“Santa Paws” is an adorable Christmas stocking that you’ll enjoy knitting, and your family will enjoy seeing on the fireplace. It’s knit in a modern (yet still classic) style. A full alphabet is included so you can knit any name you wish into the top.

For the model, I used Harrisville Designs Highland yarn--a rugged, sturdy choice, but you can use any worsted-weight yarn you desire.

This pattern assumes that you know basic knitting skills (casting on, binding off, knitting, and purling); that you can work both flat and in the round; that you can pick up stitches from an edge; that you can work Fair Isle and intarsia; that you can make i-cord; and that you can Kitchener. These skills are all on videos at reallyclear.com, but if you have never done them before, you still may want a helpful knitting friend or a class in a yarn shop as you make your first stocking.