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It's the little touches at the holidays that make the memories. The gifts are forgotten about in no time, as is the wrapping paper, bows and cards. It's the things that get brought out year after year that we remember all our lives. Handmade ornaments, a special star, certain lights to decorate an outdoor tree. The anticipation of Christmas becomes a joy, like how you feel when a friend visits once a year.
Stockings are those things that we wait to see each year. They're extra special when they're out only for a few weeks each Christmas season and when they're handmade, they become heirlooms.
This is a simple patchwork pattern, but in a Christmas stocking, it's stunning. It looks best in a big stocking, to show off the many patches. Choose fabrics of your choice, in red, green and white or off-white. They can be bold or pastel, solids or novelty fabrics. Always buy all-cotton quilting fabrics.
When you're shopping, buy fabric for the back of the stocking. It can be plain or one of the fabrics in the patchwork. You will also need fabric to quilt your patchwork onto. A 2-layer quilt will be the front, and one layer of fabric will be the back. You'll also need white or off-white felt for the trim on top of the stocking.
Once you have your fabric, cut them into 2 1/2" wide strips across the grain from selvage to selvage. How many will depend on how many stockings you're making, their size and how many different fabrics you have.
Lay your strips out in a pattern, either symmetrical or varied. Sew the strips together with a 1/4" seam. Press the seams all to one side. Now you have a big piece of striped fabric. The next step is to cut that into 2 1/2" wide strips across the stripes so you have strips of squares. Piece these strips together in a pleasing pattern. Make sure that at junctions where seams meet, they go in opposite directions to avoid having to sew through many layers of fabric. You have now created a big piece of patchwork fabric that you will cut your stockings from.
Make a paper pattern for your stockings. Use the stockings you have now, or copy a sock and enlarge it. I like to make the toe quite large. The kids love to dig around in it for small gifts from Santa.
The pattern I have is basically an "L". It's about 6" wide at the opening and 11" overall. This will give you an idea of what to work with. If you like, you can make one up from an old sheet to see if you like the size. Then you can place the pattern on the pieced fabric and see if it's pleasing to the eye.
Once you have decided on your pattern, cut one piece of patchwork fabric for the front of each stocking. Cut two pieces of plain fabric for each stocking. You can layer these three fabrics on top of each other and cut them all at once if you choose.
Sew together the top edge of the patchwork and a piece of plain fabric, right sides together, using a 1/4" seam. Press the seam to one side, then baste your 2-layer creation in preparation for quilting.
I prefer to tie my patchwork using festive colored cotton embroidery thread in each square. I have used wool thread, which is stunning yet practical, since these won't need washing. You can also machine quilt a design or in-the-ditch, which is simple and quick on something this small. If you are ambitious, you can hand quilt in a hoop.
This now quilted piece is the front of your stocking. Trim the edges of the two pieces so they're even. Lay it face down on the right side of the remaining piece of plain fabric. Sew a 1/4" seam around the edges, leaving the top free. Clip the curves and turn right side out. Press. Turn the top edge under 1/4" and stitch to make it neat.
Cut strips of white felt for the trim at the top. Cut 2 pieces for each stocking, 2" wide and 1/2" longer than the width of the opening of the stocking. Use a glue gun to attach these even with the opening. Glue together the sides that overhang the edges.
Congratulate yourself! You've just made some family heirlooms that will be treasured for generations!
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