Sew Useful . . . provincial Christmas stocking

Hi everyone! My name is Vikki from SEW Useful Designs and I’m delighted to be a guest over at this glorious Shabby Art Boutique, sharing a cup of cheer with our gorgeous host, Kerryanne!

It’s getting really close to the big day… are you getting excited?!

Are you all organised with just a few last minute details to initiate? Or are you still frantically making, creating and wrapping up presents? I fall in to the latter category!!

If you’re still seeking out a last-minute hand made gift that’s appropriately intended for Christmas Eve – I have the perfect project for you!

This provincial Christmas stocking takes just a couple of hours to whip-up, and if you have more time to spare I have included some ideas for embellishment a bit later on!

The completed stocking measures 23 in (58cm) from hanger to toe.

You will need:

Half a yard (50cm) duck-egg blue linen

One vintage napkin measuring approx. 11½ins (29cm) square

10in (25cm) heavy-weight dense batting

Two rustic metal bells

Sewing threads to match fabrics

Rotary cutter, ruler and mat

General sewing supplies

Fabric marker (or tailor’s chalk)

Getting started:

Print the two stocking templates from THIS pdf file. Match the templates at the join and cello tape in place. Cut out template on the outline.

Fold the linen fabric in half along its longest edge and position the template on top, leaving a ½in gap around it. Trace around the template with the fabric marker and cut out ¼in outside of traced lines.

Place the template on top of the batting and trace once. Cut out directly on traced line. Now place the pattern on reverse and repeat this process one more time. Set the batting shapes aside.

Fold the napkin in half on the diagonal with wrong sides together. Fold under each pointed end so they are of equal length.

Ensure that the top edge of the napkin is approx. one inch longer than the top edge of your linen stocking shape. Finger press.

Unfold the two sides of the napkin and place on the cutting mat with the top folded edge parallel to one of the lines on the mat. Now make a vertical cut ¼in out from the finger-pressed line you made on the right-hand side of the napkin. Repeat this process for the left-hand side of the napkin.

Cut ¼in IN from the top long edge.

You will now have two pieces of napkin for the top front and back of your Christmas stocking! Set them aside for the time being because now we’re going to cut the remainder of the napkin and use (almost) every little bit of it!

Unfold one of the leftover triangles and place it on the cutting mat. Cut down the middle to yield two smaller triangles of equal size.

These triangles will decorate the heel and toe of the stocking.

Take the remaining folded triangle and, keeping it folded, place it on the mat and cut ½in IN from the lacy edge.

Open out the corner piece and discard the smaller fabric triangle. Turn over the raw edge by ¼in, and pin. Clip ¼in IN to the corner.

Sew a line of stitching along the folded edges to create a neat seam. Then fold the fabric back over on itself with wrong sides together. This will become the stocking hanger.

Putting the stocking together:

Position one batting stocking shape centrally on to one linen stocking shape. The linen shape will be marginally bigger than the batting. Pin around all edges to keep in place. Repeat with the other stocking shapes.

Decide which way you would like the stocking to face – with the toe pointing to either the left or the right. If your napkin has an embroidered motif on it, ensure that this piece is ear-marked to be stitched to the front of the stocking.

To do this; place the napkin piece right side down along the top edge on the wrong side of the stocking:

The napkin piece will be longer than the top edge of the stocking as intended. Ensure it has equal lengths overhanging each side and then pin in place.

Sew along the top edge using a ½in seam allowance. Repeat this process for the other side of the stocking and the remaining napkin fabric piece.

To add the heel and toe patches:

Position one of the small napkin triangles right side up on to the front right side of the stocking toe. Turn the stocking shape over and trace around the toe, then cut out on traced lines.

Sew the napkin toe piece in one straight line to attach it to the stocking shape.

Repeat this same process to create the heel patch on the front side of the stocking.

Place the two stocking shapes right sides together and pin around the edge, leaving the attached napkin pieces on the top edge untouched.

Sew around the stocking shape from point A to point B using a ½in seam allowance.

Clip curves and turn the stocking right side out. Use a chopstick to ease out the curved edges.

Now place the top napkin edges right sides together with raw (side) edges matching.

Position the ‘hanger’ in the seam on the side of the napkin that is parallel to the heel. Ensure that raw edges are matching, then pin in place.

Sew down each side, from A to B, using a ¼in seam allowance.

Turn the top napkin part of the stocking over to face the right side and give it a gentle press with a warm iron.

To complete the stocking, sew one of the rustic bells to the pointy end of the napkin on each side. You are done!

If you want to go a step further and embellish or personalise the stocking, here are a couple of ideas!

Do you have any special Christmas buttons in your stash?

I attached this gorgeous red robin button with red DMC thread that coordinates with the bird. I then used the same thread (all six strands) to thread through the lace on all areas of the napkin.

I top-stitched this version of the stocking which gives it a much more defined shape and encloses the raw seams on the inside.

With this next stocking I personalised it with a monogram of my friend’s name. I had another napkin the same as the first, traced my chosen monogram on to the right side and adhered a stabiliser to the reverse. After satin-stitching the design in a charcoal coloured DMC thread, I trimmed it square and sewed four cut strips of the remaining napkin lace to each side. To finish it was slip-stitched on to the front of the stocking, and then I threaded the same colour DMC thread through all of the lace sections. This takes a few extra hours to do but its well worth it if you have the time!

Well I really hope you enjoyed my tutorial! It has been an absolute pleasure to share some Christmas magic with you in this final week of advent!

To our darling Kerryanne I say a big Thank You for your fantastic tutorials, inspiration and beautiful sense of spirit! She is the star on the top of the Christmas tree, don’t you think?!

Happy Christmas everyone – wishing you a safe and happy season!

Vikki xoxo

Thank you sweet Vikki for popping over to Simply Christmas to guest post today. . . your stockings really are super gorgeous!!

I have some exciting news for my followers ~ Vikki has very generously offered this beautiful bird stocking as a

giveaway.

If you follow my blog and would like to be in the running to win Vikki’s beautiful stocking on Christmas Eve, pop on over to her blog Sew Useful Designs and follow her instructions on her giveaway post. While you are there, make sure you check out all her other gorgeous original designs too.