The Christmas season approaches quickly. Instead of buying stockings from the store to hang on your wall or fireplace mantle, try your hand at making your own. You can share the experience with your children so that they can make something personalized. The stockings can be used each year, and you can add little touches to make them memorable.
The best thing about making your own stockings is that you can create any design that you like. You can make something playful for children or something elegant that you can give to a family member or friend. Various colors can be used, and you can create stockings with a variety or materials. Use a stocking made of leather or wool for a woodsy look. Line the edges with red ribbon or another material for a brilliant contrast against the lighter material of the stocking. You can cut out animals of felt to glue on the stockings. Another idea is to make knit stockings. This is a way to use multiple colors, or you can use one color and add designs with another. If you know how to knit, this will be an easy project. Embellishments of Christmas trees, reindeer and snowflakes are easy to add and make a festive decoration. When you make the stocking, be sure you make the opening large enough to hold all of the treats that Santa will leave.
A simple idea that children can do is a mitt stocking. All you need is a pair of mittens that have the string attached to each mitt. Add designs on the stocking with appliques, and drape the mittens on a bedpost or door knob. Sequins are a beautiful addition to any stocking. They are easy to apply as all you need is a hot glue gun or a needle and thread. Smaller sequins are best applied with a needle so that they stay on the material. Place the sequins in a random design so that they look like snow, or create a design with the sequins like a snowflake or tree. Embellish the tops of plain stockings with colored sequins of red or green.
A keepsake stocking is something that you can treasure for years. Begin making them when your children are young, and they can either add a special item to the stocking each year, or you can create a new stocking that displays their new favorite toys and interests. Felt shapes are easy to add to a plain stocking that is of one color. Sew a colored top to a plain white stocking, and then glue felt designs on the colored portion. Felt stockings are often easier to work with when you create your own. The material holds glue better, and you can find a variety of colors. IF you choose to knit your own stockings, make sure you get the stitches close together so that the items placed in the stockings don’t fall out. Mini stockings are a good idea if you want to add a decoration to a wall.
