DIY Custom Holiday Stockings

Head on over to your favourite local fabric store, online fabric store or grab that old sweater you never wear anymore and give it a new purpose!

I chose two patterns with a coordinating brown for the cuff. Mine were a wool/acrylic mix, so they were very soft and have that cozy holiday feel.

I purchased about 1 meter of each of the plaid materials and 1/2 meter of the brown wool.

Stop by the button rack as well, I lucked out as mine were 50% off that day!

My entire bill came to under $10 (I always head straight to the clearance rack to see what treasures I can find before paying full price)

You'll need:

• Approximately 1/2 meter of material with a coordinating piece for the cuff (I made two large stockings and two small and still had leftover material)
• Buttons
• Trim (optional- I originally planned on using this but opted out last minute)
• Sharp scissors capable of cutting material
• Large piece of cardboard
• A pen/ washable material marker
• Sewing machine, or a needle and thread
• Pins!
• Box cutting knife
• Glue gun
• Twine or hemp rope
• Holiday spirit

I said this was custom right!?

So now grab your piece of cardboard and get creative.. It only takes a quick google search if you are in need of some inspiration on stocking shapes.

Sketch out your stocking outline being sure that you are making it extra wide to account for the hemline that you will be sewing.

Cut out your stocking stencil with scissors or a box cutting knife (be careful not to cut yourself.. Always cut away from yourself not towards!)

• Create a smaller stencil if your fur babies are spoiled and need a stocking too!

I like to iron my fabric before tracing and cutting to ensure that there are no wrinkles so your pieces match up.

Warning: freshly ironed fabric make for a warm and welcoming lounge for your housemates ..

I also folded my fabric so it was double layered when I traced out my pattern and ensured my two pieces would match up as I cut them together.

Ensure that your fabric is right side facing right side when you fold and cut it.

I grew up working on little sewing projects with my mum and aunt and my uncle always said: "I don't understand; you go to a store, pay for fabric, get home and cut it up only to sew it back together again!"

Trace along the edges of your cardboard Cutout with a pen or washable marker. It's ok if some of the pen does not come out because this is the 'wrong side' of your fabric, so it will be the inside of your stocking.

So once you have your patterned traced, carefully pin the two layers of fabric together to minimize the chance of it moving while you cut. Pin it on the 'inside' of your stocking outline so that they are still in place when we get to the sewing step.

Carefully and slowly cut both of the layers at the same time following your traced line.

This part may be a little tricky to explain as I lost my pictures from this step.

I have drawn a few diagrams to help you understand.

In order for the cuff to have a 'cross over look', the piece you need to cut will have to be the length of the stocking opening X2 plus 1cm.

I made sure my material was folded when I drew out and cut my cuff so that it was even on both sides.

It's time to sew!

I drew on the cardboard cutout to make things easier to explain..

With your two wrong sides still facing each other and pins in place, Sew along the edges, approximately 1/2 inch from the edges (my fabric frayed a lot so I wanted to leave it lots of room)

Still keeping the stocking inside out, pin the cuff around the outside of the stocking opening careful not to pin it closed.

Carefully pin one side of the cuff to the front of the stocking and then repeat on the other side creating a overlapped look.

I was able to use my sewing machine to sew around the larger cuff/stocking edge, but depending on how small your stockings are you may have to do it by hand.

Now that you've sewed on your cuff, turn your creation so the right side is facing out and fold the cuff over the stocking edge (plaid material).

I ironed my cuff so that it stayed in place neatly.

Grab your button, a needle and thread and sew that bad boy where ever your little heart desires!

You could also sew on some trim to the cuffs edge if you'd like!

Cut yourself a piece of hemp rope or twine and create a loop to hang your stocking.

Use your hot glue gun to secure the loop to the inside of one corner of your stocking. Generally loops are on the long heeled edge of the stocking so that it doesn't look funny when it's hanging :)

Now hang up your custom stocking and enjoy your new creation!

I hope that my first instructable was bearable and you enjoyed my drawings! I didn't use a pattern for this, and I'm proud with how my first project has turned out!