Hung by the chimney with care (Part 2)

You've seen our basic stocking pattern. Here are a few variations we think you'll love!

2. Wonky Pieced Stocking pattern

You will need:
(2) 12" x 20" pieces of batting
4-5 Christmas-themed fat quarters or fabric scraps to piece the stocking front (and back, if desired) Prints shown here are from the Santa's Workshop and Christmas 2012 collections, as well as the Marblehead collection.
3/4 yard of a Christmas-themed print for the lining
Basic sewing supplies

To piece the stocking front:
This stocking front uses batting as a foundation, and the strips are pieced directly onto it. Lay out a 12" x 20" piece of batting and cut your first two strips of fabric. Strips can range in width from as narrow as 1" to as wide as 4" and should measure about 12" long. Lay out the first strip near the bottom of the batting piece.

Lay the second strip on top, matching raw edges, with right sides together. Stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Press the second strip up so it looks like this: 

Now it's time to trim the second trip on a wonky angle. There are two ways to do this. You can flip the entire piece upside down and fold back the batting, as shown below. Position your ruler on a slight angle and trim ONLY the fabric strip just added. 

Or, the second option is to leave the piece right side up and fold the batting away from under the just added strip. This way you can trim your strip while seeing the angles and widths of the strips below. The important part is to make sure you DON'T trim the batting too. 

Here's an example of a wonkily trimmed strip. TIP: If your chosen fabrics have some busy prints, try mixing them with something calmer, like our Marblehead prints (see lime green below).

Whichever method you choose, after you've trimmed the strip, fold the batting back up and position your next strip against the raw edge of your trimmed strip. Repeat to add strips the entire length of the batting. Vary strip width and angle of wonky trimming for added interest.

You don't have to quilt the finished stocking top; the foundation method means that it is quilted already. But a nice finishing touch is to choose a contrasting thread color and topstitch 1/4" on both sides of each seam line.

Note: If you prefer not to do wonky piecing, use strips cut to the width you desire, and no trimming is necessary!

Layer the stocking template on your pieced stocking front and cut out out. You can either repeat for your stocking back, or just use a single piece of fabric, backed with batting. Follow the directions for our basic pattern to complete the stocking. 

Note: Be sure that your stocking back, whether it's pieced or not, is a mirror image of your stocking front. 

3. Diagonally "Pieced" Stocking

Using the Marblehead Metallic Xmas stripe creates the look of stripes without the work!

You will need:
(2) 12" x 20" pieces of batting

1 yard of Marblehead Metallic Xmas stripe

3/4 yard of a Marblehead Metallic Xmas print for the lining

Gold thread

Basic sewing supplies

To piece the stocking front:

Position the stocking template on the stripe, with the stripes running on a diagonal as shown. 

  

Cut a loose shape around the stocking. Back this rectangle with batting, baste, and quilt along the diagonal lines. This helps create the illusion of piecing! Tip: Use gold thread to match the lines on the fabric. It doesn't have to be metallic, though--a gold colored thread works just fine and is easier than metallic!

Position the stocking shape on the quilted fabric and cut out.

Repeat for the the back side, making sure the stripe are oriented correctly and the stocking shape is a mirror image of the stocking front. 

Follow the directions for our basic pattern to complete the stocking. 

And one more variation we're providing for inspiration:
4. Checkerboard "Pieced" Stocking

You will need:
(2) 12" x 20" pieces of batting

3/4 yard of Marblehead Metallic Xmas stripe

3/4 yard of a Marblehead Metallic Xmas print for the lining

Gold thread

Basic sewing supplies

We'll just get you started with this one...

Cut 3" wide strips ACROSS the stripe.

You'll need strips of 6 squares each, but don't cut yet! Lay out your first row, and then position the remaining fabric below to make sure your have a fairly even distribution of color. Trim off extra squares.

Continue adding 6-square strips until you have 12-13 rows. Piece the rows together to create a checkerboard look, and then follow the directions for the diagonal stocking above--layer with batting, baste, and quilt on real and "faux" seam lines. 

Have fun! 

If you make one of these stockings, we'd love to see it! Send a photo to fabriquiltblog (at) gmail.com

And...we hope Santa fills your stockings with something besides coal!

Hung by the chimney with care... (tutorial)

The stockings, that is!

If making stockings is one of the unchecked things on your to-do list, we're here to help! 
Today's tutorial is a basic stocking design with a fold over cuff, and then we'll show you a few alternatives for adding a bit more detail. (Finished stocking size: approximately 10" across toe x 22")

Click here to download the stocking template. It will print out on three pieces of paper, and you'll need to cut it out and tape the pieces together as directed on the template itself. If you have a stocking around the house, you can just trace that if you prefer. 

1. Basic Stocking Pattern 

You will need:
3/4 yard each of two different Christmas themed prints (1 for outer stocking; 1 for lining)
Prints shown here are from the Santa's Workshop and Christmas 2012 collections.
Interfacing or batting (optional)
Basic sewing supplies

To make the stocking:

Fold the outer stocking print piece in half, wrong sides together. If the fabric features a directional print (this one does), make sure it is oriented correctly. Position the stocking template on top and pin in place. Cut out around the shape, leaving a 1/4" (or slightly more) seam allowance to create a generous stocking. **Note: If you choose to cut the front and back stocking pieces separately, make sure they are mirror images of each other.**

Repeat for the lining fabric. **Note: If your lining fabric is directional, orient the template so that the fabric design is upside down. This will make the fabric on the cuff right side up when you fold it over.**

**Note: To create a sturdier stocking, you can also cut two stocking shapes out of interfacing or batting. Pin or baste to the wrong side of each outer stocking piece and continue with the next step.**

Place the two outer stocking pieces right sides together and stitch along the sides and bottom with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving the top edge open. 

Repeat with the two lining pieces, but leave a 4" opening at the bottom for turning.

Clip the seam allowance in curved areas to help create a smooth curve after turning.

Turn the outer stocking right side out. Stuff the outer stocking inside the lining, right sides facing. Line up the top raw edges, and align the side seams. 

Pin the raw edges together.

Stitch around the top edge using a 1/4" seam allowance. 

Turn the stocking right side out through the opening in the lining and sew the opening closed. 

Press the top seam of the stocking, letting a tiny bit of the lining fabric show on the outside (this will ensure that the under side of the cuff doesn't peek through after you fold the cuff down). If desired, topstitch the top edge of the stocking. Fold the cuff down as much as desired. (See how the print is right side up?!) Press the fold. You can topstitch this folded edge as well, if you like. 

To make the hanging loop, cut a 3" x 14" strip of fabric. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Open the fold back up, and fold each lengthwise edge in again to the center fold.

Fold the strip along the center fold again to create a long, narrow strip with finished edges.

Topstitch along the open edge of the strip to secure. 

Decide how long you want your loop to be and trim strip accordingly. Hand or machine stitch the raw edges to the inside top of the stocking along the heel-side seam. 

Fill with goodies, hang by the fireplace, and enjoy!

Check back again soon for a tutorial showing variations to this basic stocking.