By Heidi
You know all through the year we shop designs, saying, “Oh so-and-so would love that:, and before you know it, you see something else you have to have to that for someone else that you love. You take them time to buy the designs and you eagerly get your fabric out and test sew it. After the test sew you have decided it was too hard to do a big project so off to the “test sewn block box” it goes. If you are like me they stack up over a year’s time.
Now, the spring turns to summer and summer turns to fall, all the major holidays come and go and around about Halloween time you know you need to start those Christmas gifts for family and friends, but what to do?
Well, remember those blocks that are sitting in a box somewhere? I have a new and quick easy way to impress those loved ones and maybe even your co-workers and boss.
I have found that the Victorian Christmas stocking is an easy way of using those test sewn blocks.
In this article I hope to inspire you to make those last minute gifts for those you who inspired you to buy the designs. In the Victorian times they loved the crazy quilt and you can take memories, a little love, and our love for the embroidery machine and really make something nice with it. And, that is how this idea was born.
To make this stocking you need to cut 3 of the stocking patterns out. You can find all kinds of patterns on the web for stocking, this one was provided by my sister, she is doing 30 of them for family and friends.
One is for the front, one for the back, and one for the lining.
The one for the front you will be putting your design on and then you put 2 to 2 ½ inch strips around and work the strips out until you have your stocking front completely covered. There is going to be over-lapping as seen in the picture below.
It almost looks like a house at this point, and when you turn it over and you will see your back piece.
Take your scissors and carefully trim around the stocking pattern.
Now you are going to put the stocking together.
First lay your back of stocking on flat surface.
Next, put your front with the decorative front towards you and your lining on top of the decorative front.
Pin into place and stitch all 3 layers together.
Now that you have it all stitched you need to round out the heel and toe; to do this you need to clip the extra around the toe and heel without going into stitches, see pictures below.
Wherever it curves you need to clip about ½ inch apart being very careful not to go into the stitching.
Now that you have it stitched you can take your pins out.
For the cuff, I measured across the front and then double it/
Mine was 7 ½ across the top and I cut 15 x 12 folded in half and sewed all the way down and then turned right side out.
Make sure to press this piece
Put on decorative stitch and then pin all around the inside top
Sew around the top of the stocking with the cuff pinned into place.
Turn it right side out and pull the cuff out and flip over you have now a completed stocking.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I have in making them and remember you can use any kind of design on the front.
I’m making some with southern belles.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be Christmas, it can also be something that your loved ones are interested in: race cars, sewing, cheerleading, your choices will makes it so personal.
Have fun and happy sewing until next idea.
Here are some links for stocking and the flip and sew method of a crazy quilt, this is what you use on your stocking is the flip and sew method.
This is for the flip and sew method that I used for making the front of the stocking, like I said earlier I cut 2 to 2 ½ inch strips for the stocking and started in the center with the design and worked out.
This is the one for a pattern for a stocking. I got mine from my sister, but it gives you and idea on how to make the basic stocking.
Very creative use of scrap xmas fabric
Very clever, I think they are fabulous.
Luv from South Africa
Tessa
This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing. Guess what is for Christmas gifts next year.
Some of you creative people just astound me. This is a great idea. I think this would make a good bazaar item, too. Thanks for the idea and also for the links to patterns, etc.
What a great idea! Kinda a crazy quilted stocking. You know I will have to try this!
This was a real treat to have the pictures for referencing and to be able to go to the web site to view more information. I’d like to see more of these kinds of newsletters. Thank you very much!
i do this same process for making placemats(we can always use more of these, right) i make mine really large (16×20) and can use more patterns that way
Loved this article, so timely, as I am making stockings for family members this year. Using test squares is perfect. Thank you!
Oh sooo cute and clever. I will have to do this from now on. Thanks!
Great Idea! Thanks a stack.
What a great idea for next year! Thanks
My problem is “where to find the time to do all I woluld like to. My table is always full of projects” Love your stuff. Take care and have a Merry Christmas.
Loved the stockng.. What a great idea.. I am going to run me a copy of this ..so I will be set to do some for Christmas next year.. and would be nice to get some made right after Christmas for next Christmas..[wishful thinking.ha]
Thankyou for sharing this special stocking.. God bless.Judy Roberson
thank you for all of your lovely comments, and i hope you all a very merry merry Christmas. Jean on the placemats would love to have that pattern for those, have never tried them. every one that i have done flopped so far.
heidi
Excellent Instructions and additional information. The pictures are a great help, This is such a great idea for using test blocks; I also think the stockings would look elegante in materials other than Christmas print, maybe velvet or satin. Thanks for sharing this great project.
Great idea.
Sorry I am so late reading the letters and seeing all the GREAT ideas. Another project I have used those UFO (un-finished-objects) for is to make a tote bag, a cute cosmetic bag that gets lots of attention when you pull it out to get that special lipstick, or It might be for an adult or for a ‘quiet church bag’ for a special child. All are good ways to clean out that UFO box in the closet.
Here’s another idea. I make quilts for the Binky Patrol, binkypatrol.org , and samples, scraps, etc go in a Binky. Kids love em!!!
Love the idea for the stockings i think it would work for a quilt top to help use up your samples.You can make llap size and even a wall hanging for your sewing room.And a great way to use up all the scraps in the scrap basket,so many ideas are flooding my head for projects Thanks.
sally, i do the crazy quilts all of the time, they are great, working on one now that is a quilt as you go project, if i ever see the end of it. The freebie designs also make for great quilts also.
happy sewing
heidi