My husband and I spent our first married Christmas as poor, starving college students. We couldn’t afford much in the way of gifts, and we also couldn’t afford too many decorations. One traditional piece of decor I couldn’t do without were our own stockings. Rob went along with my antics so as not to ruffle our modest nest during the holiday season and when my search for some cheap and cute stockings came up empty, making them was my next best option.
One December afternoon, I found myself at my aunts house who had a great sewing machine and she also had boxes of scrap material. The 2 of us put our heads together and came up with these:
I was pleased with how they turned out, but thought that maybe the next year I would make some really great stockings that were even better! The following year I was pregnant with Ethan and also on bedrest. With no other options or resources other than what I had at home, I made a stocking using the same technique as the ones I made previously, only this time using yellows and greens and stitching the name “Baby” at the top. (We don’t find out the sex of our babies, so I had to keep it unisex!) Our 3 little stockings hung that year all together and their sweet simplicity began to grow on me.
As you can see, our family has grown since that time and we now have 6 stockings-(7, actually, if you count the “Baby” one that is only hung on the years when I have a little one in the oven!)
The techinque is simple:
1. Materials Needed: Fabric, Felt, Straight Pins, Embroidery Floss, Sewing Machine, & Scissors.(I used the new 5-inch Precision Applique Scissors from Olfa- I love them! They are great scissors for small projects. They cut great and I love keeping a small pair of scissors with my sewing machine- these are perfect!)
2. Cut 2 red pieces of felt into the shape of a stocking. Mine and Rob’s were actually those cheap 99 cent stockings- I just undid the seams.
3. Cut fabric into various sizes rectangles.
4. Place fabric pieces all over the stocking- overlapping to cover completely.
5. Pin fabric to felt stocking with straight pins.6. Sew around the entire edge of each piece of fabric.
7. Once your done, you will have pieces of fabric that hang off the sides of your stocking.
8. Trim the excess fabric along the edges.
9. Stitch your name at the top. (I used gingham print for all of the stockings which made it easy to cross-stitch our names)10. Sew up the sides of the stocking with your sewing machine.
11. Add a rectangular tag for it to hang easily.
12. Stitch around the edges to give it a more decorative look.
… and thats it!
I like that each one is unique, but all look similar. They aren’t super big (which is nice and saves money!) and they are just simple- I like simple.
About Stephanie
Your stockings are wonderful! I also love the idea of hanging a stocking for a yet to be born baby. How special!
So cute!!! I love them.
I was browsing the DIY post and love your blog title-"Somewhat Simple"–so I stopped by. Cute stockings!
http://www.thekeltonscozycottage.blogspot.com
Very cute!
"sew" cute!
thanks for sharing!
I love stockings.
gail
Handmade stockings make these so much more special than store bought ones could ever be.
Stopping by from the Blog Fest. You stocking are so very cute. Three of the four of our stockings are handmade too (the fourth is my son's and it used to be my hubby's…so it is special too).
Holly @ 504 Main
Stopped by from Tip Junkie – very cute stockings and thanks for putting the "How-To" cuz I'm looking to make some of mine own soon too. All of ours are mismatched right now.
Ivy
http://ivy-morrison.blogspot.com
Those are so cute! I really love homemade stockings. It just adds so much comfort to Christmas!
Thanks for the link to Poppies at Play!
These are so cute! We are in the poor grad student boat this year too:) I love the home made stockings though. I have mine that my Grandma made for me when I was little. They are so personal and it's nice to know no one else has a stocking like yours:)
Love this! It would be cute to use their old baby clothes as the patchwork, too. I just made my kids stocking and your right, it's so special to make or have something made just for you.
http://themanyfacesofmom.blogspot.com/2009/12/stockings-werent-hung-by-chimney-with.html
Very cute and special!!! Great job!
Such a great idea! It’s so nice to have a homemade stocking tradition. My family had one growing up, and I’m starting our own stocking tradition for our little family!
Love your stockings!! I think homemade stockings are the best and I think it’s great you found a way to make them all match without being exactly the same.
Love these!
This is such a great tutorial! Thank you so much. I needed a good idea to make a stocking for our family’s stocking contest!