This is a crochet pattern review of the Cozy Cottage Cable Stocking pattern by designer MJ’s Off the Hook Designs. Review done by A Stitch Shy of Normal for EyeLoveKnots.
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If you’re more on top of things than I am, you probably already have your stockings figured out. Good for you, and I mean that honestly! However, not all of us are in the same boat. I’m writing this while taking a break from hanging up the Christmas lights that I had my husband pick up at Target this weekend, and it’s already the second weekend of December. For now I can still use the excuse of having a toddler and being distracted instead of decorating, but I’m sure that excuse won’t sound as convincing when one day he’s twelve years old. I’ll come up with something in the meantime though! I get really excited for the holidays but following through on decorating is difficult for me.
Anyway, if you’re thinking some stockings would be adorable to hang up for your family and you just can’t find the right one or you don’t like the ones on the shelves at the big box stores, this pattern is perfect for you! It’s a gorgeously textured stocking that looks so plush and lovely, and can hold a decent amount of small treasures. It’s written in two sizes but both are a good size in my opinion. Just depends on the space you have to decorate or the number of goodies you want to put inside! And although it looks intricate, the actual project is a fairly approachable four-row repeat that’s not too difficult once you get some practice in. And I don’t think it takes overly long to make. You still have a little bit of time until Christmas, you could whip up one of these over a weekend and still be ready in time!
I’ve made these stockings before, probably years ago. I don’t think I ever finished more than one or two. But my best friend (of about twenty years or more) just had her first little one this summer and she commissioned me to make some stockings for her little family! She specifically asked that I make the big size even though her little one will be just a few months old this holiday season–it’ll be hers for many years to come! For now my friend can fill the stocking up with dollar store treasures and the little lady will be overjoyed at the fun.
It’s me, Abigail with A Stitch Shy of Normal.
Visit with me on Instagram @astitchshyofnormal for all kinds of awesome crochet makes and inspiration!
What Materials Do I Need to Crochet a Cable Stocking?
- 300 or 585 yards (small or large stocking) of worsted weight yarn–I used Lion Brand Heartland, almost exactly two skeins for each large stocking, in colorways “Redwood”, “Indiana Dunes”, and “Joshua Tree”.
- I9/5.5mm crochet hook – I love to use Clover Amour
- Scissors and yarn needle for finishing
- Cozy Cottage Cable Stocking, Paid Crochet Pattern from MJ’s Off the Hook Designs
Material Notes:
When my friend reached out about this stocking pattern, she said she had color ideas in mind but asked me what yarn I would recommend or prefer to use, so she could browse colorways. I offered a couple ideas knowing she’d likely want acrylic so these would be durable and washable, it would just depend on the type of look she was going for. I offered some simple solid colorways but mentioned if she wanted gorgeous tonal colors I loved the idea of Lion Brand Heartland. Immediately she agreed and had her colors picked in minutes! If I were to try to list all the previous patterns I’ve reviewed on here using this yarn, I would never finish this. I use it literally all the time.
I feel that this was a great yarn choice for the pattern. The colors are more than just a solid shade, and they add a beautiful depth to the stocking. At the same time, they’re not vibrant or distracting enough to draw the attention away from the cables. The texture gets to be the star and the yarn does its job wonderfully.
I haven’t yet washed or cleaned these since they’re not for me, but this yarn has held up really well in the past for me. The label says it’s safe to machine wash and dry, and I’ve found that to be the case myself too. I wouldn’t do it too much just to keep the yarn from pilling as much as possible, but when you need to toss these in to be washed (like when my friend’s baby inevitably gets chocolate all over it one year or something), it should clean up great. I would absolutely use Lion Brand’s Heartland again for this pattern, or what I consider its sister yarn Lion Brand Basic Stitch. But any straightforward worsted weight acrylic should work great–Red Heart Super Saver, Joann’s store brand Big Twist, etc. I just saw while linking there that they have a whole line of Big Twist in holiday colorways, that would be adorable! I haven’t tried this in a striping yarn yet so I can’t promise anything about how those colorways might turn out but their speckles would be super cute.
How Long Does it Take to Crochet a Cable Stocking?
