Diy Christmas stockings?

[maestramommy]

I was thinking now that we have our own place with a fireplace, it'd be cool to do stockings for each family member. But are they always so expensive? I can see why they are, of course. The PB or Lands End stockings look very nice. Is it possible to make nice ones myself that will last for years, without it costing $20 each? And if I wanted to put names on them, would it be possible to find applique letters?

[MamaKath]

I made really inexpensive ones a few years ago out of felt. Made a quick simple pattern, did a running stitch out of rainbow yarn with a carpet needle around the edges, did a simple outline stitch to put names on, and then used felt scraps to make designs (flower on dd's and bird on ds). Super easy! And cost less than $5 for 2. :-) Hopefully I can find them this Christmas.

You can do a nicer, more elaborate stocking easily as well out of regular fabric. There are all kinds of cool fabrics out- velvets, polar fleece, silks, calicos, fun fashion prints, cottons, etc.

Some additional ideas...
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/209721724/Make_Your_Own_Christmas_Stocking.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Christmas-Stocking
http://hubpages.com/hub/How_To_Make_A_Christmas_Stocking
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/ff1003_stockings/ff1003_stockings.html
http://www.christmascraftfreebies.com/
http://sewing.about.com/od/freeprojects/ss/xmasstocking.htm

[maestramommy]

Thank you!

[new_mommy25]

Just for fun I made my DH a stocking a couple of years ago. It was really fun, and easy!!

I used a wool blend felt off the bolt. My MIL has a ton because she does craft fairs for a living, but you can buy it at a quilting or fabric store. 100% wool or a wool blend is much nicer than acrylic felt. That stuff gets pilly and nasty even with little handling.

Basically, I just traced the shape onto the felt and cut out. Then I appliqued the design onto the felt using steam a seam. http://www.warmcompany.com/saspage.html If you use that stuff you don't even need to sew, though a zig zag or hand embroidery is really cute.

I did the same thing for the letters. For the letters, I just drew the letters on paper, cut out the template and then traced them backwards onto the paper backing of the fusible web (steam a seam). Then I cut it out around the letter, and ironed it onto the wrong side of the felt. Then I cut out the letter and ironed it on to the stocking cuff. Even easier than drawing your own letters would be to print them out using MS Word or something and then cut and trace. Just don't forget to print them as a mirror image or to turn the letter around and trace it backwards.

After I had done all my designs I just sewed the stocking up right sides together and attached the cuff at the top. It really took only a few hours and was a fun surprise for DH.

Of course you can do the same thing with regular fabrics. I just made a bunch of Halloween trick or treat bags for my kids and nephews out of Halloween cotton and appliqued their initials on it using steam a seam and the same process I mentioned above. I did a zig zag around the applique and it turned out really cute.

[JTsMom]

You can also find all kinds of iron on letters. Hobby Lobby has the bestr selection I've seen. Another option is rhinestones or gems of some sort.