Never to Early to Get the Christmas Stockings Done

This year we have two new family babies.  Baby Elle was born in February.  Baby Beaumont just arrived.  For each baby's first Christmas, my gift is a stocking.

In the past few years, I have been using the kits from Annie's Woolen's.   The yarn in the kit is a good sturdy wool.  The shades of red and green are nice and Christmasy.   The patterns give me a chance to practice colorwork.  

Baby Henry's stocking was, by request, a very simple one. He arrived on time to receive his stocking for Christmas 2014.   I used a free pattern  found on the web.

Baby Henry's Stocking

As he is the first grandchild, I made it nice and big so that it can be appropriately filled.

Beaumont's older brother Alastair received a less traditional stocking.   Lorna Pearman's Firstborn Elvish Stocking was the perfect touch of Christmas and whimsy.   Beaumont will receive a similar one.....keeping the theme within the family.

One of my grandmothers made four of the five of us felt stockings when we were small.  Those stockings were put out for St. Nicholas Day each year and were an important part of our tradition.   Making the stocking for each new baby is my way of welcoming them to the family.   (I also keep the patterns.....so a new one can be made if disaster strikes.)