Faux Patchwork Christmas Stocking Pattern & Tutorial

It's Christmas in July time!  

Get a jump start on sewing for Christmas & make a festive stocking the quick n' easy way.

 

What makes this stocking a great sew is that it looks like it's a more time consuming patchwork design, thanks to the central fabric's block design, but it's actually just pieced together strips.  So much simpler!!

 

I created this project as a designer for Team Timeless to highlight their new Comfort & Joy fabrics collection, but you could also use any 4in square sized patchwork print and coordinating fabrics.  Thinner strips between the blocks keep things from looking too busy and help those festive squares to really pop:

 

 

Coordinated piping adds some nice outlining detail and a center layer of batting gives it a solid shape:

 

It's also lined, so you can add a fun interior fabric like this reindeer print that coordinated with my outer fabrics:

 

Perfect for hanging by the fireplace, waiting to be filled with Christmas goodies:

 

 

 

Finished size:

15″h x 11″w

Seam allowance is three-eighths of an inch unless otherwise noted.  

 

Fabric Requirements

– 1/2 yd cuts of 2 fabrics I used Timeless Treasures HOLIDAY-C8654 MULTI and HOLIDAY-C8656 RED

– 1/4 yd cuts of 4 coordinating fabrics.  I used Timeless Treasures Shimmer Green, Mini Leaf Blenders MEADOW C8500 GREEN, MEADOW C8500 Beige and MEADOW C8500 Red

 

Additional Materials

– 1 & 1/4yd piping

– 1/2 yd batting

– 5 inch strip of 3/8 or 1/2 inch wide ribbon 

– Yard stick, rotary cuter, iron, zipper foot, pins, hand sewing needle

– My FREE Christmas Stocking Pattern HERE

Download my free stocking pattern pieces (set printer to actual size and check against the square inch on the page), then print, cut out and tape the sections together per the instructions.

 

Cutting Instructions:

Fabrics

Fold fabrics, selvages together before cutting

 

– Along the block design lines, cut HOLIDAY-C8654 MULTI (or similar patchwork fabric) horizontally to create (3) single block high rows

– Cut (1) WOF x 1 1/2″h strip from each of Shimmer Green, Mini Leaf Blenders MEADOW C8500 GREEN and (2) MEADOW C8500 Beige

 

 

– Using the stocking pattern, cut a mirrored pair from the lining and another from the batting.

 

 

 

Assembly:

What makes a more interesting effect is to slide the block rows so that they are staggered, rather than having the blocks line up exactly vertically before sewing all the strips together.

 

Once you've adjust the blocks as you like them, it's time to stitch the thinner strips between them.  With right sides facing, pin, then begin stitching together the strips, using a 1/8 inch seam allowance, in the following order, starting at the bottom:

You'll begin with the lowest row of blocks, which will get a strip attached to its top and another to its bottom.  Continue with the rest in the order specified.

Once all the strips are sewn together, along the wrong side of the fabric, press the seam allowances to one side.

Flip the fabric over and, using the pattern, cut two mirrored stockings from the newly sewn together fabric.  Placement is totally up to you with which blocks you want to feature:

Cut a piece of piping at least 42 inches long.  If you want to create a custom piping like I did here, cut some 1 inch wide strips of fabric on the bias (45 degree angle), I used MEADOW C8500 Red.  Stitch ends together at right angles to make a single piece that is long enough to make 45 inches in length.

 

Wrap the fabric around some pre-fab piping or some narrow cord, right side out, and pin the fabric layers together, close to the cord:

 

Stitch very close to the cord using a zipper foot & matching thread: 

 

 

Still using the zipper foot, stitch the piping to the raw edge of one stocking front on all sides except the top, stitching right on top of the piping stitches.

With right sides facing, stitch the outer stocking halves together, stitching right over the previous stitching used to attach the piping:

Trim down the seam allowances and turn right side out.  Fold the strip of ribbon in half to make a hanging loop and baste near the side seam as shown:  

 

Pair the lining stockings, right sides facing, with the batting sandwich outside them, pin & stitch together, but leave a several inch gap along one side for turning.  

 

 

 Insert the outer stocking, right side out, into the lining:

 

 

Match up the side seams, pin together the top edges, then stitch together all the way around.

Pull the outer stocking out through the gap in the lining and pull right sides out, hand stitch gap closed with a slip stitch and push lining inside.  Press flat.

Now your stocking is ready to make the season merry & bright!

