personalized {stockings}

I finally got around to making these as I've had this idea for a while now, and since there is a torrential blizzard outside right now I have no more excuses. I found the great muslin for 25% off at Joann's. I found the hounds tooth for $1.50 a yard at Walmart so I bought a bunch since I have other plans for it too. The tulle and felt I had on hand. Even though this was SUCH a simple project, my ocd kicked in after the first stocking, so I have yet to complete the other two. Also, do you know how weird it is to make a stocking for yourself as 'mom' when you never have been one up to this point? Yea. Weird.

The first thing I did was find a stocking in storage that my hubby and I had bought at the dollar store last year, cuz that's how we roll. Nice and cheap. I cut the muslin around the stocking just a little larger in order to allow for a seam.

I then used the muslin cutout as the pattern for the next two. I only needed three stockings, so I probably used about 1/2 yard on them. I did buy more muslin, because our family might *possibly* be bigger in the future.

The muslin stockings were about 8 inches wide, so I cut the hounds tooth into a strip about 4" by 15" long.

I put a basting stitch on both sides of the strip and gathered it loosely, then pinned it to the top of one side of the stocking.

I cut a small strip of tulle- about 20 inches long. When you sew the tulle will typically gather itself if your strip is only about an inch wide which mine was. I put that under the hounds tooth and then re pinned, because I was pretty much just making this up as I went along. All I knew was that I wanted muslin stockings, so...yea.

Sew your pieces down. Then pat yourself on the back. Then continue.

I cut a strip of felt about 9" long and 1" wide. I placed it over the seam and sewed lines into the felt so it would get that cute stitched look. At least that was the intention.

At first I was going to the back the exact same, but then I thought, "How cute would it be to do a pocket for notes from Santa on Christmas night?" See I don't need kids yet to still be a total five year old sometimes. It could also be a note from Mom and Dad if you've got some 'non-believers' in your home. ;)

I sewed a line across the top of the piece of felt I cut out then pinned the felt to the muslin.

I then stitched the other three sides with the machine.

I wanted to personalize the stockings so I attempted to make stencils from a font I liked on word. After I realized how dang long that would take that it would be better to just free hand cut them, I did so. I then pinned down the letters where they looked best on the stocking.

I stitched over each letter carefully and called it good.

Then at the top of each stocking side I folded it over and did a quick seam to finish them.

Then I put wrong sides together and sewed the two sides.

Trim any excess so that the sides are smooth when it's flipped.

I made a quick strip out of felt, looped it and then pinned it over the side seam.

Then I just sewed it down over the seam.

Flip it out and voila! You're done! I would have finished the other two, but I didn't. Apparently facebook was way more appealing than sewing. Don't worry, they'll be done shortly. Probably.

Note from Santa!

My parents used to leave us a 'note' by the cookie plate, I mean, SANTA used to leave us a note and we loved it as kids. How fun to have your own!

Happy sewing! Let me know if you have any questions, and if you like it! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!