Christmas Stocking Instructions

I figured I should probably post the instructions for the Christmas stockings so you can have them ready by Christmas. I will do my best at explaining as simply as I can. Once you've done one you can whip out  several with no problem. Make sure to read through the entire tutorial before you start, to avoid confusion.

You'll need:

• Two outside pieces (I bought 1 yd because of future children. You could get by with 1/2 a yard for 1 stocking)
• Two inside lining pieces (I would recommend felt -- it's cheap and soft)
• Two border fabric pieces (probably 1/8 or 1/4 yard. My pieces ended up being 4" long+the width of the stocking) 
• Bias tape (Get extra wide double fold. Easier to work with.)

1. Start by cutting out your pieces. You can use your own pattern or email me for the one I used. Just remember, the bigger the stocking the harder it is to fill. I just cut the border piece to match the width of the stocking. Sophisticated, I know.

2. Iron one edge of one border piece up 1/2"

 3. Sew the border pieces together at the raw edges, right sides together.

4. Line up one felt piece and one fabric piece. Make sure the toe is pointed in the direction you want it to be when you hang it. This will be the front of your stocking. Align the border pieces' seam at the top (wrong sides together) so that the border piece is on either side of the stocking.The side you ironed should be on the inside lining. Pin and sew the ironed edge to inside lining. I kept the edge of the presser foot lined up with the edge of the fabric.

5. Sew on bias tape to the other end of your border fabric (the part that covers the front of the stocking.) I just cut a piece long enough to match the length of the border piece. Here's how you attach the bias tape: Unfold the tape. Pin and sew the open edge of the tape to the edge of the border piece.  Again, keep the presser foot at the edge of the fabric.

6. Roll the tape around so that the other end is on the outside. Pin and sew to the stocking. Make sure the tape covers up the sewing you just did. This is where the extra wide double fold bias tape comes in handy. There should be plenty to cover up the stitching.

The end result should look like this.

 7. Do the same with the bias tape to the top edge of the back side of the stocking.

Now you should have two pieces that look like this.  Let me also explain that in this tutorial I sewed on all the attachments first and then sewed the front and back pieces together. I would do it the opposite way. Sew the stocking together, unpick half way, sew on attachments, then sew back together. It just keeps it lined up better.

8. Sew the front and back pieces together at a 1/2" seam with wrong sides together and cut off any excess. (You may not need to cut off the excess if you have extra wide double fold tape. FYI.)

9. More bias tape. Same rule applies. I used 36" to go around the entire stocking. Unfold and pin to the back side of the stocking. This part is a little tricky but just work with the tape to make it align with the edge. Don't worry about the rest of it. Go slow around those curves.
**Make sure the long end of the tape is on the opposite side you want to hang it on. Look at it from the front before you sew to make sure it looks the way you want it to.

10. Fold over the top edge of the tape on the opposite side, just to make it look nicer when you're done.

11. Roll the tape over to the front of the stocking. Pin and sew. You may have to fiddle with it while you're sewing to make sure you cover up the other stitches. Go slow.

12. Fold down the long end of the bias tape to make a loop (as long as you want it to be). Sew across the tape and...Tada!