Jewelry, center pieces, napkin rings, aprons, and ornaments
are all amongst the many Christmas crafts for those who sew -- all things we can usually make with the left-overs in our sewing
chests. It’s a great idea for affordable Christmas gifts, hostess gifts, or treats for your holiday guests.
One of the more popular gifts to make is the Christmas stocking.
There really is no such thing as a traditional stocking anymore -- you can be creative. Of course, if you go the easy glue
gun route, be prepared to watch all your hard word fall to pieces by the end of next season. Or, you can get some really easy
patterns and, with a little creativity, your loved ones will hang them by the chimney with care for years to come.
The stocking itself is pretty basic. If you have any doubts, here are
the simple steps for a Christmas stocking:
First,
trace a stocking shape on the fabric. Remember to be creative with your fabric choice. You can use patterned fabrics, plush,
satin, or anything that is different. Now, cut it out using the proper scissors for your fabric.
Next put the two pieces together, inside parts facing out. Then, sew
or glue together along the edges except for the top (which is the opening).
Once ready, fold about one inch from the opening and sew or glue again.
Finally, turn the stocking inside-out. You should have the designed
print fabric on the front with the top edges of the opening facing the inside. That's the stocking!
You will find complete directions, from pattern to stitch and appliqué techniques,
on all the favorite homemade project websites. This might come in especially handy if you do not have the best of sewing machines
at your disposal. You can find the best patterns and stitches for your machine. The satin stitch is usually good and, if you
have a sewing machine with zigzag capability, you can do this.
Be sure to pay attention to the size of your stitch compared to the size of the design you are using. If you like
to be original, you may find some of these ideas to be a bit too traditional. This is when I find that a short trip to a yardage
store and possibly a few dollars spent at Michaels plus my own treasures will create a unique stocking.
After you choose a nice festive fabric, you will want to choose an additional
fabric and patterns for the face of your stocking. You want the pattern for the face to be large enough that you will have
plenty of room to accentuate it with all the creativity you can find in your sewing basket. Beads, bobbles and sequins are
a wonderful beginning.
Remember to hit up your
jewelry box for mismatched earrings and other treasures. If you really think out of the box, you will have elegant original
Christmas stockings that you might just want to keep in your own living room. For the little ones on your list, bells make
a wonderful accent and a child will feel like their stocking has a special touch. They can listen through the night for Santa
to rustle the bell of their stocking.
After
you have made your stockings, you can use your patterns for holiday gifts and decorations like table decor, tote bags, and
aprons. Your stocking scraps and pattern pieces can be sewed on to an old table cloth to revive it in to a new treasured tradition.
Plain tote bags and aprons can be purchased inexpensively -- these can
provide a special way to create a personalized holiday gift for the student or teacher in your life. Christmas sewing crafts
can be enjoyed during the holidays and all year around.
