Hot Off the Singer: a Meadow Christmas stocking tutorial

The holidays have arrived again! My mom just flew in from Minneapolis on Monday, and will be here through Christmas, so I’m doing a little check-list of holiday supplies. Last year was the first Christmas that we spent in our own home, and I realized too late that we didn’t have our own Christmas stockings. The arrival of Meadow last week has given me a perfect opportunity to stitch up some richly-hued stockings to hang… over the floor heater, I guess. Here’s a little tutorial for making simple, unique holiday stockings.

What you will need:

-large paper for pattern

-fabric and 1-3 contrast fabrics

-1/4″ cotton batting

-trim (ricrac, etc), if desired

-ribbon or trim for hanging

-sewing machine, thread, pins etc.

Step 1: Create pattern and cut out pieces

I started out by making a stocking-shaped sketch on a large piece of paper. Trace the shape with a sharpie and cut out. This will serve as the pattern for the lining and batting, and the template for the outside layer of the stocking (heretofore referred to as “the stocking”). Mine was roughly 12″x20″ at the largest points, but you can vary the size depending on the end result you want.

Then, if you would like to incorporate other fabrics, you can customize it by choosing ways to piece the stocking. I did two versions, one with accent toe and heel, and the other with a pieced stocking:

Cut out the individual shapes (making sure to keep the original stocking shape in one piece) and use these as pattern pieces to cut out the fabrics, adding 1/2″ seam allowance all around each pattern piece. Lay each piece on double-layer fabric (with wrong sides facing) so that you have uniform pieces for the front and back of the stocking. Use the original uncut shape to cut out the lining (cut 2) and the batting (cut 2). (Note: keep in mind that the lining will be folded down to create the “cuff” at the top of the stocking, so if you’re using a directional print for the lining, you should place the pattern pieces on the print so that they appear upside-down. This way, when the cuff is folded down, the print will be right-side-up.)

Step 2: pin and stitch

Sew your pieces together with a 1/2 inch seam. Then trim the seams to 1/4″ and press open. If you are doing a curved heel seam and are a beginning sewist, I will warn you that it can be a bit trickier than a straight seam, but if you clip both curved edges with a 1/4″ clip every inch, the edges should meet up. Just press this seam away from the heel.

Pin the outer stocking to the batting:

Then place the corresponding lining piece on top of the stocking with right sides facing. If you’re planning to use a trim at the top edge of the stocking (which will then be folded down to form the bottom edge of the cuff), insert it between the two layers and pin in place. Stitch with a 1/2″ seam and open out.

Repeat for the back side of the stocking, and then place the back & back lining on top of the front & front lining, as pictured:

Cut a 6″ piece of ribbon or trim, form into a loop and insert about 2 1/2″ from the top seam on the back side of the stocking lining, with the raw edges of the ribbon matching the raw edges of the lining.

Pin in place. Pin stockings together at any seams you would like to match up, plus a few other spots.

Choose a place on the stocking lining (I chose the bottom of the foot) and stitch with a 1/2″ seam allowance all the way around the stocking, leaving a 3″ opening in the lining. This will allow you to pull the stocking “right side out”. Once you’ve stitched the stockings together, trim or pink the edges to about 1/4″.

Then, reach into the lining and grab the toe of the outer stocking, pulling it through the hole until the whole stocking is right-side-out. press stocking and all seams.