A Christmas stocking is a nice easy thing to make and makes a good gift for somebody’s first Christmas or even for somebody who just needs a new one.

They can be made different sizes. A small one for a baby, a larger one for an older child or a tiny one to hang on the Christmas tree.

If you don’t want to draw you own, I have the templates available as part of the extremely good value Christmas bundle. 

How to Make a Christmas Stocking With a Cuff

You Will Need: greaseproof paper (or A3 or newspaper), a pencil, fabric in 2 or 3 different designs, ribbon or trim, buttons.

Making the Pattern

Using the pencil and the greaseproof paper, draw a stocking shape. 10 cm high will be enough for a tree decoration or 30 cm high for a smallish stocking for presents. You could make it bigger if you know that Santa knows that the kids have been good ;). Remember to include a seam allowance!

Don’t worry if drawing is not your thing. A stocking is a simple shape. I started off by drawing a rectangle and then I added the foot to turn it into a stocking shape. If you don’t want to make your own pattern, you can buy a pattern here.

When you have drawn the stocking, using another piece of greaseproof paper, trace over the top part of the leg section. This will be the pattern piece for the cuff.

Cutting Out

You will need to cut 2 of the main stocking shape from the outer fabric and 2 from the lining. The best way to do this is to fold the fabric in half, pin the pattern piece on and cut out. That way you will get 2 pieces going the opposite way. It also means less cutting!

For the cuffs, you will need to cut 2 from the fabric that will be visible and 2 from the fabric that will be underneath. You might want to use the same fabric as the lining or some completely different fabric, it’s up to you!

Sewing Up the Stocking

1. Pin the trim you want to use to one of the outer cuff pieces, then sew it in place. Repeat for the other cuff outer. Remember that you will need a seam allowance so don’t sew the trim right next to the bottom edge! Put them to one side.

2. Take one of the cuff lining pieces and one of the stocking outer pieces. With the right sides together, pin the top of the cuff to the top of the stocking. This means that the cuff will look upside down. It will be the right way up once the cuff is turned over.

Sew, then trim the seam and press. Repeat for the other stocking outer and cuff lining.

3. Join the cuff outers to the stocking lining pieces in the same way.

4. With the right sides together, pin, then sew the stocking outers with the cuff linings together. You will need to sew down both sides and round the foot but leave the top open.

5. Do the same with the lining sections.

6. Trim the seams and clip the curves.

7. Turn the outer stocking the right way out. Slip the lining inside so that the wrong sides are together. Check that the toe is right inside.

8. Fold the raw edges of the cuff inwards and pin. Top stitch around the edge, keeping close to where you have folded.

9. Fold the cuff over and press. Sew a button onto the centre of the cuff.

10. Sew a loop of ribbon to the back.

Hang your stocking up and wait for Christmas Eve! 

Tips

The lining will need to sit neatly inside the outer so take care with your seam allowances. You could even add a couple of mm to the seam allowance of the lining to make it slightly smaller.

Trim the seams closely to reduce bulk and clip the seams, but be careful not to cut too closely, especially if Santa is going to be stuffing presents into the stocking! You might like to finish the seams with an overlocker or an overcasting stitch (or even some zigzags will do!) to reinforce the seams.

When pinning the cuff, fold a little more of the lining inwards than the outer. That way you can be sure that the lining will not show when you’ve finished the stocking.