How To Make A Christmas Stocking
The flickering glow of the fire casts a warm light across the room, its crackling sound a comforting backdrop to the festive preparations. A selection of ornaments and candles adds to the seasonal charm, filling the air with the faint scent of pine and cinnamon. In the centre, there's ample space for a Christmas stocking, its fabric yet to be chosen, the patterns and colours still lingering only in the imagination. The emptiness invites thoughts of cherished traditions, of stockings filled with small delights, sweet treats, and little surprises waiting to be discovered. A handmade Christmas stocking can transform your festive season into a truly magical experience.
I have always loved a custom Christmas stocking, something that becomes an heirloom piece. It adds a personal and sophisticated touch to your décor that mass-produced items simply cannot replicate. It is a great gift for the loved ones in your life, something that is heartfelt and personalised. Or it can be a wonderful opportunity to engage with family and friends in a creative and heartwarming activity. We have created a step-by-step guide to crafting your perfect Christmas stocking.
Fabric needed:
Exterior (I used leftover green toile de jouy)
Interior (I used soft plush cotton fabric)
Trim (I used leftover velvet fabric)
Loop (Same leftover green fabric)
To cut out:
2 pieces of the exterior (toile de jouy) Height 47 cm and width 21 cm in the shape of a stocking (this includes seam allowance).
2 pieces of the interior (soft cotton fabric) Height 47 cm and width 21 cm in the shape of a stocking (this includes seam allowance). Basically the exact same as the exterior fabric.
2 pieces of the velvet trim 15cm x 22 cm
1 piece of toile de jouy 18 cm x 5 cm (For the Hook)
1 piece of soft cotton fabric (or you can use wadding) 17 cm x 2 cm, used for the inside of the loop to make it more structured.
For one side of the stocking (1 piece of toile exterior, 1 piece of soft interior, one piece of velvet trim).
Once you’ve have everything cut out, get the velvet trim, fold one of the long ends by 1cm and attach it to the the toile de jouy fabric, with the other long part hanging 3 cm over the top. Sew onto the folded velvet that’s attached to the toile de jouy. Attach the soft cotton fabric (interior) to the exterior and hang the top of the velvet fabric over the soft (interior) fabric. Fold the velvet by 1 cm, attach to the soft interior fabric and then just sew along the edge of the velvet fabric.
Repeat exactly the same steps for the other side of the stocking with the rest of the fabrics.
Now the velvet, toile de jouy and soft inner fabric are sewn together for one side of the stocking. You can attach all these pieces together with the exterior fabrics facing each other (you’re basically sewing the stocking inside out). Have a 1cm seam allowance, sew from one corner of the top of the stocking down around to the other corner making sure you do not sew across the width of the top. Once you’ve sewn all the sides together turn the fabric right side out, so that you have the exterior toile de jouy fabric facing outwards.
For the toile de jouy loop
Place the soft fabric in the middle of the toile de jouy fabric, fold the toile de jouy fabric together, fold the edges under by 1cm and hold this together with pins. Sew as closely as you can to the edges. Once this is ready, attach one end with a pin to one side of the inside near the top the stocking and do the same with the other end to the other side of the stocking. You then use invisible stitching to sew this.
One thoughtful way to elevate the charm of a stocking is by sewing names onto the velvet trim. This small yet significant detail adds a bespoke touch, transforming a lovely decoration into a personal keepsake. Each stocking, uniquely tailored with the recipient's name, serves not only as a festive adornment but also as a meaningful gift that can be cherished for years to come. This personalised element makes the stocking a distinctive part of holiday traditions, forging a deeper connection and sense of belonging for everyone involved.
We hope this guide was helpful in creating your custom Christmas stocking and that they are wonderfully displayed in your or your loved ones homes!
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