Making a Christmas stocking for baby's 1st Christmas

[TimeForCake]

Not sure this is the right place to post but I'd like to make DS a stocking for his first Christmas. I thought just getting some Xmas style patchwork fabrics would look nice on red felt but finding them is proving more difficult than I thought. They seem to be in huge bundles online.
My sewing skills are not exactly at expert level so maybe buying a kit would be a better idea? I can also imagine that me drawing a perfect stocking template may take some time too!

Has anyone done anything similar and been really pleased with their results? Please share your expertise with an enthusiastic novice! Can anybody point me in the direction of where to buy the bits and pieces- ready made kit or otherwise. I may not end up with a perfect stocking but I've got the idea in my head now so would like to give it a go.

(If you have recently bought a stocking that you're really pleased with, let me know too, in case I fail miserably and need a quick solution! )

[TimeForCake]

Ooops...just found the Arts and Crafts thread...must look more carefully before posting!

[shongololo]

red felt - will stretch if you get anything much in there. Try red fabric instead. Patchwork fabric can be bought in small quantities from many patchwork shops - buy one "fat quarter" (about 22 inches by 12 inches) of whatever takes your fancy. ALso buy some lining fabric if you want stocking to last for many years. An old pillowcase will work!

Draw a stocking shape on some paper as your pattern. There's no right or wrong way. Make sure its quite a fat stocking, so the neck (Ankle) is broad, and the "instep" bit of the foot stocking (IYSWIM). You'll want it to have a angled/pointed toe. Remember to include a geneous seam allowance

Decorate your stocking front first - i.e. sew on the patchwork plus any fancy cuff at the top, buttons, bows etc.

If using a lining, sew the stocking top to the lining top - right sides facing. (top being thbit where you would stuff the toys.)

do the same for the back of the stocking.

Now place right sides together and start sewing...your aim is to sew a continuous line, leaving the base (sole) of the lining open.

One you have finished sewing, put the whole lot inside out and ease out the toes and heels. sew up the hole in the base of the liner, and tuck liner inside stocking.

Iron well.

SHould take you about an hour total

et voila

[trumpton]

Make 2... empty one on bed..... full one hidden ready to do night time swop. Not so important this year but you will never regret it in the future.

[overmydeadbody]

what shago said.



I use fabric when making stockings, not felt. I make a 'cuff' at the top that is turned over, with the person's name appliqued onto it in contrasting fabric.

I made mine a bit narrower than I should have, but in the long run I tihnk it will be good as it means less things needed to fill it.


I am making mini stockings at the moment for an advent calendar for DS, they will all be hung up on twine with nimi clothes pegs, with a little chocolate in each one. I made 16 yesterday, so only 8 to make today!

The mini stockings are in plain cream, red and red and cream stripe, and then each one has a little winter themed shape appliqued onto the front, and the top is finished off with bias binding. I am using up a lot of scraps of fabric!

[charmander]

My mum made my kids one several years ago from a panel wit.h the shapes on from Hobbycraft. Don't know if they still do them.

Do not knit a stocking - they get longer the mmore you put in them and you end up having to find loads and loads to fill them.

[SoupDragon]

I made sacks. Square, easy to sew and decorated with something different for each child.

[SoupDragon]

if a company has to provide a breastfeeding room, isn't this going to make women a less attractive employment prospect than they are already? "time off for antenatal stuff, time off for pregnancy illnesses, maternity leave, sick children and now a special room...?"

[SoupDragon]

Eh?? Hw did this end up on this thread? Weird

[northerngirl41]

Try www.etsy.com for the supplies - a lot of the crafters will buy big bundles and then split them into smaller job lots.

[TimeForCake]

Thank you everyone for all your advice, I would have fallen in many pitfalls without it!

Overmydeadbody - love your mini stocking idea, hope you're near the finishing line now! I shall remember that for future reference. You must be a patient sewer

Soupdragon - good idea re: sack shape, less fiddly!

Charmamder and northerngirl thanks for that info too.

Have found some material and other bits and pieces, not doing felt now after reading advice. DS seems to want to get invlolved though - thought I might sneakily get a template drawn whilst he was playing. Wrong! What would I do without his help?!

Thanks again everyone.