I really do love to make holiday decorations, and I do mean for
all holidays! It seemed like when I was growing up, we were always making something in anticipation of a holiday. I remember quite clearly sitting at the kitchen table in July, creating tree ornaments for the coming season. It was a bit of a different world then, I guess, one that didn't recognize not everyone celebrates Christmas or has a "nuclear" family life. But judging from the proliferation of crafts and decorating projects on the Web, the urge to bring handmade things into your home hasn't died out at all.
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| I embroidered my girl elf on linen first, then cut out the shape of the stocking. |
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| I sewed a cuff to my stocking front, and to a plain stocking back. |
Here is the result of my retreat into that happy time — an embroidered stocking that has a lining. This project is from a 2009 issue of
Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection magazine. The pattern pieces and embroidery image were included in the magazine.
I started by embroidering my image by hand on embroidery linen. Both items are readily available in craft and fabric stores. I really love to embroider, it's a way to let go of everything.
I used some cotton duck I had on hand for my stocking back. The cuff pieces have been backed with fusible, non-woven interfacing. What a great way to use up that old interfacing, since it's not very good for apparel sewing.
I cut my lining pieces out of some nice, white cotton broadcloth.
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| Next, I placed a lining piece over the stocking front and stocking back, and stitched across the top of each one. |
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| Notice I also made sure I included a loop for hanging. Yes, this is the boy elf now. |
A stocking with no way to hang it up is no good! I made a loop, and enclosed it within my top seam.
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| The view of the front stocking piece and its lining, from the wrong side. |
Here is the part that I think's really ingenius: Sew the front and the back together, like it was a pillow. Read on.
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| Leave an opening so you can turn the whole thing right side out. |
With right sides together, I've sewn the back and the front, leaving myself an opening in the
lining big enough for me to easily put my hand into. Before I turned the whole shebang right side out, however, I trimmed and clipped my seams to eliminate bulk. It really makes a big difference. I pressed my stitching well.
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| The turned and pressed stocking is almost done. |
At this point the stocking is almost done. I closed the opening in the lining. Then, I tucked the lining inside the stocking and pressed the whole thing again.
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| I'm ready for Christmas already! |
Why not do some Christmas decorations now? December always seems way too crazy to start then. Get ready earlier. I can't wait to hang these in my sewing room on December 1st!
