A Way To Make A Christmas Stocking With A Lining

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.

I embroidered my girl elf on linen first, then cut out the shape of the stocking.

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.

Next, I placed a lining piece over the stocking front and stocking back, and stitched across the top of each one.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!