Measuring Flower

Our Handmade Burlap Christmas Stockings

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For the past couple of years, our family had been using some cheap Walmart version stockings. You know, the red and white ones. While they weren’t horrible to look at and they did function properly, they still did look kinda cheap and they didn’t really match our country home. Plus, there wasn’t really anything unique about them. So, this year, inspired by the vast number of burlap stocking ideas on Pinterest, I decided to make our own stockings.

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The fabrics I chose were, of course, burlap by the yard, and a high-quality off-white cotton. I chose the high quality cotton because I want to make them once and have them last forever (thereby saving myself work later on).

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To make the stockings, I used one of the cheap red and white stockings as a pattern. I traced it onto newspaper, cut out the newspaper, and pinned it onto the fabric–you know, like you would any sewing pattern. And, yes, I did remember to cut the fabric extra big (about a half inch all the way around) for the seam allowance! Then I sewed them together following the easy directions as found in this tutorial.

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Then I did something different for the cuffs of each stocking. This was to add interest as well as to reflect of my family members’ personalities.

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For the Mister’s stocking, I used the weaving idea in this tutorial, only applied it to the cuff instead of the stocking itself. To keep the weaving together, I sewed it. I chose this design for my husband because he is intricate and logical yet rough around the edges.
For my stocking, I gathered a couple strips of cloth down the center to make ruffles. These reflect my personality because they're feminine, pretty, and yet totally not perfect. Instead of finishing the outermost edges of the ruffles, I treated them with Fray Check. This way, they look rustic without fraying or making a huge mess.
For my stocking, I gathered a couple strips of cloth down the center to make ruffles. These reflect my personality because they’re feminine and imperfect. Instead of finishing the outermost edges of the ruffles, I treated them with Fray Check. This way, they look rustic without fraying any further or making a huge mess.
For the Little Mister's stocking, I did some precise vertical box pleats. This is to reflect my son's perfectionist actions (he's really OCD--toys must be perfectly put away, books must be in the right order, his stuffed animals must be neatly lined up on his bed, his chore magnets have to be in a neat row...pretty amazing for a 4-year-old boy!).
For the Little Mister’s stocking, I did some precise vertical box pleats. This is to reflect my son’s perfectionist actions (he’s really OCD–toys must be perfectly put away, books must be in the right order, his stuffed animals must be neatly lined up on his bed, his chore magnets have to be in a neat row…pretty amazing for a 4-year-old boy!).
For the Little Guy's stocking, I did some horizontal knife pleats that are totally random, crooked, and a bit messy. This is to reflect the fact that he is totally the opposite of his big brother--messy, random, and a bit on the destructive side!
For the Little Guy’s stocking, I did some horizontal knife pleats that are totally random, crooked, and a bit messy. This is to reflect the fact that he is totally the opposite of his big brother–messy, random, and a bit on the destructive side!
For the Little Lass's stocking, I gathered some fabric into some girly frills. This is because they look sweet and gentle to me, which reflects the Little Lass perfectly as she is incredibly sweet and so gentle. I also treated the edges of each of these ruffled with Fray Check.
For the Little Lass’s stocking, I gathered some fabric into some girly frills. This is because they look sweet and gentle to me, which reflects the Little Lass perfectly as she is incredibly sweet and so gentle. I also treated the edges of each of these ruffles with Fray Check.
I also put together a miniature stocking in memory of Hope, a baby that we lost to miscarriage when I was about 12 weeks pregnant. Since I can't really reflect this precious wee one's personality, I just put together a stocking to help us remember. I found some ribbon that is made with burlap and has lace on the edges, so that is what I used to decorate this stocking's cuff.
I also put together a miniature stocking in memory of Hope, a baby that we lost to miscarriage when I was about 12 weeks pregnant. Since I can’t really reflect this precious wee one’s personality, I just put together a stocking to help us remember. I found some ribbon that is made with burlap and has lace on the edges, so that is what I used to decorate this stocking’s cuff.
To hang each stocking, I took some simple twine, braided three strands together (the boys loved holding onto one end while I braided), then sewed it into the stocking between the back piece of burlap and the back part of the cuff.
To hang each stocking, I took some simple twine, braided three strands together (the boys loved holding onto one end while I braided), then sewed it into the stocking between the back piece of burlap and the back part of the cuff.
To embellish each stocking, I sewed on a couple of wooden buttons that I bought via Amazon.
To embellish each stocking, I sewed on a couple of wooden buttons that I bought via Amazon.
And lastly, to indicate whose stocking is whose, I made these adorable round labels with the first initial of each of our family members (really helps that each of us have a different first initial!). To make these, I bought some printable sheets of burlap and printed the initial with some plain black ink using the vintage Linowrite font.
And lastly, to indicate whose stocking is whose, I made these adorable round labels with the first initial of each of our family members (really helps that each of us have a different first initial!). To make these, I bought some printable sheets of burlap and printed the initial with some plain black ink using the vintage Linowrite font. Each tag is attached with a string of twine.

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These stockings literally have my blood (seriously–I subconsciously enjoy pricking myself with straight pins and needles I think), sweat (from running in and out of the store to get all the items I kept forgetting), and tears in them. I’m not the best seamstress in the world, so I screwed up quite a bit! But I did pick up momentum, getting better as I went along, and the end result is absolutely beautiful!

I also plan on making a tree skirt using the same cotton fabric and burlap (following this tutorial), but that’s a project for next year!

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Comments

  2. How beautiful! You really did a nice job on these. I especially like the care you put into personalizing each person’s cuff. It was really cool to read the story behind each one.

    Reply

    • In describing the boys, you have describing the mister and his brother to a tee. Love the girls stockings. look forward to seeing the tree skirt next yr

      Reply

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