I finished the stockings.
Simple, fun bright stockings that will attract the eyes of my five month old babies.
I’ve started what I hope is a tradition in our little family as I’d like to aim to make them both a stocking each Christmas. I’ll let you know how I get on with that idea, it may be too ambitious, but I do hope not.
As you can see I’m already in my element. Creating corners and wee cosy nooks. It’s entirely for my own satisfaction as the twins are far too young to appreciate any of it but I’ve been waiting a long time for my children’s first Christmas and by golly I’m going to suck the very life out of it.
OK, I’m going to keep the instructions for making these stockings very, very simple.
To make one of these stockings you will need -
- Two pieces of felt – both large enough to make one half of a stocking (my stockings measured approx 40x15cm excluding the cuff)
- A piece of contrasting felt big enough to make an initial
- Buttons, beads & sequins for embellishing
- A piece of fabric for the stocking cuff
- A piece of fabric for the hanging loop
- Embroidery thread for sewing the initial
- Your choice of coloured wool for sewing the stockings together
- Cotton for sewing on the buttons
- Scissors, pinking shears and needles
- A piece of card for the templates
- Draw a stocking shape on to the card and cut the shape out
- Draw around the card template on to the felt and cut out the stocking shape using pinking shears. Do this twice creating two stocking halves
- Draw the template of the initial you have chosen (for example ‘A’) on to a piece of card and cut it out
- Draw around the template on the contrasting piece of felt and cut it out.
- Pin your initial in place on one of the stocking pieces and sew it in to place using a bright coloured embroidery thread
- Embellish the initial with sequins and beads to add definition
- Decorate the rest of the stocking front with buttons
- Sew the two halves together
- You now have a stocking
To make the cuff -
- Use a piece of fabric that is long enough to fit around the circumference of the stocking and wide enough to create a cuff
- To make the cuff, fold the fabric in half and pin together with the right side of the fabric on the inside
- Sew up three sides leaving one end open
- Use the open end to pull the fabric the right way out and then sew up the open end
- Then sew your cuff in to place around the top of the stocking – I sewed on the inside of the cuff and only sewed through one layer of the cuff’s fabric as I didn’t want my stitches to bee seen on the outside
- Sew a loop in to the inside corner of the stocking and you have now completed your stocking.
These are very simple stockings but I think it’s the colours that bring them to life. Bright candy colours that make you smile.
I’ll certainly be able to fit a satsuma, some chocolate coins and a rattle in these. I’ll have the satsuma, Robert will nick the coins and the babies will enjoy their rattle. Although it may have to double as a teether as we have that to deal with right now. Eeeek!
Whatever comes our way this Christmas, teething issues or not, I am filled with peace right now. It’s our first as parents and to say that I am rather looking forward to it is an understatement.
If you have been reading me for any length of time you’ll know that I love this time of year but my feelings about this one are off the scale.
It’s not that I’m jumping around and frantic or even trying to get super organised, no, it’s much more calm and mellow than that.
Maybe I’m just happy.
Yes, I’ll leave it at that.
Simple things, simple days, simple feelings.
Oh and a build-up to Christmas that has clearly started in earnest *oh dear*
Apologies in advance.
I love you. Thank you so much for reading.
Cherry x
You can also view my 2009 Christmas Stockings here.
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[...] I saw this stocking tutorial on cherrymenlove.com I knew I wanted to make them. I had been looking for a felt stocking kit [...]
Hi there! I am new to your site and love it! Thank you for sharing your home and projects! I just went to the craft store and bought everything to make these stockings. I am crazy about them. I hope mine turn out as well as yours. Thanks again for sharing.
Jordan
Christmas Ideas…
[...]How To Make Christmas Stockings 2010 « Cherry Menlove[...]…
I finally finished making this! I have pictures on my blog, I would love you to have a look and tell me how I did. Thank you for this post, and all your others xx
Marcie it is beautiful and I LOVE your blog. Thanks so much for sharing.
