Classic Christmas Stocking

My childhood friend Sarah was one of 10 kids. At Christmas every year, her family would hang up stockings that her grandmother had knit for each and every child. Every stocking had a name on it. I remember thinking that this was the height of all things crafty. I dreamed of one day being able to do the same. Well, fast forward several decades, and I'm finally fulfilling that wish! This is one of my very first knitting patterns! I wanted to make a classic stocking that would be large enough to hold tons of gifts. I also wanted to be able to embroider a name on the stocking. Finally, I wanted to make a stocking that could be knit on 16" circular needles in order to avoid ladders. I've made quite a few stockings over the past year, and when I knit long stretches of stockinette, I can see ladders in my work if I use magic loop. Hence, circular needles were a must for these heirloom stockings. This pattern fits the bill! The final stocking is 17 inches tall by 6 inches wide.