How to Make a Christmas Stocking

Stockings, Stockings, Everywhere! Not enough people make DIY Christmas stockings these days, and that’s a shame! Handmade stockings become a treasured collectible in many families, and are so much magical fun for the kids. It’s a simple sewing project! (We even have a no-sew version!) Here are some stocking decorating ideas and tutorials and some great links to learn how to make a Christmas stocking (or ten!) – a wonderful memory for your family, to be used and treasured through the years!

DIY Christmas Stockings

How to Make a Christmas Stocking

Step One… Determine a theme for the person you are making the stocking…perhaps they like fishing, or cowboys, or ballerinas? I had so many kids to make for, I chose a toyland theme for the whole family, then made each stocking fit its owner. For instance, my baby girl was the angel, and my mischievous boy was the gingerbread boy! You may have an elegant little girl who might be perfect for a Victorian sock, or a little boy who loves Dalmatians! Step Two… Determine the material you want to use to make it! I chose felt, because it is cheap, sturdy, and simple to cut and add details. You also may want to consider fleece, or even corduroy or denim. By the way, it is even possible to make these out of paper…they make wonderful candy or gift giving containers!

Step Three… Cut out two basic stocking shapes from your fabric…remember, when it comes to kids, bigger is better! You can either sketch out your own stocking on a brown paper bag and then trace onto the fabric, or use  patterns that can be printed out on your computer and then taped together.

Step Four… Slip a loop of ribbon between the two stocking shapes in the outside corner for a hanger… Sew the stocking shapes together, leaving an opening at the top. If you are using fleece or felt, you can now use decorative thread if you wish to blanket stitch all around the edges of the stocking.

If you are using denim, flannel, or another fabric, sew the stockings halves right sides together, then turn right side out.

Step Five… Now the fun part! Personalize your stocking with what ever fits your theme. Cut out felt shapes or figures and attach with fabric glue. Use dimensional fabric paint or iron on letters to add a name to the stocking. Have a great time using your imagination, or check out the photos below for more ideas!

This simple Christmas stocking tutorial is from ‘Artful Days‘.

Christmas Stocking Decorating Ideas

From ‘A Beautiful Mess‘, we love this cushy & cozy looking pom pom Christmas stocking you can a make! We are really into pom poms… they can be more elegant if you use all white, more glitzy if you use all metallics, or more fun if you use the rainbow to create your own pom poms!

We think these simple B&W patterned stockings would be super simple to make… and they look so Scandi Style! Don’t these just make you think, “snowball fights, hot cocoa and warm blankets”? Tutorial from ‘Two Create Details‘. And speaking of details, the little leather name plate is so sophisticated! You will need Google Translate for this page…

Ok, how fun are these? You can learn how to make a Christmas stocking every kid, from 1 to 100 will love! This would go great with our Candyland Christmas Theme too. Step by step directions for this handmade felt stocking from ‘My Poppet‘.

Here is another take on how to make a Christmas stocking using pom poms from ‘Tell, Love and Party‘. The fabric is easy to work with felt, and the it is a super simple template to follow. Who would not love the cheery feel this would give any holiday mantel?

One of our fav blogs, ‘Dear Lillie‘ has these great ruffled and quilted burlap DIY stockings that anyone would love… don’t you just adore those quilted accents?

DIY Stockings – Elf Stocking Patterns!

‘My Cakies‘ has us covered on how to make a Christmas stocking with their free pattern of a DIY elf stocking with optional skate blade!

We LOVE these elf DIY Christmas stockings! And apparently, so do you by the number of inquiries we get about it!

Note: The source for this photo of these elf stockings no longer exists, but we have several more options with good tutorials farther down the post!

From ‘Sew 4 Home‘, these elf DIY Christmas stockings with curlique toes has a full pattern and a few different examples with alternate fabric choices.

Amy at ‘Positively Splendid‘ based her whimsical elf DIY stocking pattern tutorial on a set by Ballard Designs. Love the details in these fun holiday stockings!

No Sew Christmas Stockings

Don’t have a sewing machine? No problem… this no sew stocking from ‘Angela Marie Made‘ are pretty, charming, rustic but on trend. All you need is an iron and some simple fabric!

Erin from ‘A New Bloom‘ got inspired by Anthropologie’s stocking decorating ideas and made us a tutorial for her felt DIY stocking with tassels, and we love ’em! BTW, these are more no-sew ideas!

For you no-sewers, ‘Susie Harris‘ has these great vintage style no-sew stockings that you can make!

What kind of DIY Christmas stockings will you be making? Share the best ideas you’ve seen! If you enjoyed this post filled with stocking decorating ideas, try our posts on  DIY snow globes,  or our DIY holiday wreaths! Also go see our post on Fireplace Christmas Mantel Decor Ideas over at OhMeOhMy!

Image Credits: Two Create Details, Artful Days, A Beautiful Mess, My Poppet, Tell, Love and Party, Dear Lillie, My Cakies, Sew 4 Home, Positively Splendid, Angela Marie Made, A New Bloom, Susie Harris

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