Grayson Family Christmas Stocking

Sylvia Grayson, wife of Roland and mother of Patricia, Richard, and Priscilla, knit a Christmas stocking in the same pattern for each of her ten grandchildren. Family knitters have continued the practice, with a different yarn color choice for each generation, always offering to make one for any spouse who joined the family without a favorite stocking of his/her own. Here are the instructions for the basic stocking and here is a hint on how to knit with two or more colors on one row. Note, I have never been able to make pom poms as tight and full as Sylvia did, even increasing the number of turns to 150 instead of 100.
A spreadsheet to use when planning names or a tree is here. The yarn colors and design choices for each generation are:

Sylvia's grandchildren

  • Cuff: white (note, greatly faded to ecru now)
  • Name: red, embroidered on cuff
  • Body: red
  • Decoration: green felt tree, appliqued on after.
    Sequins or other decor sewn on although most are now lost
  • Bow Tie: red with jingle bell on each end
  • Pom poms: white

Sylvia's great-grandchildren & spouses

  • Cuff: white
  • Name: red or green, embroidered or knit into cuff
  • Body: red/white/green Christmas variegated yarn
  • Decoration: none
  • Bow Tie: red, variegated, or white with jingle bell on each end
  • Pom poms: red or white. Sometimes just one pom pom on toe, none on heel

Sylvia's great-great grandchildren

  • Cuff: white
  • Name: red, embroidered or knit into cuff
  • Body: red
  • Decoration: green Christmas tree, knit into the red body.
    See pattern here.
    Sequins and beads sewn onto the tree, along with a gold chain or trim.
  • Bow Tie: red or white with jingle bell on each end
  • Pom poms: white
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