These are the Christmas stockings that starting hanging on our mantel 29 years. Ryan's was made by one of my husband's best friend's mom, Barb. I remember the box coming in the mail and being so excited that someone would take the time to make such a special stocking for our baby. We proudly hung it from a shelf in our first home as there was no fireplace. When Lindsey was born, again I received a box in the mail that contained her stocking as well. Since the birth of Ryan, Barb had lost her battle with cancer but her sister took up the tradition of making a stocking for our babies and then made one for Anna two years later. Hanging these stockings have been part of our holiday tradition and one that my kids still look for every Christmas season. The stockings have Santa on one side and the Christmas tree on the other. If you look closely at Anna's, Santa has a couple of moth holes that I have been meaning to fix for a couple of years.
Now that we have a new member in our family since Ryan's wedding, I was thinking I needed to make a stocking for Paula too. I started searching the internet and books for patterns that would be similar or maybe the same one, but no luck, so I contacted, Barb's son to see if by chance they had a copy of the pattern for the famous Christmas stocking. He said they did and would bring me a copy of it.
First of all the copy right on the pattern is 1948 and looks very complicated for my self-taught knitting self, but call me crazy, I am going to try. As I have found in the past with knitting, you just start and work one row at a time and try not to freak out by looking ahead.
What was really crazy about the pattern was the pages and pages of Barb's hand writen notes that she took on the pattern as well as a page of all of the names of the folks that have been a recipient of one of the precious stockings. There are 163 names listed as well as the hand drawn graphs of each name. Wow, I think I really just might be crazy to think that I would even attempt to knit like Barb. But this is my holiday challenge of the year. I will keep you updated as to my progress and we will see how this goes. Today I am headed to my local yarn store, Knit-Wit, to pick up my supplies. I might not get finished this year, but I am determined to do this.
The pattern itself is such a special heirloom!
Good luck! Can't wait to see how it turns out! :)
Posted by: Valerie | November 02, 2011 at 11:38 AM
if anyone can do it, you can! :)
Posted by: amy | November 02, 2011 at 12:47 PM
You are brave. And awesome. I love that you are doing this and yes, what a treasure those patterns are! 163 names?! Barb sounds like one awesome lady, herself.
I must admit, I've looked at some crochet flower patterns online and had a little freakout myself, so I know what you mean. Haha.
Can't wait to hear about your progress. Paula will treasure that stocking, I'm sure.
xoxo,
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn McVey (dawnsing) | November 02, 2011 at 02:09 PM
What big footsteps you're walking in! How amazing that Barb made 163 labors of love to share with others. Amazing... Good luck with yours. It will be a labor of love, too!
Posted by: Susan @ My Place to Yours | November 03, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Heirloom Yes! What a treasure to have something so wonderful. What is even more wonderful is that you have are so willing to make one for the DIL. That is awesome. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Posted by: Sue | November 04, 2011 at 08:55 PM
I have been looking everywhere for this pattern. This stocking has been in our family for 50 years and we have been looking for this pattern for about 5. If you could help me find one it would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks so much
Kristy
from PA
Posted by: Kristy | January 14, 2012 at 07:00 PM