1. Felt is a good fabric for beginners.
2. Use an old stocking to make a template.
3. You can make the stocking as large or as small as you desire.
4. Cutting small notches on the hem of curves will help it lay right.
5. If you don't have a machine, you can hand sew the stockings.

</note>

• by Darcy Logan

• It hardly seems like Christmas unless you have a few Christmas stockings hung by the chimney. Even if you don't have a fireplace, Christmas stockings are almost required decorations. If you want to try your hand at making your own stocking this year, then this page will guide you on how to do it.

• After gathering your supplies, you will need to create a Christmas stocking pattern. If you have an old Christmas stocking, you can trace around it to create your pattern.Christmas For All: How To Make Christmas Stockings? You can also find several patterns online (See stocking templates).

• Below you will find a variety of Christmas stocking templates. Since you will probably be enlarging the pattern, you will need to print out the template onto several sheets of paper and then tape the pieces together.About.com: Free Pattern and Directions to Sew a Christmas Stocking, p.2

• • McCalls: Sew an Easy Stocking
  • About.com: Stocking Pattern
  • Craft&FabricLinks: Free Christmas Stocking Sewing Pattern
  • Better Homes and Gardens: Four Christmas Stocking Projects
  • Embroidery Library: Stocking Template
  • MarthaStewart.com: Stocking Template | Stocking Template (small) | Sweater Stocking Template | Felt Stocking Template | Stocking Template 2 | Stocking Template 3 | Bird Stocking Template

• Alternative Shapes
• For some unique alternatives to the traditional Christmas stockings, check out these pages:
  • CraftsAreMe.com: Bare Foot Christmas Stocking
  • HGTV.com: Dog Christmas Stocking | Cat Christmas Stocking
  • FamilyFun Stockings: Dog Paw | Ballet Slipper | Bare Foot | Ice Skate | Elf Boot | Cowboy Boot | Fancy Boot

• <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=mahalo-20&o=1&p=15&l=st1&mode=garden&search=christmas%20stockings%20patterns%20&fc1=000000<1=&lc1=3366FF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" width="468" height="240" border="0" frameborder="0" style="border:none;" scrolling="no"></iframe>

• Once you have your template ready, it is time to cut out your stocking pieces.

1. Use the stocking pattern to cut out two stockings from your fabric.MarthaStewart.com: Christmas Stockings Remember, you will want reverse the pattern for one of the shapes to ensure that pattern will be facing outward.Better Homes and Gardens: Make a Holiday Santa Stocking
2. If using a lining fabric, repeat with the lining fabric.

• YouTube: Etsy How-To: Make Your Own Stocking! (Time: 5:10)

• Adding decoration to your stocking is optional. You may want to skip this step if you are using a more elaborate fabric. However, if you want to decorate your stocking, you will find it easiest to do before you sew the pieces together. How you decorate the stocking should reflect the person it is for, so don't feel you are limited to Christmas images.Christmas For All: How To Make Christmas Stockings? Here are some methods you can use to decorate your stocking:

1. Attach embossed velvet using fabric adhesive.MarthaStewart.com: Embossed Velvet Stockings
2. Cut tree shapes out of green felt, decorate them with glass buttons and sew them onto the stocking.MarthaStewart.com: Christmas Stockings
3. Cut out flower shapes in felt and use a button for the center (and to attach to the stocking).MarthaStewart.com: Christmas Stockings
4. Cover buttons with felt and attach.MarthaStewart.com: Christmas Stockings
5. Cut shapes out of felted wool and sew them onto the stocking.Baby Lock: Felted Wool Christmas Stocking
6. Machine embroider or use glittered dimensional fabric paint to write a name onto the stocking.About.com: Free Pattern and Directions to Sew a Christmas Stocking, p.7 HowStuffWorks: How to Make Christmas Decorations - Making Christmas Stockings
7. Sew "patches" on the heel and toe of the stocking using a coordinating fabric.Better Homes and Gardens: Make a Felted Wool Christmas Stocking
8. Stamp images onto the stocking using fabric ink.HowStuffWorks: How to Make Christmas Decorations - Making Christmas Stockings
9. Glue ribbon in stripes or a pattern.HowStuffWorks: How to Make Christmas Decorations - Making Christmas Stockings
10. Attach a small picture frame for a special picture.Better Homes and Gardens: Make a Holiday Photo Stocking
11. Cut out shapes from cardboard and paint them before attaching.Better Homes and Gardens: Make a Holiday Joy Stocking
12. Use embossed scrapbook stickers to decorate the stocking.Better Homes and Gardens: Make a Holiday Santa Stocking

• To sew the stocking using a sewing machine, use a size-fourteen needle and 100-percent-polyester thread for the best results.MarthaStewart.com: Christmas Stockings If you want to line your stocking, read that section first. Otherwise, once you have your pieces of fabric cut out, here's how to sew the pieces together.

• If you want your stockings lined, there are two ways you can do it.
  1. Stitch the linings to the stocking fabric before the front and back are sewn together.Craft&FabricLinks: Free Christmas Stocking Sewing Pattern
  2. Stitch the lining pieces together as you would the other pieces. Then, insert the lining into the stocking before attaching the cuff and sew the pieces together at the top.Embroidery Library: Christmas Stocking Project Baby lock: Felted Wool Christmas Stocking
• If you decide to use the first method, you will need to do it before sewing the pieces together.

• If you don't have a sewing machine, you can sew the stocking by hand. You will need a large-eye sewing needle and embroidery floss that matches your fabric.FamilyFun.com: Classic Stocking Then blanket-stitch (also known as whip stitching) the pieces together instead of machine sewing them.Better Homes and Gardens: Make a Felted Wool Christmas Stocking Whip stitching is done by inserting the needle through the same side of the fabric each time, which wraps the thread around the ends of the two pieces of fabric.Lit'l Brown Bird's Free Tutorial: Hand Sew Felt Tutorial - Whip Stitch If you like, instead of whip stitching, use a basic running (in and out) stitch.YouTube: How to Sew a Christmas Stocking Together (Time: 2:30) For examples of how to hand sew, check out any of the following videos:
  • YouTube: How to Sew a Whip Stitch by Hand (Time: 1:42)

• If you already know how to sew and are looking for some more advanced stockings to sew, check out some of these pages:
  • Singer Sewing Co.: Holiday Stocking
  • Husqvarna: Christmas Stocking
  • Better Homes and Gardens: Four Christmas Stocking Projects
  • MarthaStewart.com: Handkerchief Stockings
  • MarthaStewart.com: Carpet Stockings

• Now that you have your stockings, it is time to go shopping for items to fill it (unless of course you are waiting on Santa Claus, then you simply have to spend this time being good). If you need some ideas, check out Mahalo's How to Choose Stocking Stuffers. You might also find How to Buy Gifts on a Budget, How to Choose the Right Gift, How to Ship Christmas Gifts, How to Wrap Presents and How to Make Christmas Crackers helpful.