Stocking was the first of two new stocking designs this year. Make it with the faux fur cuff & poms as shown, or make it with a simple yarn cuff as shown in the Buffalo Plaid Stocking pattern.
Yarn
Faux fur yarn is extremely popular this year so I knew I had to incorporate it in at least one of this year’s Christmas stocking designs. As I was making the cuff on the Joyful Textures Christmas Stocking, I decided that I needed to use it for the cuff on others as well.
I wanted a true white faux fur yarn for my red and white stocking so I chose Yarn Bee’s Fur the Love yarn from Hobby Lobby. Fur the Love yarn comes in several great colors so I was able to order both the white and black faux fur yarn for both of my stockings. Fur the Love yarn is a super bulky yarn that is available in 9 great colors. There are so many gorgeous color combinations possible!
For the stocking portion I chose Lion Brand Yarn’s Vanna’s Choice in white & scarlet and white & black.
Houndstooth Christmas Stocking – FREE CROCHET STOCKING PATTERN
The free pattern is below, but if you love to work offline, or need to order your yarn, I’ve got a couple other great options for you.
Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF that includes all photo tutorials and charts, on Love Crafts here, Ravelry here, or Etsy here. The ad-free PDF also includes instructions for the worsted weight yarn cuff as shown on the Buffalo Plaid Stocking.
Save this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.
Pin it for later here.
This post contains affiliate links.
Materials
- Yarn: Worsted Weight / 4 yarn & Super Bulky Weight / 6 yarn / I used Lion Brand Yarns Vanna’s Choice for my stockings. This yarn is available from Lion Brand Yarns directly here or you can also find it on Amazon here. And Yarn Bee’s Fur for Love from Hobby Lobby.
- Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice – White (200 yards) and Scarlet or Black (190 yards)
- Yarn Bee’s Fur the Love Yarn – White or Black (30 yards)
- Crochet Hooks: I/9/5.50mm, & N/P/10.00mm; or size needed to obtain gauge (My favorite crochet hooks are the Clover Amour Crochet Hooks, I’ve never had an ache in my hand since switching).
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Locking Stitch Marker
- Scrap piece of yarn
(1 Skein) Lion Brand Yarn G...Shop on Amazon 
Lion Brand Yarn (1 Skein 86...Shop on Amazon 
SIZE I -CROCHET HOOK AMOURShop on Amazon 
Clover 1057/NP Amour Croche...Shop on Amazon 
Fiskars 154110-1001 Non-sti...Shop on Amazon
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch(s): chain(s)
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sc: single crochet
- invsc2tog: invisible single crochet decrease – see special stitches below
- RS: right side; WS: wrong side
- Rep: repeat
- Rnd: round
- yo: yarn over
- BLO/FLO: back loop only / front loop only
- MC: main color
- CC: contrasting color
- Join yarn with a standing single crochet: (click here for tutorial)
Size
-
One Size: 7″W x 19″L (laid flat)
Gauge
- See individual sections for gauge
Notes
- Beginning chain(s) are not included in stitch count, unless noted otherwise.
- The first stitch of each row is worked into the same stitch as the beginning chain, unless noted otherwise.
- Lion Brand Yarns Vanna’s Choice and Yarn Bee’s Fur the Love yarns were used for the stockings shown in the photos.
- Lion Brand Yarns Vanna’s Choice in White & Scarlet and White & Black, worsted weight yarn, was used for the samples shown in the photos. 100% Acrylic, (170 yards / 100 g / 3.5 oz / 156 m)
- Hobby Lobby Fur the Love Yarn in White or Black 100% Polyester, (37 yards / 198 g / 7 oz / 34 m)
- Yardage:
- MC (Vanna’s Choice) – White (200 yards)
- CC: (Vanna’s Choice) – Red or Black (190 yards)
- Yarn Bee’s Fur the Love Faux Fur Yarn – White or Black (30 yards)
- This stocking it worked from the top down to the toe. A faux fur cuff is then made and sewn on. Faux fur poms are then added, if desired.
- Color Changes: Click HERE for a color change photo tutorial.
- NO FAUX FUR CUFF OPTION: If you do not want a faux fur cuff on your stocking, simply crochet the Cuff & Cuff Seam from the Buffalo Plaid Christmas Stocking here, then whipstitch it to the top of your Houndstooth Christmas Stocking.
Special Stitches
- Invisible Single Crochet Decrease (inv sc2tog): Insert hook into the FLO of stitch indicated, insert hook into FLO of next stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru all loops on hook.
