Free Crochet Christmas Pattern: Petal Loop Stitch Stocking

Every year I tell myself I have enough crochet Christmas stocking patterns, and every year one more idea talks its way onto my hook. So when I sat down to design another one, I half expected to be going through the motions. The Petal Loop Stitch had other plans.

I wanted to see what those soft, overlapping rows would look like running up the leg of a stocking, so I grabbed some green Herrschners Worsted 8 sitting closest to my chair and found out. The texture stopped me in my tracks. It looks like something you would pay a small fortune for at a boutique, and it works up in a simple four-row repeat once it clicks.

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What surprised me most is how well these hold their shape once they are stuffed with goodies. I made mine in one size: 16 inches tall by 6.5 inches wide, which is roomy enough for real presents, not just candy canes. If you have never worked a stocking from the toe up before, this is a friendly place to start, and I will walk you through why that construction makes life easier further down. Add a Petal Loop Ornament or a coordinating Wheat Stitch Wreath for more textured fun.

Why You’ll Love This Petal Loop Stitch Stocking

• The Petal Loop Stitch texture looks intricate, but it’s an easy-to-memorize four-row repeat.
• It is worked from the toe up in joined rounds, so most of the shaping happens as you go, and the only real seaming is closing the heel at the end.
• One generous size, 16 by 6.5 inches, big enough to actually fill on Christmas morning.
• Solid or striped, so you can make a coordinating set for the whole family without buying a cart full of yarn.
• A full step-by-step video tutorial walks you through every part.
• Add a Petal Loop Ornament or Petal Loop Chevron Washcloth as a gorgeous hostess gift!

Yarn Substitutions

I used Herrschners Worsted 8, a #4 worsted-weight yarn that is 100 percent acrylic, 489 yards per 226-gram skein. The stockings shown use the colorways Aran, Wine, Army (dark green), and Leaf (light green). You will need about 230 yards for a solid-color stocking, so a single skein makes two stockings with yarn to spare. 

I keep coming back to this one for holiday makes because it is smooth enough to show off the Petal Loop Stitch texture, holds its shape when the stocking gets stuffed, and comes in those rich, true holiday shades that are hard to find in an acrylic at this affordable price.

If you want a different look, here are the substitutes I would reach for:

• Herrschners Holiday Sparkle, 92% Acrylic, 8% Polyester, 489yds/226g, for a little festive shimmer.
• Herrschners Supreme Worsted,100% Acrylic; 169yds/100g, for a rich, vibrant, softer stocking
• Mary Maxim Maximum Value, 100% Acrylic; 474yds/227g, a great budget pick for a big family set.
• Brava Tweed, 97% Premium Acrylic, 3% Viscose; 340yds/100g, if you love a little fleck of texture.

Remember always to check the gauge and drape when substituting yarns.

Skill Level

Intermediate

This is an intermediate pattern, and the Petal Loop Stitch is what earns that rating. It has a four-row rhythm you learn by doing, and it clicks quickly if you work the first repeat slowly while the video plays. Gauge is not critical, and the toe-up construction is straightforward, so if you can single crochet and half double crochet, you are ready for this one.

Sizing & Finished Measurements

The Petal Loop Stitch Stocking comes in one size, and it is a generous one. Finished, it measures 16” from the top of the cuff to the tip of the toe, and 6.5”across the widest part of the foot. That is deliberately roomy. I wanted a stocking you can actually fill with a wrapped paperback or a pair of socks, not just a few pieces of candy.

Gauge

Gauge is not critical here, which is part of why it is such a relaxing make.

For the record, my gauge runs 15 stitches and 13 rows to a 4” by 4” square in the stitch pattern. If your stocking is coming out noticeably larger or smaller and you want to rein it in, matching your gauge is the lever to pull. Go down a hook size to shrink it, up a size to grow it.

