Scandinavian Christmas Stockings: Classic Designs to Knit for the Holiday

This is an interesting book of original Scandinavian designs for 22 stockings, one pair of mittens, a hat, and leggings. It was originally written for Norwegians, and this is a translation, but a good one. Clearly it is designed for people who know how to knit, and intended for Scandinavian knitters. It has very few beginner diagrams, assuming that you can read the directions and get on with it. It is based on two Scandinavian yarns not usually seen in America. While needle sizes are given, a gauge is not. But size is not critical in a Christmas stocking. The basic instructions for two sizes of yarns are given in the beginning, one for 60 stitches around, and one for 66 stitches around. Because there is no gauge, it is not easy to figure out how big these stockings are. On the other hand, it seems that there are enough instructions for all elements of these stockings to easily make these socks, especially if you've made socks and done colored knitting designs for patterns knit in the round.What I like best about this book is the designs, which are varied and interesting. It would be easy to exchange or add designs to your own stocking. Personalization is easy. There are pictures of tassels at the toe of the stockings, and i cord tops. Some of the designs are based on antique Scandinavian patterns, although most are not. There are also charts for 3 alphabets. The designs are charted and clear. There is even a unique Mom and Dad stocking, which has one top piece, two toes, but no heels.I wanted to make Christmas stockings and I looked around at what was available, and from the pictures I picked this one. I have not been disappointed.I gave 4 stars because this is a good, solid book for what it is, well planned, with interesting designs and other possibilities. I didn't give it 5 stars because it was designed for Scandinavians, who are more likely to make stranded color sweaters. I would have liked to see some more diagrams of methods and techniques, along with the gauge. But there is more than enough information for me, and I will enjoy making these stockings for my family.

SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS is a collection of patterns for 22 Christmas stockings, 1 cap, 1 pair of mittens, and 1 pair of leggings. To me, the designs all look fairly similar. "Christmas", the book cover design, is fairly typical of the look of most of the stockings.Although the designs are built around traditional Scandinavian knitting motifs (trees, reindeer, stick figures, dancers), they are not based on historical examples of knitted Scandinavian stockings. They are the author's new designs. There are no thumbnail photos of ethnic, museum-quality, knitted Scandinavian stockings. However, there are charts for three different, very nice alphabets, to be used in adding names to the stockings.The charted Fair Isle designs are written for 2-ply Gammelserie (6.5-7 sts/in, on 2.5mm-3.0mm needles or US 1-2 needles) and 3-ply Strikkegarn (5-6 st/in, on size 3.0 mm-3.5 mm needles or US 2-3 needles). The book does not include the above gauge information, or suggest any suppliers, but you can use Google to find U.S. sources for these traditional Scandinavian yarns. You can also substitute any high-twist yarn that gives approximately the same gauge. (After all, with Christmas stockings, you're not trying to knit a sock that will be worn by someone.)The patterns are fairly difficult--some call for knitting with three colors in a single row--so they're best for adventurous intermediate and advanced knitters. Because I'm not particularly drawn to any of the stocking designs, I rate SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS at 4 stars ("I like it" on the official Amazon scale). If you're looking for Christmas stocking patterns, some other good books you might consider are  Christmas Stockings: Holiday Treasures to Knit , and  Knit Christmas Stockings!: 19 Patterns for Stockings and Ornaments  (both books are out of print, but used copies are available).

I have made 1 stocking from this book and am currently working a second. I've used ordinary worsted weight yarn with sz 5 needles for the body of the stocking, sz 4 for the heel.These stocking designs are lovely and include more detail than one might think, when first perusing the book. The alphabets included are gorgeous and will become go-to's for other projects.The heel is not one I was familiar with, but very easy to do, kind of ingenius.In short, this is probably not a book for the absolute beginner, but a beginner would not start out with a Fair Isle stocking, anyway. It is a wonderful book filled with many options for the intermediate to advanced knitter. Highly recommend!

I don't knit but couldn't resist the patterns in this book. I will be commissioning several stockings to give to the newest members of our family next Christmas!

I made three stockings from this book and they turned out great. I did have to substitute yarn, though, because the one that was called for was not available to me in time for Christmas.

I like the patterns in Fair Isle. I teach knitting and always looking for books and ideas to use.

Biggest caveat is that the alphabet does not have all the letters you might need. For me I will have to improvise a Z for my sister Lizzie's name. If you have any family or friends with a q, x, or z you will have to do the same.Great patterns. I shared some of my favorites because I didn't like buying it before seeing what most of the patterns looked like, but I was pleased with them once I paged through. I haven't tried making them yet but have read through the instructions. The heel instructions seem a bit vague.I've already looked around and it looks like the recommended yarn is available online - but as others have said you can use another similar yarn. I am still deciding which to use. I may update the post once I make a stocking.

Love this book. Want to make a stocking for everyone in my family. I checked it out first from the library and didn't want to return it, so I bought one. I also bought the yarn to make 4 stockings.

This is an absolutely wonderful, inspiring book. Lots of lovely designs and motifs that offer a different type of Christmas imagery than what I am used to here in the UK. Dancing stick men and women, reindeer and cats worked in black; hearts and flowers; teddy bear and snowflakes. Worked using the traditional Christmas colours we're used to in the UK - red, white, green - but mixed up with sludgy greys and and blues (and black, as previously mentioned) that work tremendously well. I am itching to get started!There are approximately 22 patterns for stockings, and patterns for a pair of mittens, an elf cap, and leg warmers.My caveat concerns the size of the stockings. They are small. They are worked with 2 - and 3-ply wool on US-size 2-3 needles and are 60-66 stitches wide. I haven't completed one yet, but the test piece that I did using 3-ply wool on size 3.25 needles over 64 stitches measures 10 inches across. So the the finished stocking is going to measure around 5 inches across, which is smaller that I'd expected.Now, if you know what you're doing, this isn't a problem, because you can use thicker wool and bigger needles; and if you're really confident you can scale up the number of stitches too.The book is worth buying for the charts alone, which can be adapted and used in jumpers, scarves, etc. The charts include (in addition to the designs for the individual stockings and items) three alphabet charts for personalising the stockings; a chart of numbers; and some 'runner' designs for borders.The authentic wool cannot be bought in the UK (not anywhere I've found anyway) but can be got online. And really you can use easy-to-come-by Shetland or any other 2, 3 or 4-ply wool as a substitute so don't let the wool issue put you off.

This book is my favourite Christmas stocking book. Beautifully written with b&w charts which make following the designs so easy. I loved the personal stories and little details on finishing the stockings. I’ve knitted a few from the book. Highly recommended and I’m happy I purchased it. The stockings are the perfect size and will be bigger if like me you knit them with DK/Worsted 100% wool yarn and 4mm needles. Very fast delivery too.

I bought this book because my godson and his wife asked me to knit them a Christmas stocking each. A lot of the designs available were a bit kitsch - and not in a good way. But these seemed properly traditional, and in practice were a lot easier to knit than they looked. Although all the designs specify some obscure Scandinavian yarn, tucked away in the small print is the fact that they can be substituted by standard DK and 4-ply

Lovely designs but 2ply wool which I cannot obtain

when I knit to the heel, the instruction is extremely unclear, I struggle to follow. As it is for Xmas decoration, the heel and toe is not for human foot, how to achieve the shape on the cover, I wonder????felt very sorry to buy the book!!!