- Join with a standing sc: When instructed to “Join with a standing sc”, begin with a slip knot on your hook. Insert your hook into the stitch or space indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo and draw thru both loops on hook. (click here for tutorial)
NO FAUX FUR CUFF OPTION
If you do not want a faux fur cuff on your stocking, simply follow the instructions for the Cuff & Cuff Seam from the Buffalo Plaid Christmas Stocking here, then whipstitch it to the top of your Houndstooth Christmas Stocking.
Houndstooth Christmas Stocking Instructions
Leg of Stocking
Color Changes: Click HERE for a color change photo tutorial. Note: photos in the tutorial are shown of single crochet worked under both loops, but the color change technique is the same when working in back loops only.
Note: After the set-up round, this section is worked in back loops only.
Gauge: In BLO sc, 13.5 sts = 3″; 10 rows = 2.75″
Set-up: Using a 5.50 mm crochet hook & white yarn, ch 64, be careful not to twist the ch, join w/ a sl st to the 1st ch.
Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, working into the back hump of the ch, sc in each st around. Join w/ a sl st to the 1st st. (64 sts) Make sure to mark this round as the Right Side as you’ll need to refer to it later.
For rounds 2 – 35 you will work BLO sc in each stitch around, but changing colors to achieve the houndstooth design. To keep the pattern shorter, I’ve used a number and letter to tell you how many of each color sc you’ll work for the pattern. W = White & R = Red. For example, 3 W sc = 3 single crochet using white yarn.
Continue using the written instructions below, or if you prefer charts, use the houndstooth chart below.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, BLO, (3 W sc, 1 R sc) rep around. Join. (64 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, BLO, (1 W sc, 3 R sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, BLO, (1 R sc, 1 W sc, 2 R sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, BLO, (2 W sc, 1 R sc, 1 W sc) rep around. Join.
Rnds 6 – 35: Rep Rnds 2 – 5, ending with a Rnd 3 rep. *At the end of Rnd 35, place a SM in st #57 to mark beginning of heel.
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Approximate length at this point is 11.5″. Continue on to Heel.
How to read the chart above:
- Read the chart from right to left, bottom to top.
- The White Squares indicate when you’ll work a single crochet in your Main Color.
- The Black Squares indicate when you’ll work a single crochet in your Contrasting Color.
- Carry your yarn with you and work over the color you’re not using. Refer to the color change tutorial on the next page.
- Begin following the chart in Round 2 of Leg of Stocking.
- The horizontal numbers represent the stitch number. This stitch pattern is worked in a multiple of 4 stitches.
- The vertical numbers represent the number of the round. This stitch pattern is working in a multiple of 4 rounds.
- At the end of Round 35, place a SM in stitch #57 to mark beginning of heel. Fasten off. Continue on to Heel on below.
- After completing the heel, begin with Round 4 of the chart and work the Foot of Stocking.
Heel
Note: Stitches are worked under both loops. Heel is worked in rows.
Row 1 (RS): Using a 5.50 mm crochet hook and white yarn, begin by leaving an 8″ tail of yarn to sew gap closed in the next section, then join yarn w/ a sc in the st marked with a SM, sc in each of the next 15 sts. Turn. (16 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 11 sts. (11 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 6 sts. (6 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 6 sts, sc in next st of Row 1. (7 sts)
Row 5: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 7 sts, sc in next st of Row 2. (8 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 8 sts, sc in next st of Row 1. (9 sts)
Row 7: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 9 sts, sc in next st of Row 2. (10 sts)
Row 8: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 10 sts, sc in next st of Row 1. (11 sts)
Row 9: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 11 sts, sc in next st of Row 2. (12 sts)
Row 10: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 12 sts, sc in next st of Row 1. (13 sts)
Row 11: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 13 sts, sc in next st of Row 2. (14 sts)
Row 12: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 14 sts, sc in next st of Row 1. (15 sts)
Row 13: Ch 1, Turn, sc in next 15 sts, sc in next st of Row 2. (16 sts) Place a SM in st #9 to mark beginning of Foot of Stocking.
Fasten off leaving an 8″ tail of yarn to sew gap closed in the next section. Continue on to Foot of Stocking.
Foot of Stocking
Note: This section is worked in back loops only.
Tip! After working a couple rounds in the Foot of Stocking, use a yarn needle and (2) 8″ pieces of yarn to stitch closed the small gaps near the first and last stitches of the heel. It’s easier to do this now, rather than waiting until you’ve completed your stocking.
Color Chart: For the Foot of Stocking you will begin round 1 of this section by following the color chart beginning with round 4.
