How To Make Lovely Christmas Stockings

Photo: bagsoflove.co.uk

There are so many lovely things associated with Christmas but one of the most lovely things is the sight of a gorgeous Xmas stocking hung by a fireplace.

At Bags of Love, we are all about the sentiment and when it comes to the most lovely stockings, you can be sure that personalised stockings come out on top! Handmade Christmas stockings are lovely, but are even better when they’re designed and made by your own hands.

Making Christmas Stockings - What You Will Need

Here is what you will need when learning how to make your own Christmas stocking:

• Our DIY Christmas Stocking Pattern
• A pair of sharp fabric scissors
• Domestic sewing machine and thread (you can do this with a hand stitch but we recommend using a sewing machine if possible)
• Chalk
• Pins
• Sticky tape
• A 10cm length of ribbon in your choice of colour
• An A3 size piece of fabric for the cuff
• An A2 size piece of fabric for the sock

What is a Christmas Stocking?

A Christmas stocking is usually an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that is hung on Christmas Eve to be filled for Christmas morning. Traditionally they are filled with small gifts such as fruit, nuts, sweets, or toys. But over the years people have been getting more creative and using them as a way to gift other small presents.

There are many different ideas as to what a traditional stocking looks like. You could go for something with a wool knit design that resembles a traditional sock design. Or perhaps pick something with an embroidered design. We like an old-school style cream or beige knitted stocking for Christmas.

Either way, If you’re going for the traditional red and green Christmas décor, they would make a good addition on the chimney or hang from the end of your bed.

Bags of Love – How to Make a Christmas Stocking Tutorial

1. Choose your perfect stocking fabric.

Photo: bagsoflove.co.uk

2. Download our Christmas stocking template

Just click here to download our DIY Christmas Stocking Pattern. It will print out on 3 sheets of A4 paper at 100% scale. Cut out the paper pattern and you are ready to start, cites bagsoflove.co.uk.

3. Join the pieces

Join piece A1 to A2 along the dotted lines with some tape. This will become the sock panel of the stocking. For now, keep piece B separate, as this will be your cuff panel. This piece can be made from the same fabric as the sock or you can choose a completely different fabric.

4. Cut out your fabric

Lay your paper patterns on top of your chosen fabric, using the pattern arrows to align with the fabric grain directions (techy phrase: selvedge edge). Pin them in place lightly and cut around the outside edge of the pattern. You could alternatively draw around the outside of the pattern with chalk, then remove the paper pattern and cut around the marks. Flip your pattern over and do the same for the reverse side of the sock.

5. Let’s pin together

Take your 2 fabric sock panels and pin them together with the right side (the side with your print or design) facing in.

6. Time to stitch

Let’s get that sewing machine out! Stitch your sock together around the heel, toe and sides of the sock, leaving a 1cm seam allowance. It’s very important to leave the top of your sock open (otherwise there will be nowhere for your presents to go!)

7. Cuff it up

Lay the 2 panels of the cuff together with the right sides facing in. Sandwich a loop of ribbon between the 2 cuff panels with the ends of the ribbon sticking out through one of the intended side seams. Make sure you place the ribbon as close to the middle of the seam as possible (where the fold line is) to ensure it ends up at the top of the completed stocking when flipped through.

8. Sewing up the cuff

Sew down the left and right edges of the cuff panels, leaving the top and bottom open.

9. Making it look cuffing pretty

Fold the bottom edge of the cuff up to meet the top edge, with the wrong sides facing it. The ribbon loop should now be showing on the outside, near the folded edge. You’re almost there!

10. Time to introduce the sock to the cuff

Place the cuff inside the sock panels (with the right sides together) so all the raw edges of the cuff and sock are aligned at the top. Ensure that the side of the cuff with the ribbon loop, is on the same side as the heel on the sock.

11. A bit more sewing

Next, sew the raw edges together in a circle, so you can still access the inside of the stocking.

12. And finally…

Photo: Women's Weekly

Turn your stocking inside out, so the right side is now facing out! Press the seams flat – depending on which fabric you choose – and ho, ho, ho, you have your very own personalised Christmas stocking; designed and made by you. If you don’t want to knit a Xmas stocking, then this year, go for customised instead.

Why do we hang Christmas stockings?

The tradition of Christmas stockings comes from Saint Nicholas. He is said to have bestowed a gift of money to some girls who wanted to get married by leaving gold coins in a stocking hanging from their chimney. Other tales tell of him leaving oranges in a stocking. It seems that the exact origins of where the Christmas stocking tradition came from is largely unknown and there are no written records on the origins of the legend.

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