Quick & Easy Last Minute Christmas Sewing Tutorials

Just two more sleeps until Christmas!  This holiday season has been a weird one with all the dramas and stresses this year has brought.  Thankfully the beauty of Christmas is bringing some much needed love, hope and positivity.   

 

I did a few holiday project tutorials for my shop's blog earlier this month and thought they'd be good to share here too.  Making them brought me a lot of joy & satisfaction.  I used fabrics from my shop in them, but you could easily use any of your favorite Christmas fabrics with them.  All are quick to make, so there's still time to sew some up!

 

Last Minute Christmas Goodies To Sew: 

 

Make a classic Christmas stocking that can be used year after year with my FREE downloadable PDF pattern.  This is such a quick sew!  You can knock one out in under 30 minutes.  Get the full how-to and printable pattern HERE.

 

Bring your favorite messages to the Christmas tree with some easy-sew fabric Christmas Message Ornaments!  I used some text based charm squares with scraps left from making stockings to whip up some simple ornaments that are very small child & pet friendly.  No breakable ornaments to worry about!

 

Make a beautiful, high quality throw blanket for Christmas!  Come see how to turn a minky panel and coordinating yardage into a self-binding reversible, cuddly blanket in next to no time with my Easy Sew Throw Blankets.  I used Nativity prints, but you could use whatever you like - or mix two prints instead of using a panel if you don't have one:

 

Merry Christmas!

FREE Pattern: Classic Christmas Stocking

It's our baby's first Christmas and that means an extra stocking to hang.  It only seemed fair I'd make one for our littlest guy since his big sister has a handmade one from hers (the older kids were pre-Sew Can Do skills).  

I whipped this up last minute, but it's got a personalized embroidered cuff that's nice and plush, with a hint of silver sparkle:

And a full sized body that holds its shape well, even when filled.

Plus the added bonus of beautiful Christmas angels to make it festive & faith-filled.

I wavered between a whimsical design or going traditional. I even asked for some input on the Sew Can Do Facebook page to help figure it out, and ultimately decided on traditional.

Having a classic stocking that he won't outgrow seemed like a smart idea and I loved the idea of using this vibrant angel print and adding a plush cuff.

Make a classic Christmas stocking that can be used year after year and by choosing a faith-themed fabric like our Silent Night Angels, it adds more of the Christ in Christmas message!

I'm so pleased with how this turned out I had to make it into a FREE pattern for everyone!  

Materials:
- My FREE Christmas Stocking Pattern HERE
- 1/2 yd cotton fabric (mine is Silent Night Angels)
- 1/4yd fleece (mine is luxury fleece with metallic specks)
- 1/2 yd fusible fleece or batting- 8 inch strip of double fold bias tape or ric-rac
- Heavy duty needle
Optional - if machine embroidering - cutaway & water soluble stabilizers

Finished Size: 10in wide by 17in high

Download the pattern and print at 100% scale.  Measure the printout against the 1 inch sets box to confirm sizing is correct.  Cut out all 3 pieces and tape together at tops & bottoms as indicated.

While fabric is folded, cut two pairs of stockings for outside and lining

Cut a 9 inch high x 17 inch wide rectangle from the fleece for the cuff.  If machine embroidering a name on like I did, cut a piece of cutaway and water soluble stabilizers each in the same size.  The cutaway will be hooped under the fabric, the water soluble will be floated on top (using a little spray adhesive).  The top left quadrant of the fabric is where the name will be.

Mark center based on size of lettering and embroider the name on.  Peel away the top stabilizer and cut the excess away from the back. Hand embroidery or heat transfer are other options for personalizing.

To make the cuff, fold fleece with right sides facing short ends together.  Stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  

Bring raw edges together with the name side facing out.

Let's switch to the stocking body now.

Affix fusible fleece or batting onto the wrong side of the outer stocking pieces.  Fusible fleece can be ironed on, if using batting, add some spray adhesive to hold it in place.  

Place stocking pairs together, right sides facing and pin around sides.  

Stitch with a 3/8 inch seam allowance.  Clip or pinking cut around the curves to make them easier to turn.  

Turn outer stocking right side out and press.  Insert lining stocking into outer and baste together along the top. 

Baste the raw edges of the cuff together.

With raw edges of cuff and stocking facing, match up side seams and pin through all layers.  Stitch together.

Fold the raw edge downward and top stitch all the way around.  It will look like this on the inside:

Fold cuff down on the outside, just shy of the seam. If using bias tape, stitch open side closed.  Fold bias tape in half and stitch it to the inside of the stocking cuff by the seam.  

Now the stocking is ready to hung by the chimney and wait for Santa to fill it!

Merry Christmas!