How to personalize your stocking

Personalization is an important part of stocking making. When you add the name to the stocking, it bonds it to the person (or pet!) forever. There are lots of ways to add a name to a knitted stocking. You can knit the name into the stocking as you go or you can add the name after it's made using embroidery. There are lots of options and you can choose what works for you!

Every Stocking Craft pattern includes a name planning graph. You can download a free copy of our Christmas Stocking Name Chart here. There are also number charts that you can use to add a date or year to the back of your stocking. 

If you're planning to knit the name into the stocking you should plan out the name in before you cast on. It is very simple to knit a name into a stocking, please don't be intimidated or feel like it is difficult, it is not. Knitting a name into a stocking involves simple colorwork knitting techiques. You start your letters on row 19, a knit row. Following Chart A, add a contrasting color yarn and carry it across the back of your work catcing the floats every 2-3 stitches. You will do the same on the purl side, twisting your yarn as you go until you complete row 25. It's very simple and a great warm-up for colorwork in the rest of your stocking!

There are times when you don't know the name for your stocking as you knit it. Sometimes when I've made a stocking as a babyshower gift I have waited to add the name. In that case you can knit the stocking without a name and add it later via embroidery. There are lots of great embroidery options for adding a name to your stocking after it is knitted. You can use yarn and the charts included with your stocking and duplicate stitch the name. This is a great option because it looks pretty close to knitting the name into the stocking. The only real difference is that the name stitches will be slightly raised above the stocking.  Another name for this techinque are Swiss darning. 

Another option to add a name to your stocking after is has been knitted is to use machine embroidery. If you have access to an embroidery machine you can quickly add a name to a stocking. We recommend tearaway backing that is designed for knits if you will be machine embroidering your knit stocking. The letters should be 1-1.5 inches tall and you will want to use a satin stich top with a zig zag underlay. You can use a water soluable topper - but it is not necessary in our opinion.