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It is time for some Christmas in July projects! I can believe that the year is half over and Christmas is only 5 months away. What a crazy first half of the year it has been. I debated whether or not I was going to do a Christmas in July week this year, and after going back and forth on it over the past couple of weeks I finally decided to go ahead with it. I'm not sure I am ready to start thinking about Christmas when I am still trying to figure out whether or not my kids will be going back to school in a month, but I also know it is always nice to get a head start on handmade gifts, as well as items to sell for the holidays whether online or at craft fairs (if they happen this year).

This whole week I will be sharing different Christmas craft ideas that you can get started on early, or save to make closer to December. For the first project I decided to take one of my favorite hat patterns and turn it into a Christmas stocking.

I thought it would create a neat texture for a stocking giving it an interesting look, even when made in just one color.

How to Crochet a Bead Stitch Christmas Stocking

Finished Size 12" tall

You will need:

1 skein medium weight yarn in desired color (I used Red Heart Super Saver in Aran)
I crochet hook
yarn needle
scissors

Instructions:

This pattern uses 2 special stitches HDC in the 3rd Loop and the Bead Stitch. I have videos showing how to make both of the stitches in case the written instructions are not clear enough.

Special Stitches:

Bead Stitch

the bead stitch is basically a puff stitch worked around the post of the dc next to it

dc in first stitch, yo, insert hook post of dc, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook around post, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook around post, pull up loop, yo, pull through all loops on hook, skip next stitch

Bead Stitch Video Tutorial Here

HDC in 3rd Loop

work the hdc in the loop/bar behind the top of the stitch that you normally work into

HDC in 3rd Loop Video Tutorial Here

Stocking Pattern

Begin with magic ring, beginning ch 2 does not count as a stitch

Round 1: in mr, ch 2, 10 dc, slip stitch to first dc to join (10 dc)

Round 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each stitch, slip stitch to first dc to join (20 dc)

Round 3: ch 2, [2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next] repeat around, slip stitch to first stitch to join (30 dc)

Round 4: ch 2, [2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next 2] repeat around, slip stitch to first stitch to join (40 dc)

Round 5: ch 2, dc in each stitch, slip stitch to first stitch to join (40 dc)

Round 6: ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 7: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 8: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 9: ch 1, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch, slip stitch to first stitch to join (40 sc)

Round 10: ch 2, work bead stitch all the way around following instructions above (dc in first stitch, puff stitch around post, skip next stitch), slip stitch to first dc (20 beads)

Round 11: ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Heel Row 1: ch 1, sc in 20 stitches (20 sc)

Heel Row 2: ch 1, turn sc2tog, sc in next 16, sc2tog (18 sc)

Heel Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 14, sc2tog (16 sc)

Heel Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 12, sc2tog (14 sc)

Heel Row 5: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 10, sc2tog (12 sc)

Heel Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 8, sc2tog (10 sc)

Heel Row 7: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 6, sc2tog (8 sc)

Heel Row 8: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 4, sc2tog (6 sc)

Heel Row 9: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 2, sc2tog (4 sc)

Heel Row 10: ch 1, turn, sc2tog twice (2 sc)

Heel Row 11: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (4 sc)

Heel Row 12: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (6 sc)

Heel Row 13: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (8 sc)

Heel Row 14: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (10 sc)

Heel Row 15: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (12 sc)

Heel Row 16: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (14 sc)

Heel Row 17: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (16 sc)

Heel Row 18: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 1, turn, sc in sl st, sc in each sc across, sc in side of the previous row (18 sc)

Heel Row 19: sl st to the side of the stitch from the previous row, ch 2, turn, hdc in sl st, hdc in each sc across, hdc in side of the previous row (20 hdc)

Round 12: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 13: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 14: ch 1, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch, slip stitch to first stitch to join (40 sc)

Round 15: ch 2, work bead stitch all the way around following instructions above (dc in first stitch, puff stitch around post, skip next stitch), slip stitch to first dc (20 beads)

Round 16: ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 17: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 18: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 19: ch 1, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch, slip stitch to first stitch to join (40 sc)

Round 20: ch 2, work bead stitch all the way around following instructions above (dc in first stitch, puff stitch around post, skip next stitch), slip stitch to first dc (20 beads)

Round 21: ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 22: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 23: ch 2, hdc in 3rd loop in each stitch around, slip stitch to first hdc to join (40 hdc)

Round 24: ch 1, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch, slip stitch to first stitch to join (40 sc)

Round 25: ch 2, dc in each stitch, slip stitch to first dc to join (40 dc)

Round 26: ch 2, [fpdc in first stitch, bpdc in next] repeat around, slip stitch to first dc to join (40 dc)

Round 27: ch 2, [fpdc in first stitch, bpdc in next] repeat around, slip stitch to first dc to join (40 dc)

Round 28: ch 2, [fpdc in first stitch, bpdc in next] repeat around, slip stitch to first dc to join (40 dc)

Finish off, cut yarn and weave in ends

Hanging Loop

ch 18, stitch into the stocking at the inside top edge of stocking

Bead Stitch Christmas Stocking