Lots of love
Cherry x
[...] View Cherry’s 2010 Christmas Stockings here. [...]
Cherry you make laugh! I love reading your “stuff of life”. You are lovely and the little ones are beautiful. Hope you have a lovely Christmas! xx
I love having friends who don’t think I’m mental because I start thinking Christmas-Christmas-Christmas early in November
Sorry thought I’d lost my first post and have now posted twice – am a clutz
Oh good, so am I!!!
Cx
I love your stockings Cherry!
I love christmas traditions and my children love them too – I think children find comfort in the familiar and family rituals. I started a tradition that has been wonderful – each year Santa brings the children a tree decoration for their stockings (same stocking every year – I admire your energy). When we decorate the tree – with ‘Christmas with Nat & Dean’ playing in the background – each child has their own box of decorations to put on the tree. When they leave home (and that is fast approaching for me) my hope is that they will take their decorations with them and their trees will be full of happy memories. Gosh I love Christmas – now feeling v sentimental!
What beautiful stockings Cherry! I love traditions and 18 years after my baby’s first Christmas she loves them too! My favourite tradition that I started is that Santa always puts a tree decoration into the stockings. Every year each child then has their own box of decorations to put on the tree. I hope that when they leave home (and that moment is getting closer for me) they will take their decorations with them so that their tree will be connected to mine. Too sentimental?
I loved them too -started to write my cards tonight.What room have you put the stockings in?
Anna
Hoorah! Someone else is in the mood too! I’ve been ordering presents today, thinking of all the decorations my little one & I can make together, we made linking/dancing snowmen at the weekend which she’s busy colouring in. Have ordered sme paper chains too.
Re teething and rattles – I bought a set of silver teething rings from Tiffany’s which worked a treat. They looked gorgeous, helped soothe sore gums as they could be chilled if really needed, they had a little tinkling rattle inside and have become a keepsake/heirloom all rolled in to one….perfect. Afterall a girl is never too young to enjoy her first Tiffany experience…is she?
Huge hugs as always, I’m so glad life is finally treating you as well as you truly deserve sweetie. K xx
[...] she posted how to make your own Christmas Stockings and I just had to link to it as I thought you all would love it as part of Thrifty Christmas. Pop [...]
Beautiful stockings for beautiful children. How blessed they are.
“and by golly I’m going to suck the very life out of it.” Oh how this made me laugh and laugh this early Monday morning! How refreshing to see someone enjoying the very essence of Christmas. It’s contagious in a very good way.
Hi Cherry,
Chrismas is my favourite time of year and my countdown starts today too. I’m especially excited as i am expecting the arrival of my first baby in the next couple of weeks.
My question is where i can pick up some of those beautiful dusky pink feather boas?
Many thanks,
Lindsay x
Oooohhhh, congratulations. What fun you’ll have this year. I got the feather boas from the Christmas dept of my local garden centre last year. Such a find!!!
Cx
Cherry, these are just beautiful!.
Would it be ok if I linked to your article with an image? I’m doing a Homemade Christmas carnival and I know my readers would love this. Let me know if it’s ok?
Ah, thank you Liz. Yes, link away. I’m glad you like them. cx
Lovely! Lovely! Lovely!
And you my Dear, are looking simply fantastic!
Gentle hugs…
They look absolutely wonderful and have inspired me to make one for my little girl, your post has really put my in the christmas mood, which can never happen too early! x
Oh good, I was wondering if it was a touch early. But, hey ho!! Cx
Thank you so much! Cx
I don’t sew either, but I thuoght that since I was going to be using mine, I may need to give it a whirl. Even I can do a straight line. ha! I used your tutorial and just sewed the line instead of using glue. Thank you so much for getting my brain juices flowing. I wouldn’t have tried it otherwise. I linked to your post from mine (thekeylorfamily.blogspot.com)Thanks again!