Christmas Stockings for Birthdays

This is a stocking my mom crocheted probably 30 years ago. There are four of these, she made them for our family before my younger sister was born. There are now thirteen of us. Right before Christmas my older sister and I both had the same idea: we should all have crocheted stockings just like the ones mom made. Being the only person in the family who can crochet (it was a one-time deal for mom), it is my job to make it happen.

I decided to make each person's stocking for their birthday gift this year so we'll each have one by next Christmas and so I don't have to make 13 stockings in a row. I am also making them a little more personal by making them in colors that I think each person will like, not just Christmas colors. The first birthday was my mom's on December 28th. When I started mom's stocking I figured there would be no harm in telling her what was going on, since she was sitting right there seeing me work on it. Well, mom loved the yarn I picked and thought she'd rather have a scarf from it. She is my mom and can have what ever she wants - so she now has a lovely granny square scarf and no stocking! My younger sister's birthday is at the beginning of February. Here is what I made for her.

The toe is a little square but I think it will be fine. Next up is my baby's first birthday on March 14th. I will make hers in shades of pink with a little lavender. After mom's scarf, I decided to make the stockings in plain acrylic so no one will think it is too soft/beautiful to be a stocking and wish theirs was something else.

Here's the rest of my year in stockings: May 1, June 2, July 3, August 2, October 1, December 2 (mom has to wait until December, but she made that choice!) Those are quantities, not dates, you can see how Christmas-y my summer will be. Most of those birthdays also involve knitting another gift that is a bit more fun than a stocking. My baby will be getting a knit baby doll with her stocking. My older sister (May birthday) is getting something so awesome with hers, but I'm afraid she'll see this so I can't say what it is! Stay tuned for pictures of it at the end of May!