DIY: Sweater Stocking by Marilyn

A few years ago, Kaleb's mother gave us some cute little stockings that she made years ago when she first had children (pictured below on the left). Inspired by Kaleb's mother, I decided to one day make our own stockings to hang over our fireplace for Christmas. I wanted to be sure on the type of stockings to make so I researched ideas and had been looking at stores like Target when we shopped. I also had in mind that if I could find some really cute ones for a decent price, then I might settle and buy some to temporarily hang on our fireplace. 

While I came across many cute stockings, I felt many were a little overpriced or didn't quite suit us. So I ventured out to the thrift stores and found this beautiful XL men's sweater to turn into a few lovely stockings for Kaleb and I. I couldn't be more thrilled about how everything turned out. I've always loved knitted things and the color white. I must admit these stockings were pretty easy to make and the best price I've found yet! I hope you all will be able to find some time in your schedule this month to create some of your own.

Step 1: Gather your materials. What you'll need will include: the largest fun Christmas sweater of your choice (the larger you can find, the more stockings you can create from one), an old stocking (to use as a template), white thread, and fabric scissors.

Step 2: Use your old stocking as a template to create your new stockings. You can use fabric pins to pin your stocking in the desired position on the sweater or you can just eyeball it. Cut around your template stocking giving a 1" to 1 1/2" seam. I fit two stockings in the body of my sweater. 

To give your stocking an folded edge, you can cut it to be a little longer than your template stocking, fold the top edge out towards you 1/2" and sew a 1/4" seam, then fold again to desired fold and pin in place. Face the outsides inward with the fold still in place on both sides of your stocking. 

You can create a quick loop for your stocking by using some of the excess sweater material. Cut a rectangle about 2"x10." Fold in half with outside in, sew vertical edges together, and turn inside out. Insert in the same place as the fold of your stocking where the outside of your stocking is. Sew a 1/2" seam all the way around except the top opening. Flip inside out and you are ready to set these babies out for Santa!

Photography by Marilyn Nimz