Abbreviations

blo – back loop only
ch – chain
hdc – half double crochet
RS/WS – Right Side/Wrong Side
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
Stsc – stacked single crochet

Special Stitches Used in This Pattern

The star of this pattern is the Petal Loop Stitch, a textured stitch I designed that builds those soft, scalloped rows. It is made from two little building blocks, a 3 Loop Petal and a 2 Loop Petal, worked over a base of stacked single crochet and third-loop single crochet. Written out, it can look like alphabet soup, which is exactly why I filmed it. Watch the Petal Loop Stitch video tutorial once, and the rhythm will make sense in a way no amount of text can match.

Stacked single crochet (Stsc): a single crochet worked in two stacked halves so it stands as tall as the row without a turning chain.

3 Loop Petal: pulls up loops across the back loop of a previous stitch and the next two stitches, then closes them into one soft petal.

2 Loop Petal: the smaller sibling worked at the end of a row to keep the edge tidy.

Once the leg is tall enough, finish the top with a band of ribbing worked sideways for that cozy, folded-cuff look, or add a simple scalloped edge for a softer look. The heel is added afterward by going back to the stitches you set aside, so you are never fighting to shape both the heel and the leg simultaneously. A hanging tab and any other festive embellishments desired are the final, festive touches.

Love toe-up stockings? Check out the Wheat Stitch Stocking and the Granny All the Way Stocking Collection.

Petal Loop Christmas Stocking Video Tutorial: Part 1

Petal Loop Stitch Stocking Written Pattern

Stocking Foot

Note: If using two colors, change to the color of choice for the foot, or change colors for Rounds 9 and 10.

Rnd 7 (RS): Stsc in first st, hdc in remaining sts around, join and turn. (48 sts)

Rnd 8 (WS): Ch 1 (the turning chain does not count as a st throughout), working in the third loop sc in each st around, join and turn.

Rnd 9: Stsc in first, insert your hook into the loop on the back of the Stsc, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook, ch 1. Then insert into the loop on the back of the previous st, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next st and pull up a loop, then into the next st and pull up a loop (4 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook, ch 1; repeat this across to the last st. Insert into the loop on the back of the previous st, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook, join and turn.

Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in the first, 2 sc in the next st, then skip 1, 2 sc in the next; repeat from the last comma across until the last 2 sts, skip 1, sc in the last, join and turn.

Repeat: Repeat Rounds 7 to 10 two more times, which will end on Round 18.

Petal Loop Christmas Stocking Video Tutorial: Part 2

Split for Heel

Rnd 19 (RS): Stsc in first, hdc 25, ch 22, skip the remaining stitches, join and turn. | 26 sts plus 22 chains

Rnd 20 (WS): Ch 1, sc in 22 sts (the chains), working in the third loop sc in the remaining 26 sts, join and turn. | 48 sts

Stocking Leg

Rnd 21: Repeat Rnd 9.

Rnd 22: Repeat Rnd 10.

Rnds 23 to 42: Repeat Rnds 7 to 10 five more times.

Rnd 43: Repeat Rnd 7.

Rnd 44: Repeat Rnd 8.

Top Ribbing

Row 1: With color of choice, ch 8 (or ch 25 for a fold-over cuff), in blo sc in the second chain from the hook and across to the leg, sl st 2 sts on the leg (these do not count as sts), turn. | 7 or 24 sts

Row 2: Skip the two slip stitches from the body, blo sc in each st across, turn. | 7 or 24 sts

Row 3: Ch 1, blo sc in each st across, sl st 2 sts on the body, turn.

Repeats: Repeat rows 2 and 3 around the top of the stocking leg. Join the last row to the beginning row by slip-stitching through the back loops of the first and last rows at the same time, with the wrong side facing.

Top Scallop

Rnd 1: Skip the first 2 sts, 5 dc in the next, skip 2 sts, sl st in next, then skip 2 sts, 5 dc in the next, skip 2 sts, sl st in next; repeat around, join and fasten off. | 8 scallops

Heel

Tip: See the video for working the corners and reducing holes.

