Patchwork Christmas Stockings

Two years ago I wanted to sew my own Christmas stockings, but that was the year we decided that everyone gets a handmade quilt for Christmas.  I went as far as to find and print a pattern, but I ran out of time that year and stashed the pattern in my bin of fabric.

Last year I was far too pregnant to make Christmas stockings.  Although I wanted to, I didn’t have the energy nor the motivation to actually do it.  Just the trip to the fabric store, likely with a toddler in tow, sounded exhausting.  Few people have ever gone fabric shopping with me, but those who have know how indecisive I am and how long it takes me to try to select my fabrics.  We’re talking hours sometimes.

But this year I FINALLY did it!

Here’s the rundown on how I made them.  I’d include a link to the pattern I used, but I don’t remember where I printed it from two years ago.  You can google it, pinterest it, or just make up your own.

I traced the the pattern onto butcher paper and used a ruler to draw straight lines to make my patchwork pieces.  The photos I took here had a purpose other than to show them to you – I took photos of all the stocking patterns before I cut them apart just in case I couldn’t puzzle them back together!  You’ll notice I labeled them all too to aid in the puzzling AND to show which side of the pattern is which.  Numbers go top to bottom and the letters denote which pattern piece belongs to which stocking in case they were to get separated.

After I cut the pattern apart, I used the patterns to cut pieces of fabric including an additional 1/4″ for my seam allowance.  If you want to do patchwork on both sides of the stocking you’ll want to make sure to flip your pattern piece over for your second cut so the two pieces end up mirroring each other.  You could also do patchwork on just one side, in which case just make sure your pattern faces the same way (label up or label down) each time you cut.

I made a second pattern and cut a “cuff” because I wanted a strip of colored fabric on the inside rather than the white lining going all the way to the top edge.  After I took off the strip for the cuff I used the remainder of that pattern to cut my lining, again leaving an additional 1/4 inch.  I used a white muslin for the lining.

Here you can see the patchwork pieces all cut up (and the “cuff”).  There are actually two layers of each piece laying wrong sides together.

And here is the lining.

Once everything is all cut, you’ll have to decide how to sew it together.  A good rule I found was that if you made the lines on your pattern from the top down, you’ll sew from the bottom up.  There were a few exceptions, but you’ll want to gauge how you’ll be able to attach everything together without ending up with any weird corners.

Also, sew the cuff to the lining.

After you’ve sewn everything together, press the seams open.

Once everything is pressed, you’ll want to trim your fabric so everything is the same size and you have a nice straight edge to sew along.  Take your time and try to line up the patchwork seams the best you can.  I then cut right along the edge of the pattern with my rotary cutter (I didn’t leave a 1/4″ seam allowance here).

For hangers, I made tubes of fabric and turned them inside out.  The hanger matches the inside cuff on mine.  An easier alternative would be to find some coordinating, sturdy, ribbon.

I had to do some finagling to figure out how to attach the hanger.  It’s hard to explain, and I forgot to take photos (sorry!).  You have to remember that you’re working with right sides together, and the length of the hanger that the stocking will ultimately hang from needs to be between the layers as you sew.

I lined up my hanger so there was a 1″ gap between it and the back edge of the stocking.  Pin, pin, pin.  Then sew along the top of the two layers.  I added a reinforcing zigzag stitch on the hanger between the straight stitch and the edge.

I flipped the first side wrong sides together with the long length of hanger sticking out the top.  I then repeated the process with the other side.  It took some finagling to figure out how to get the hanger right.  Again, just remember to keep the length of the hanger to the inside.  After you pin everything, flip the layer wrong sides together before you sew it just to check that it’s really in the right spot (unless you want to spend some quality time with your seam ripper…).  Sew, reinforce.

Trim any excess from the hanger and give the seam a nice press.

Flip it so the lining of both layers is to the outsides (so, patchwork right sides together) (and make sure there’s no twist in your hanger), line the patchwork up as best you can, and pin it together.  Sew around all sides except the top.

Turn it inside right and you’re finished!

All that’s left to do is hang them where your toddler can’t reach!

 

Family Joy Blog Link-up #46