Stocking Central
It's that time of year again...you know, the few weeks leading up to Christmas, when in addition to all the gift shopping, tree decorating, and cookie making, you finally settle down to start churning out stockings {insert your last-minute Christmas project here}. I admired all of the pre-December holiday efforts on blogs (Christmas in July, 100 Day Hustle, etc.). But when those started, I was busy with other projects; plus, the deadline just wasn't close enough to feel real.
The clock is ticking now, though!
I am the (self-)designated stocking maker in the family. About 6 years ago, I made these stockings for me and my husband (forgive the photo...evidently I'm so proud of them that I've never actually taken a photo of them hanging on a fireplace).
I made these stockings using velvets and silky fabrics that my grandma gave me. I love them, but nine stockings later, I've learned some dos and don'ts for stocking making, and most of the don'ts came from these.
And, the first year we used them, they weren't quite done yet (you're not surprised, are you?). So the cuffs were attached with pins. Which I forgot to warn my husband about before he reached in to see what Santa had brought. Oops! He's very careful now.
My sister-in-law saw these and asked if I would make stockings for her kids. Of course!
Her three kids blossomed to five, so that was two more stockings. I really need to get a photo of all 5! These were made the same way as mine; I traced my childhood stocking, pieced fabrics together to be larger than the template, used the cool stitches on my sewing machine to embellish, added a corduroy back (stiffer than faux velvet...a better choice for good hanging!), and then topped it off with an embroidered wool cuff.
Two years ago, my sister got married and requested stockings. Then my sister-in-law got married and asked for stockings too. So last year, I made my sister's, using the same technique:
And tried something different for my sister-in-law. I had been saving this free Denyse Schmidt pattern for a couple years, planning to use it for my own future kids.
I love how these turned out!
So, onto this year. I am making the more traditional stocking with the black cuff for my new nephew (so it matches his parents' stockings). And I am making the Denyse Schmidt stocking for my two boys out of this Ready, Set, Snow fabric, bought last November in a fit of optimism.
This year it's happening though. And a matching tree skirt.
The sewing starts today. Does having the fabric and a plan count as a WIP? I think it does, so I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. I'll be back with an update later this week!
The clock is ticking now, though!
I am the (self-)designated stocking maker in the family. About 6 years ago, I made these stockings for me and my husband (forgive the photo...evidently I'm so proud of them that I've never actually taken a photo of them hanging on a fireplace).
I made these stockings using velvets and silky fabrics that my grandma gave me. I love them, but nine stockings later, I've learned some dos and don'ts for stocking making, and most of the don'ts came from these.
And, the first year we used them, they weren't quite done yet (you're not surprised, are you?). So the cuffs were attached with pins. Which I forgot to warn my husband about before he reached in to see what Santa had brought. Oops! He's very careful now.
My sister-in-law saw these and asked if I would make stockings for her kids. Of course!
Two years ago, my sister got married and requested stockings. Then my sister-in-law got married and asked for stockings too. So last year, I made my sister's, using the same technique:
And tried something different for my sister-in-law. I had been saving this free Denyse Schmidt pattern for a couple years, planning to use it for my own future kids.
So, onto this year. I am making the more traditional stocking with the black cuff for my new nephew (so it matches his parents' stockings). And I am making the Denyse Schmidt stocking for my two boys out of this Ready, Set, Snow fabric, bought last November in a fit of optimism.
The sewing starts today. Does having the fabric and a plan count as a WIP? I think it does, so I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. I'll be back with an update later this week!
One more thing: To raise the stakes a bit, I'm competing with my husband. We have a double-sided fireplace in our new house, and neither side has a mantel. He's working on that, I'm working on the stockings to hang on it. Who will finish first???