Rnd 1: Attach the color of choice for the heel to the edge of the stitch from Rnd 19 on a corner, ch 1, then hdc2tog by working into the edge stitch and the first st of the round, hdc 18, hdc2tog by working into the next st and the edge stitch; repeat by working around the other side of the heel and decreasing on the corners, join and turn. | 40 sts

Rnd 2: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc 16, hdc2tog, then repeat that sequence once more, join. | 36 sts

Rnd 3: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc 14, hdc2tog, then repeat once more, join. | 32 sts

Rnd 4: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc 12, hdc2tog, then repeat once more, join. | 28 sts

Rnd 5: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc 10, hdc2tog, then repeat once more, join. | 24 sts

Fasten off, leaving a long tail; fold the heel opening in half from top to bottom, and seam it closed. Weave in ends.

Finishing

Weave in all ends and give your stocking a little fluff. Add a hanging tab to the top using ribbon and rivets for a polished, ready-to-hang finish, or crochet a tab, or use a strip of leather with a punched hole for a rustic look. You can also create an i-cord for a hanging loop.

For an extra special touch, add a wooden tag. If you are using your stocking as decor, slipping a cardboard insert, cut to shape, inside will help maintain that crisp silhouette. Your stocking is finished and ready to be displayed or wrapped as a thoughtful gift.

Petal Loop Stitch Stocking FAQs

How much yarn do I need to crochet a Christmas stocking?

For this pattern, you need about 230 yards of worsted-weight yarn for a single solid-color stocking. A standard 489-yard skein of Herrschners Worsted 8 will make two stockings with a bit to spare, which makes a family set surprisingly affordable. If you are striping, you will use less of each individual color but want to have both full skeins on hand. I always suggest buying one extra skein for a set, since dye lots and tension can vary just enough to leave you short on the last stocking.

What yarn is best for a crochet Christmas stocking?

A number 4 worsted-weight acrylic is my top pick for stockings, and here is why. Acrylic is sturdy, holds its shape when stuffed, wipes clean if it meets a candy cane, and comes in every festive color you could want. Wool is lovely but pricier and fussier to care for on something that lives in a box eleven months of the year. I used Herrschners Worsted 8, but any smooth worsted acrylic will behave the same way. Save your splurge yarn for a scarf.

Is this stocking pattern beginner-friendly?

I would call it a confident beginner-to-intermediate make. The stitches themselves are not hard, but the Petal Loop Stitch has a rhythm you need to learn, and the stacked single crochet is probably new if you have only done basic patterns. The good news is that both are shown stitch by stitch in the video tutorial, and gauge is not critical, so there is a lot of room to relax and learn as you go. If you can single crochet and half double crochet, you can absolutely make this.

How do I make a crochet stocking hold its shape on the mantel?

Two things make the difference. First, block the finished stocking so the texture relaxes and the edges lie flat. Second, if you are displaying it empty, cut a piece of cardboard to the stocking silhouette and slip it inside to keep it standing crisp and upright. The tight worsted acrylic already gives this stocking more structure than a softer fiber would, so it holds up well on its own once filled, but the cardboard trick is what gets you that magazine-ready look for photos.

Can I make this stocking bigger or smaller?

Yes. Because gauge is not critical, the simplest way to resize is to change your hook. A larger hook and the same pattern give you a bigger stocking; a smaller hook gives you a daintier one. You can also adjust the height by working more or fewer repeats of the Petal Loop Stitch on the leg before you start the cuff. Just keep in mind that a bigger stocking drinks more yarn, so buy accordingly.

Can I sell stockings I make from this pattern?

You are welcome to sell finished stockings you make from this pattern on a small scale, and a credit back to Briana K Designs is always appreciated. What you cannot do is copy, share, or resell the pattern itself. In other words, sell the stockings you stitch with your own two hands, not the instructions. That is what keeps independent designers like me able to keep giving patterns away for free on the blog.