Personalized Christmas Stockings

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a Christmas stocking that was made just for me. It has my initials and the year I was born on it. I’ve been told my aunt knitted it for me. Although it’s seen better days, I still have ii.

Making a personalized Christmas stocking for the children is a terrific tradition that brings a special joy to each member of the family.

I’ve had mine since I was a baby … but if someone you love doesn’t have one, it is never too late to remedy that situation. In fact, when I got married, I made one for my husband.

Let’s look at each element of design in turn to get your creative juices flowing. At the end, you’ll have a design and pattern for your personalized Christmas stocking.

Themes
Christmas has many “faces” to display on a stocking. The one I grew up with had a Santa theme, but there are others you can choose:

• angels,
• the Nativity,
• snowmen,
• Christmas trees,
• gingerbread men,
• a partridge in a pear tree,
• ornaments,
• wreaths,
• dogs, cats or other beloved pets, or
• something from your heritage

The list goes on.

Color Schemes
The obvious choice is the traditional red and green, but other combinations also go well with Christmas:

• white, silver and gold
• white and two shades of blue
• red, gold and purple

Generally, three-color schemes work very well. However, you can create a stunning stained-glass effect with a range of jewel-like colors.

Fabrics
My stocking was knitted from yarn. My husband’s is sewn from a simple cotton weave. Christmas stocking can be made from any fabric under the sun. It is really the color scheme and theme that help you pick the right one.

And you don’t need to stick to one type of fabric. You can add satin ribbon, golden trim, felt appliques … even plastic decorations can be added to the mix. Heck! You could even use suede!

Visit your local craft and fabric stores … places like JoAnn’s Fabrics and Michael’s can offer you a wide array of trims and fabrics, including laces, ribbons, woven, ethnic, glittery, sequined, beaded and tasseled.

The Pattern
Use a paper grocery bag to draw your stocking shape. Using a pencil, refine the shape until it is just the way you want it. Then trace a half-inch allowance on all sides. Then cut it out.

This is your pattern. Use it to cut out two mirror images of the shape from your main fabric. Sew them together (right sides facing each other) … remembering to create a hem at the opening.

Reverse the stocking and decorate. Now you have a personalized Christmas stocking!