Four Christmas Stocking Projects

Supplies for each stocking include tracing paper, matching sewing thread, and an 8-inch length of 3/8-inch-wide ribbon for a hanging loop.

General Instructions: Trace the stocking pattern from the pattern pack onto tracing paper; cut out. For the Heel & Toe Stocking and Crazy-Quilt Stocking, trace the heel and toe and crazy-quilt shapes separately onto tracing paper, adding a 1/4-inch seam allowance to the inside edges of each crazy-quilt shape; cut out the patterns. When sewing pieces together, use a 1/4-inch seam allowance with right sides facing unless otherwise indicated.

A red velvet cuff and embroidered creamy-white cotton give this stocking sophisticated appeal and a crisp holiday look. Minus patterned fabrics, the stocking easily meshes with traditional Christmas decor. Three big buttons on the cuff add a finished look with a bit of sparkle.

• 1/2 yard of cream-on-cream fabric
• 1 yard of narrow cording
• 1-1/2-x-36-inch bias strip of coordinating fabric
• 7-x-10-1/4-inch red velvet cuff rectangle
• Three 1-inch-diameter silver shank buttons

Stocking pattern

1. Use the stocking pattern to cut a front and back, reversing one of the shapes, from cream-on-cream fabric.
2. Center the cording on the wrong side of the bias strip.
3. Fold the fabric over the cording, matching the long edges. Use a zipper foot to sew through both fabric layers close to the cording. Baste the piping around the sides and foot of the stocking front with a zipper foot.
4. Sew the stocking front to the back, leaving the top edge open. Trim the seams, and clip the curves. Turn the stocking right side out.
5. Fold the ribbon in half, forming the hanging loop. Aligning the raw edges, sew the loop to the top inside corner on the heel side of the stocking.
6. Sew together the short edges of the red velvet cuff rectangle; press open the seam allowances. With wrong sides facing, fold the cuff in half; baste the raw edges together. Slip the cuff inside the stocking, centering the cuff seam at the center back of the stocking. With the raw edges even, sew the cuff to the stocking. Fold the cuff to the right side of the stocking. Sew the buttons to the cuff front.

In the spirit of a crazy quilt, this stocking features a medley of fabrics, textures, and stitches. The red-and-white toile lends a timeless look that will be welcome for years to come.

• 10-x-14-inch piece of cream chenille fabric
• Scraps of three coordinating fabrics
• Red perle cotton
• Embroidery needle
• Eight 5/8-inch-diameter white buttons

Stocking pattern

1. Reversing the stocking pattern, cut a stocking back from chenille. From the fabric scraps, cut one of each of the crazy-quilt shapes and a 2-1/2-x-10-1/4-inch facing strip.
2. Sew together the crazy-quilt shapes for the stocking front; press the seam allowances open. Feather-stitch over the seam lines with red perle cotton.
3. Sew the stocking front to the back, leaving the top edge open. Trim the seams, and clip curves. Turn the stocking right side out.
4. Fold the ribbon in half, forming the hanging loop. Aligning the raw edges, sew the loop to the top outside corner on the heel side of the stocking.
5. Sew together the short edges of the facing strip; press open the seam allowances. Slip the facing over the stocking with right sides together. Sew the facing to the stocking. Fold the facing to the inside of the stocking; press.
6. Feather-stitch with perle cotton around the top of the stocking through both fabric layers. Sew buttons along the left edge of the stocking front.

The homespun look of this stocking is reminiscent of those that hung from the mantels of yesteryear. A chenille toe and heel help create a cuddly setting.

• 1/2 yard of red print fabric
• Scraps of cream chenille
• Burgundy felt: two 2-1/4-inch-diameter circles and two 5/8-x-6-inch strips
• Pinking shears
• 1-1/2-x-14-inch bias strip of coordinating fabric
• 14-inch length of narrow cording
• Two 3/4-inch-diameter buttons

Stocking pattern

1. Use the stocking pattern to cut a front and back, reversing one of the shapes, from red print fabric.
2. Cut one 2-1/2-x-10-1/4-inch facing strip from the red print fabric. From chenille, cut one heel and toe. Pink the edges of the felt circles and strips.
3. Pin the heel and toe pieces wrong side down on the right side of the stocking front; baste. Center the felt strips over the inner edges of the heel and toe; sew down the center of the strips. Trim the strips even with the edges of the stocking front.
4. Sew the stocking front to the back, leaving the top edge open. Trim the seams, and clip the curves. Turn the stocking right side out.
5. Center the cording on the wrong side of the bias strip.
6. Fold the fabric over the cording, matching the long edges. Using a zipper foot, sew through both fabric layers close to the cording and baste the piping around the top edge of the stocking.
7. Fold the ribbon in half, forming the hanging loop. Aligning the raw edges, sew the loop to the top outside corner on the heel side of the stocking.
8. Sew together the short edges of the facing strip; press open the seam allowances. Slip the facing over the stocking with right sides together. Sew the facing to the stocking. Fold the facing to the inside of the stocking; press.
9. Cut a 1-inch-diameter circle from the center of each felt circle. Hand-sew small running stitches 1/8 inch from the inner cut edge of each circle. Pull the thread to tightly gather the felt, leaving a center small opening; knot. Position the felt circles on the stocking front with the buttons at the centers; sew to secure.

A nod to a time-tested quilting embellishment, the yo-yos scattered about this chenille stocking add a touch of whimsy.

• 1/2 yard cream chenille fabric
• 3-x-10-1/4-inch burgundy felt cuff rectangle
• Pinking shears
• Cream embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Three 4-inch-diameter circles of coordinating fabrics
• Three 7/8-inch-diameter red buttons

Stocking pattern

1. Use the stocking pattern to cut a front and back, reversing one of the shapes, from cream chenille fabric.
2. Sew the stocking front to the back, leaving the top edge open. Trim the seams, and clip the curves. Turn the stocking right side out.
3. Fold the ribbon in half, forming the hanging loop. Aligning the raw edges, sew the loop to the top inside corner on the heel side of the stocking.
4. Sew together the short edges of the cuff rectangle; press open the seam allowances. Slip the cuff inside the stocking with the right side of the cuff facing the wrong side of the stocking, centering the cuff seam at the center back of the stocking. With raw edges even, sew the cuff to the stocking. Fold the cuff to the right side of the stocking. Pink the bottom edge of the cuff. Thread the embroidery needle with six plies of floss; make running stitches 3/8 inch from the bottom cuff edge.
5. To make a yo-yo, thread needle and knot ends together. With the wrong side of a fabric circle facing up, make small running stitches 1/8 inch from the edge. Pull the thread to draw the outside of the circle to the center with the wrong side of the fabric inside until a small opening remains; knot. Flatten the yo-yo, centering the hole.
6. Repeat to make other yo-yos. Position the yo-yos on the stocking front with the buttons at the center; sew to secure.