I got faster as I worked on these stockings, of course. You get into a rhythm and the cables become second nature. I think I would estimate these taking me maybe 6-8 hours of work each, and that’s probably an overestimate but I’m trying to play it safe. The cables can be tricky when you get started, and you need to pay close attention to your repeats to maintain the texture. Plus once you’ve finished the main stocking, that ribbed top “cuff” takes quite a bit of time itself!
Gauge & Measurements:
Since I made the larger size I’ll put a quick summary of that information here:
Toe to Heel–8.5″ / Heel to Top of Cuff (folded)–17″ / Width–8″
My stocking, the same measurement areas:
Toe to Heel is about 9″, Heel to Top of Cuff (folded) is around 16″, and the width is about 7.5″.
So I was pretty close, all things considered. Minor differences in the measurements like I had are going to happen with different yarn, or how each person works their cables with their own tension, etc. I got in the ballpark of the intended dimensions for sure, and I’ll take that.
Pattern Notes:
I just wanted to mention that it wasn’t on purpose to review the same designer as last month, the Granny Pop Cardigan! Like I said at the beginning, this pattern was a specific request from a friend and it actually happened to be a pattern I already owned and had used before. It wasn’t until I sat down to write this that it occurred to me a lot of it looked similar to last time. I guess I really enjoy the designs from this creator! (I already knew that I suppose.)
If cables scare you, don’t be too afraid of this pattern. It might actually be a good way to approach them without the intimidation of a larger item like a sweater. And since it’s a decoration and not a garment, if your tension isn’t perfect on the cabling no one will notice.
This cabling technique is a very popular one and it’s often used for a reason! It gives these thick, gorgeous cables without tons of confusing charts and explanations. Once you’ve done your first repeat or two of this pattern, you’ll have it down and you’ll just need to remember which row of cables you’re on.
As for utility of the item itself, I think this is a nice size for a stocking! I’m not sure if I’ve ever made the small size of this pattern, but the large I can say is a great option. There’s lots of space inside for small toys, little candies, and all sorts of goodies. The stocking has plenty of height to stash larger presents inside if needed. And the cabling gives it good stretch without sagging too much in my experience. This is the first year my son will be old enough to care about his stocking (last year I’m not even sure I hung his up, because I can’t remember if I finished it before or after Christmas!) that I made using this pattern, so I’ll be putting mine (well, his) to the test with little cars and candies I’m sure.
If I want to get picky about the pattern, I personally don’t love how the cables are denoted in the pattern. I get that it probably makes sense to name them the way they did–it’s noted as a right or left cable. I just struggled to remember which was which! I would read in the row instructions to do the “3-3 left FPTr” cable and it’s easy enough to understand the numbering (how many stitches you have in your cables, I think for the small it’s 2 and 2) and the post-stitch part, but right versus left kept throwing me off. Others might understand that better but I personally wanted to name them Cable Step 1 and Cable Step 2 or something. But it’s written more technically accurate, describing exactly what the cable portion is doing at that point. I’m not complaining, I’m saying that if you’re also overwhelmed by that mouthful of a stitch name in the special stitches–“2(3)-over-2(3) left cross front post treble cable (2/2(3/3) L FPtr)”, you’re not alone. I’ve been crocheting over a decade and I think I gasped a little when I read it. But if you’ve done cabling before in crochet, you’ll recognize the general technique and you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.
I enjoyed how the heel is added in this pattern. You work it in front post stitches after you’ve completed the main “foot” section, and it really pulls the shape together. Before adding the heel I always knew it would be cute but couldn’t see the full vision. Putting the heel on there (and then the cuff!) really makes it a cohesive stocking shape. This is a very iconic style too. These stockings will match any decor for years!
I usually like to ask myself here if I’d make this pattern again, but in this case I not only have made it before but made three of them this time! So yes, I can definitely say I would make this again. I think every holiday as November or December rolls around I’ll remember someone else in my life who needs one of these, and with the yardage being about two skeins of most affordable worsted yarns it’s not too hard to find something in my stash! Any of the big “jumbo” or “one pound” skeins would be nice for this pattern, you could stitch up matching stockings for your family at a good cost.
Are you the type who was all decorated and set up for the holidays the day after Thanksgiving? Or are you like me and still putting up the tree mid-December? Or something in between? I’d love to know I’m not alone!
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