How to make a Christmas stocking
Sew your next family tradition with our step-by-step guide to how to make a lined Christmas stocking. We've even included a free Christmas stocking pattern to get you started!
Published:
Want to know how to make a Christmas stocking with a cuff? We’re here to help! Our series of Christmas sewing patterns and projects continues with this quick and easy DIY Christmas stocking sewing pattern tutorial by Rebecca Reid.
A Christmas stocking sewing pattern is a wonderful thing to make – you can make one for a young child and know that it will be brought out year after year. They might even pass it on to their own child! With that in mind, you’ll want to choose festive fabrics that are classic and won’t go out of style, bearing in mind that it’ll be making an appearance every Christmas for many years. We’ve found some brilliant festive fabrics for you to use for this project – scroll down to discover our top picks.
The good news is that this fantastic Christmas stocking sewing pattern is easy enough for beginners to sew and we’ve created a video tutorial to guide you through the process step-by-step. This will come in handy when you get to the trickier parts of the Christmas stocking sewing pattern. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to sew a Christmas stocking and will probably make more than one! Christmas stockings are a wonderful thing to give to friends and relatives, although you might want to make it an early Christmas gift so they can be used over the holidays.
This Christmas stocking sewing pattern was created by Rebecca Reid for Simply Sewing Magazine. Simply Sewing is a practical magazine for anyone who sews or wants to start – it’s full of original patterns to sew and it’s packed with tips and advice. Rebecca Reid is a sewing designer who regularly contributes patterns to Simply Sewing. She’s been sewing since she was a child and has worked for a range of craft magazines over the years.
Looking for more Christmas sewing projects? Check out our list of 34 of the best free Christmas sewing patterns or if you’re looking for last-minute inspiration take a look at our 25 quick gifts to sew when you’re short of time. We particularly love this adorable reindeer pattern designed by Lucy Ward! For new sewists, we’ve put together our 20 best sewing patterns for beginners.
If you’re new to sewing, you might find it helpful to explore our collection of beginner’s guides before you get started. Read our sewing for beginners, how to use a sewing machine, best sewing machines for beginners and sewing kits for beginners guides to get to grips with the basics.
Read on to learn how to make a Christmas stocking with our free Christmas stocking template and step-by-step instructions. We’ve also included some recommended festive fabrics to use for this project…
How to make a Christmas stocking with a cuff
We’ve used:
Unfortunately the Jo Clark fabric used is no longer available, but how about these other beautiful Christmas fabrics?
Bauble Bonanza Lasenby cotton
We love this retro bauble design from Liberty! It combines vintage bauble designs to make a lively festive print – perfect for your Christmas stocking sewing pattern!
Adelajda Tana Lawn™ cotton
This Adelajda Tana Lawn™ cotton from Liberty also has a strong vintage vibe. This pretty design would look fantastic with a pale pastel lining. If you’re not keen on these colours, you can find the same design in other shades on the Liberty website.
Cotton poplin decorated trees and stars
This beautiful cotton from MyFabrics has a really fresh and contemporary feel. The geometric Christmas tree design is perfect for a Scandi-style stocking design. We love it in minty green, but it’s also available in white and pale pink.
Cotton poplin snowflakes and stars – white
This light snowflake design is ideal if you’re looking to create a timeless Christmas stocking sewing pattern. This frosty design is also available in dark green, blue and red.
Cotton poplin twigs – dark green
This classic Christmas fabric also comes in white and a beautiful rich burgundy. It would be a brilliant choice if you’re looking for more traditional festive patterns.
Measurements
The finished stocking measures 47x24cm (18½x9½in)
Notes
- Use a 1.5cm (5⁄8in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
- Download your free Christmas stocking template PDF here.
You Will Need
- Main fabric (45x60cm (18x24in))
- Cuff fabric (25x66cm (10x26in))
- Lining fabric (45x60cm (18x24in))
- Wool, For the pom poms
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine, You could hand sew these if you don't have a machine
- Basic sewing kit
Total time:
Cutting out your fabric
Step 1
Trace round the stocking template from the pattern sheet and cut it out. This is just the main body of the stocking and includes a 1.5cm (5⁄8in) seam allowance.
Step 2
Cut the main fabric into two pieces, for the outer front and back of the stocking 45x30cm (18x12in) each. Cut a strip 31x4cm (12¼x15⁄8in) for the hanging loop.
Step 3
Place the two outer pieces right sides (RS) together then pin the stocking template centrally on top. Cut round it.
Step 4
Repeat steps 1-3 with the lining fabric.
Step 5
Now prepare the cuff fabric – cut it into two pieces each 21x33cm (8¼x13in).
Making the stocking body
Step 1
With RS together stitch the two outer stocking pieces together all round the edge leaving the top open. Turn RS out and press.
Step 2
Repeat this process with the two lining stocking pieces.
Making a hanging loop
Step 1
Fold the loop fabric in half lengthways and stitch together down the length using a 1cm (3⁄8in) seam allowance.
Step 2
Turn the strip RS out and press. Fold in half and pin the two raw ends together.
Adding the cuff
Step 1
Take one cuff piece of fabric and fold in half widthways with RS together and stitch down the 21cm (8¼in) side to make a tube. Repeat with the other piece of cuff fabric.
Step 2
Now take one cuff tube and slip over the outer joined stocking RS together and matching the seam on the cuff with the left (heel) side seam of the stocking.
Step 3
Stitch together all the way round, press the seams open then pull the cuff upwards so it extends above the top of the stocking outer.
Step 4
Repeat this with the other cuff tube and the stocking lining but slip the raw ends of the hanging loop between the cuff and lining centring it on the seams and matching raw edges so the loop hangs downwards.
Assembling the stocking
Step 1
Turn the lining and cuff wrong sides (WS) out and push the stocking outer and cuff inside it so that they are RS together and match side seams. Stitch together almost all the way around the top of the cuffs, leaving an 8cm (31⁄8in) gap for turning.
Step 2
Take the stocking and turn it RS out through the gap then push the lining side of the stocking into the outer.
Step 3
Turn the fabric edges of the gap under and press. Top stitch round the top edge to neaten and close the gap.
Step 4
Fold the cuff over to the RS of the stocking so that it overlaps the stocking and cuff seam a little.
Step 5
Fold the hanging loop upwards and slip stitch to the lining up to the cuff fold.
Adding pom poms
Step 1
Make two pom poms 3cm (1¼in) in diameter using a pom-pom maker or two circles of cardboard. We have used acrylic wool to make ours as it fluffs up well, and tied them with three lengths of wool. If you get stuck, take a look at our how to make a pompom tutorial, which will guide you through the process step by step.
Step 2
Plait the three lengths of wool together then stitch down the cuff seam making the pom poms hang at different lengths.
Congratulations! You now know how to make a Christmas stocking! We hope you enjoy whipping up a batch of these this festive season.
Authors
Rebecca is founder of Amber Makes and has previously worked as Senior Technical Editor of Love Embroidery and Simply Sewing magazines. She works with sewing TV channels including Sewing Street, Yarn Lane and Sewing Quarter. She been stitching since she was a child and has worked on many craft magazines as well as running her own curtain-making business. She is known by her colleagues as a sewing oracle – you name it, she can sew it. She’s hugely knowledgeable about sewing techniques, fabrics and tools and is full of helpful advice for her fellow sewists, from the best place to buy curtain-making materials to which books and websites are handy for that sewing problem you’re stuck on.