Rnd 1 (RS): Using a 5.50 mm crochet hook & red yarn, join red yarn w/ a sc in the BLO of the stitch marked w/ a SM, BLO, 1 R sc, 1 W sc, 2 R sc, then (1 R sc, 1 W sc, 2 R sc) rep around. Join. (64 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, BLO, (2 W sc, 1 R sc, 1 W sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, BLO, (3 W sc, 1 R sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, BLO, (1 W sc, 3 R sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, BLO, (1 R sc, 1 W sc, 2 R sc) rep around. Join.
Rnd 6: Ch 1, BLO, (2 W sc, 1 R sc, 1 W sc) rep around. Join.
Rnds 7 – 22: Rep Rnds 3 – 6.
Fasten off Red. Do not fasten off White. Approximate length from last row of heel is 7″. Continue on to Toe.
Toe
Note: This section is worked in continuous rounds (a spiral). Do not join at the end of each round, instead use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning of each round. Move the scrap of yarn up as you complete each round.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, BLO sc in each st around. (64 sts)
Rnd 2: * sc in each of the next 6 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (56 sts)
Rnd 3: * sc in each of the next 6 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (49 sts)
Rnd 4: * sc in each of the next 5 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (42 sts)
Rnd 5: * sc in each of the next 5 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (36 sts)
Rnd 6: * sc in each of the next 4 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (30 sts)
Rnd 7: * sc in each of the next 4 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (25 sts)
Rnd 8: * sc in each of the next 3 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (20 sts)
Rnd 9: * sc in each of the next 2 sts, invsc2tog, rep from * around. (15 sts)
Rnd 10: Sc in the first st, invsc2tog around. (8 sts)
Fasten off. Leave tail and sew toe closed. Weave in ends. Continue on to Faux Fur Cuff.
Faux Fur Cuff
Note: The cuff is worked flat in rows, seamed, then attached to the top of the stocking.
Gauge: Using super bulky fur yarn, in sc: 6 sts = 3.75″
Row 1: Using a 10.00 mm crochet hook & faux fur yarn, ch 7, working into the back humps of the ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.
Rep Row 2 until the cuff measures 18″ L (or long enough to wrap around the top edge of your stocking).
Fasten off leaving a 10″ tail of yarn for seaming the short edges of the cuff. Using a yarn needle and tail of yarn, whipstitch the short edges of your cuff together. Weave in ends. Continue on to Attaching the Cuff. Approximately size: 3.75″ W x 18″ L.
Attaching the Cuff
Step 1: Slide the cuff over the top edge of the stocking. Line up the top edge of the stocking with the top edge of the cuff. Use a locking stitch marker or two to hold the two edges together while you seam them.
Step 2: Using a yarn needle and 30″ piece of white, worsted weight yarn, whipstitch the top edge of the cuff and top of edge of the stocking together. Make sure that when you insert the yarn needle through the faux fur cuff, that you insert it under a top loop instead of just under the fur. Whipstitch through every other stitch around the top edge of the stocking, but through nearly every stitch of the faux fur cuff.
Weave in ends. Continue on to Hanging Loop.
Hanging Loop
Using a 5.50 mm crochet hook and white yarn, ch 31, working into the back hump of the ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. (30 sts)
Fasten off leaving an 8” tail. Using a yarn needle and the tail of yarn, fold your work in half and sew the loop onto the inside of the stocking at the center back of the leg. Weave in ends. Continue on to Faux Fur Poms & Tie, if desired.
Faux Fur Poms (Make 2)
Rnd 1: With a 10.00 mm crochet hook and faux fur yarn, ch 2, work 4 sc into the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (4 sts) Use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning of each round as you work.
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc into each st around. (8 sts)
Rnd 3: (sc2tog) 4 times. (4 sts)
Fasten off. Continue on to Tie.
Tie
With a 5.50 mm crochet hook and white yarn, begin by leaving an 8″ tail of yarn to tie a pom onto, ch until your ch measures 11″. Do not fasten off. Place a stitch marker into the last chain to hold it so you can adjust the length later, if needed.
Using a yarn needle and beginning tail of yarn, weave the tie through a stitch at the top, center back of leg of your stocking.
Tie 1 pom onto the end of the tie without the stitch marker. Knot to secure and weave ends into the inside of the pom.
Move the tie around to adjust it to the length you prefer. Remove chains if it’s too long, add chains if it’s too short. Once you’ve decided on the proper length, fasten off leaving a 4″ tail.
Tie 2nd pom onto the opposite end of the tie. Knot to secure and weave ends into the inside of the pom.
MORE FREE CROCHET PATTERNS FROM A CROCHETED SIMPLICITY
If you enjoy this crochet Christmas stocking pattern, you may enjoy these other projects as well. And if you just want to browse, you can find all of our free crochet patterns HERE.
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