How To Sew Your Own Christmas Stockings

 I just realized the you have seen this mantel about the last two weeks of posts lol. Sorry for the overkill :) But! I do have a great project for you today shown on this mantel: DIY Stockings. As I had mentioned before, I wasn't thrilled with my brown stockings this year. Don't get me wrong, I love them, and they usually match my decor theme, but first: I only have 3. And Second: they stood out like a sore thumb this year. So of course I had to change them. But I couldn't just go and buy new ones cuz I'm cheap. So, I figured why not make some?

I never made a stocking before...it was a lot of trial and error, but I finally figured it out So luckily, you all don't have to do the trial and error thing since I did it for you. All you have to do is follow these instructions :)...

You'll need (all depends on the size of your stocking):
3/4 yard of fabric for the front bottom piece
1/2 yard of felt -coordinating color
1/4 yard of coordinating fabric for the fold

Step 1: Trace a stocking on the felt fabric leaving about a half inch allowance all around it. Either free hand it, or use a stocking you already have. Make sure the folded part is not folded anymore to get the right length. Now cut it out. (the felt will be the back of your stocking)

 Step 2: Use the felt piece as your new stencil and trace that onto the back of your front piece of fabric. Stop tracing 5 inches from the top on each side. Now cut out.
For my fabric, I chose a faux white fur.

 Step 3: Now cut a piece of coordinating fabric. The width should equal the top width of the front piece of fabric and measure about 5.5 inches high. So now you are left with three pieces of fabric as shown below.

 Step 4: On one end of your coordinating piece, fold over about half an inch or so and iron with invisible hemming tape.

 Step 5: Now place your coordinating piece underneath your front piece, ends touching. The coordinating piece should be right side up touching the backside side of the front piece. The front piece will also be right side up. The hem on the coordinating piece should be on the bottom.

Step 6: Now sew the two pieces together along their seam. Leave about 1/4"seam allowance. One will be facing the opposite directing as the other when its all done.

 Step 7: Now lay your completed front piece down on top of the felt fabric. You should have about a quarter inch to half inch overlap of the felt.

 Step 8: Fold over the top of the felt so it is even with the top piece of fabric and hem in place. Make sure you sew on the side facing up. So when you are done, the top 'hems' will be touching each other

 Step 9: Now place your felt (right side facing down) and front piece (front bottom piece facing down, coordinating piece facing up) and pin in place. There is no need to pin the top pieces. Only sew the bottom pieces together, where you see the black lines below:

 Step 10: After sewing, now turn inside out. Sew the top pieces together. Leave a small hole on the side where the 'heel' of the stocking is. Not on the heel, just the same side as the heel. So just start sewing about a half an inch higher. See below where the 'hole' is.

 Step 11: Now for the hanging part. Cut out a piece of coordinating fabric about 6 to 7" long and 1.5" wide. Fold over one side to reach the middle. Fold over the other side to reach the middle. Now fold in half.

 Send the folded piece through the sewing machine to secure in place.

 Step 12. Turn your stocking inside out again, find the hole you left. Fold the 'hanging piece' and place in side the hole. Sew in place. Now turn your stocking inside out again and fold over the top pieces.

 You are finished!! There are a lot of steps, but once you get going, it's easy to do. Just a tip though, cut all your 'pieces' at the same time. So you don't end up with a stocking facing the other way (...not saying that that happened to me or anything..... ;) ). Plus, it's easier to keep going with all the pieces already cut. I made 5 stockings out of the fabric pieces, not too bad :)

 I love how furry they are and the texture and whimsy they bring. And of course, that they match my pillows. And even though they are white, there is still brown that ties in the wreath with everything.

 I think, now that I know the ins and outs of stocking making, next year I may make some more whimsical ones and not follow the shape of a traditional stocking :)

These were a lot cheaper to make than buying 5 new stockings. The cost was about $7 for the fabric. That's of course using coupons and sales.