This was our year for new Christmas stockings. Our last set had come under attack by the garage mice, were falling apart and needed to be retired. My first thought, of course, was to make our next ones.
I went through a few phases, like planning for each of us to design our own, then I would sew them all. When I sobered up, I scaled the plan back to a more reasonable level. Instead of designing the stocking, each family member would choose a fabric print that reflected their personality.
Boy, did we nail it. If you happen to know us in real life, you can probably tell exactly who each of these belongs to.
These little babies are fully lined and have a soft, furry Minkee cuff. My daughter made her own, and since she’s still a newbie, that should give you an indication of how easy these are to make.
To make one, you’ll need this pattern, which includes the full instructions.
Cut:
· 2 outer stockings from cotton fabric
· 2 outer stockings from fleece
· 2 lining stockings from cotton fabric
· 1 cuff from cotton fabric or microfiber plush fabric (like Cuddle) measuring 17 3/4 x 10 1/2”
· 1 hanger from cotton fabric measuring 5 x 2”
The microfiber can be tricky to work with because it’s slippery, so you may want to go with regular cotton if this is one of your first sewing projects. I would also recommend cutting the microfiber outside, if possible, and shaking well before bringing inside. I cut mine on the back deck, and it looked like I had slaughtered a bunny when I was done.
I like to use fusible fleece for projects like this, just because it can’t shift while I’m sewing. Iron the fleece onto the back of the outside pieces.
If you use microfiber, fold it as indicated in the pattern directions and stitch the ends together.
When you fold that loop with wrong sides together and raw edges even, sew those raw edges together with about a 1/8” seam. That will keep it from shifting as much as you sew it to the body.
For some of the stockings I’ve made, I’ve slipped a piece of 1/2” wide webbing inside the hanger for added strength, mainly because my husband likes to give the kids tools for Christmas and they’re heavy. As long as you take the extra backstitching step as you sew it in you probably don’t need it, but if you’re concerned it is an option.
This is where you’ll be glad you stitched the raw edges of the microfiber together!
Every time I make one of these there’s something about this step that makes me laugh a little. This looks like a mistake (even though it’s not).
I rarely close the opening in the lining in any way other than folding the edges inside and zig zagging over it. Santa isn’t going to care.
Don’t press the cuff if you used microfiber.
Just roll the upper edge toward the inside with your fingers and make sure the lining is pushed all the way to the bottom of the stocking.
I love the size of these. Big enough to put some stuff in, but not so cavernous that Santa has to resort to sneaky tactics to fill it.
In case you didn’t already guess, this red one is mine. My husband, who loves to build, chose the fabric covered in pipes and I lined it with bricks.
Codi went with pineapples, which usually is only topped by Batman, with a bright yellow lining.
And Tucker, who thinks camouflage is a color, not a pattern, chose blue digital camo with fire inside. I’m just glad he branched out a little and chose blue instead of green for a change.
Not traditional choices, I know, but these make me so much happier than a bunch of ordinary ones would have. Kind of like my little family.