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Hot Off the Singer: a Meadow Christmas stocking tutorial

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holiday stockings 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.

 

stocking template

 

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:

 

stocking template 2

 

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.)

 

Meadow stocking pattern

meadow stocking pattern pieces

meadow stocking pattern pieces 2

 

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.

 

clipping seam

clipped and pinned seam

meadow stocking seams

 

Pin the outer stocking to the batting:

 

meadow stocking and 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.

 

ricrac trim

ball trim

meadow stockings 5

 

 

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

 

stocking layers stacked

 

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.

 

stocking loop

 

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″.

 

turning opening

 

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.

 

stocking right-side-out

 

Then, stitch up the turning hole…

 

stitching

 

stuff the lining inside the stocking, turn down the cuff and you’re done!

 

meadow holiday stockings tutorial

 

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2 COMMENTS

  • Virginia Lindsay

    these are really cute Jennifer! I hope to make some this week 🙂

  • Patty

    Thanks for this tutorial!!

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