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Handmade Christmas Stockings with FREE Printable Christmas Stocking Pattern

Do the prices of custom made stockings give you sticker shock? Even beginner seamstresses will succeed with this Christmas Stockings Pattern and EASY Tutorial with a free printable Christmas stocking pattern! I know, because I’m a beginner too!

Even after years of loving to sew, I still totally consider myself a beginner.

My projects usually turn out great, but it’s quite obvious that their sewn by a beginner, but I’m ok with that. I take so much pride when I finish a project successfully!

On my queue of Sewing To Do’s for years has been make my own Christmas Stockings. I’ve always loved the cute, matching, embellished, and personalized family stockings and wanted some for my little family.  

The only problem, when you go to search for these lovely handmade Christmas stockings, most are between $30-$50 a PIECE!  I just can’t handle that when we’re buying 4!

So, I decided to take a day to sit down and try it. I’d never know if I could do it unless I tried, right?

Christmas Stocking Tutorial

I was TICKLED with my end result. So tickled, in fact, that I was so glad I took the time to take pictures during the process so you can make your own DIY Christmas Stockings too – even if you’re a beginner at sewing like me!

Christmas Stocking Tutorial for Beginners

Here’s what you’ll need for your handmade stocking:

  • 1/2 yard fabric per stocking [You might get away with using fat quarters for your stockings, but I prefer to have extra so I went with 1/2 yard with some leftover to make the cuffs.]
  • Fusible fleece
  • 4.5″ x 9″ of fabric for panel for Top Cuff – This is where I used extra from my original fabric, but you could also use a different fabric of your choice or even something like faux fur for the top band of the stocking.
  • 2″ x 7″ piece of fabric for Stocking Hanger or a piece of ribbon
  • Printable Christmas Stocking Pattern

The only tools you’ll need for this DIY project are a pair of scissors or rotary cutter and your sewing machine. You’ll also need paper and a printer to print out the free sewing pattern.

EASY DIY Christmas Stockings Tutorial

EASY DIY Christmas Stockings Tutorial
Prep Time 1 hour
Active Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Difficulty Beginner

Materials

  • 1/2 yard of your favorite decorative fabric for each main stocking {this will leave you with a bit of scraps leftover}
  • Fusible Fleece
  • 4.5" x 9" of fabric for panel for Top Cuff [if you want a different fabric than your main fabric]
  • 2" x 7" piece of fabric for Stocking Hanger
  • Small Wooden Letters for Personalization - this is what I used because I didn't yet have my Cricut Explore. I got them at a local craft store. You could definitely also use Cricut Heat Transfer Vinyl as well.
  • Stocking Pattern {here's mine! Just remember to print in Landscape format and piece together.}

Tools

  • Sewing Machine
  • Scissors

Instructions

Please see step by step directions within post below.

Notes

I used a 1/4" inseam throughout the DIY Christmas Stocking Tutorial Project.

free printable christmas stocking pattern

Click HERE to get a printable Christmas Stocking Pattern to make your own!

Cutting your patterns of fleece and fabric into stocking shapes is just about the longest part of the whole process. For each stocking, I cut out 2 Christmas stocking patterns of fusible fleece and two matching front and back pieces from my chosen fabric.

Christmas Stocking Tutorial Pattern

TIP: Make sure you turn the pattern over to cut the back part of the stocking. Think of the mirror effect.

I like to get all of my hemming out of the way first thing, so I hemmed all of my top cuff of the stocking pieces on the bottom.

You’ll also want to hem your back stocking pieces at the top [not pictured], so they’ll have a nice finished look when you’re done, instead of having raw edges.

Christmas Stocking Cuff Hem

This is also a great time to go ahead and fold your stocking holder and sew it together.

You can sew inside out and flip it around or simply fold it together and sew it closed like I chose to do. It was simpler and faster! This will be sewn onto your stocking and be the hanging loop in which you’ll hang on your stocking holder.

Christmas Stocking Hangers

Once you get all of this done, you’ll want to go ahead and attach your fusible fleece to each stocking cut out. Fusible fleece has small glue-like dots on it so that it will fuse to your fabric with heat. That’s why I loved using fusible fleece in this project – the fleece doesn’t slide around when you’re sewing!

Is the fusible fleece necessary? Yes and no. If you don’t put an extra lining like the fleece, your stocking won’t be stiff enough to hang nicely. If you don’t want them to hang stiffly, you could skip this step, but I do highly recommend it.

Moving right along, next it’s time to attach the Top Coordinating Cuff to your front stocking. I chose to not add a cuff to the back, simply to keep from having to worry about issues lining them up [remember, I’m a beginner] and you really only see the front anyways!

I attached the cuff by laying the right side of the cuff against the fusible fleece of the front stocking as shown above. This way, your cuff folds right over the front of your stocking and looks wonderful after a bit of pressing from your iron!

Ironing Christmas Stockings

The next step for me were the chipboard letters – aren’t they adorable? I chose pretty small wooden letters from the craft department at Hobby Lobby. Sophia and I painted them so they would coordinate with the stockings and really stand out.  

I chose to sew them on by hand, through both the fabric and fleece so it would be sturdy. Just a couple of hand stitches over the letters held them in place perfectly!

Wooden Letter Monogram Stockings

I loved the idea of adding the letters onto the stockings. Since I don’t have an embroidery machine and can’t personalize my stockings that way, this was an easy and inexpensive way of making them truly our own!

If you do have a Cricut or similar machine, you can easily cut some HTV monograms or names and they would look lovely!

It’s GO time! Time to put these stockings together! I chose not to line the stockings with another piece of fabric. That means, when you put your hand inside the stocking, you feel the fleece. That doesn’t bother me and having 2 fleece linings gives this stocking enough shape.

It would simply mean more work, more money, more fabric, and honestly, they really don’t need lined with more fabric as the fleece is fine for the inside.

Put the right sides of your fabrics together [my front is on top above because you can see the stitching from my chipboard letter] and pin all the way around.  

I loved this project because there is no turning of the fabric. Since we’re leaving the top open, there’s no need to close it! I feel like this makes it a simple and easy project, even for beginners!

Don’t forget to attach your Stocking Hanger! You could always tuck it in between your fleece and fabric if you’re trying to hide it, but I chose to simply sew it against the back of my stocking.

Sewing Christmas Stockings

Well, you do have to turn once, but it’s the best turn of all projects – you get to see the finished project!

There’s no more sewing in this project.

And it’s not too late to make your own new Christmas stockings! I did these in just a few hours – once you get all those patterns cut, the project really is a breeze!

I made these stockings for my family back in 2013 so this year is our 9th year using them and they still look great! They hold plenty on Christmas morning, and still look great hanging on our mantle.

Do you have store bought stockings or have you made your own?
Be sure to let me know if you use my
printable Christmas Stocking Pattern and Tutorial!

handmade christmas stockings with free christmas stocking pattern to print
If you decide to make your own using my tutorial, please let me know, or better yet, share your final pictures with me! You can share on Facebook or instagram tagging me!

Yvonne

Wednesday 9th of November 2016

Does the 1/2 yard of material given you enough material for the front back cuff and tab?

Lindsey G.

Thursday 10th of November 2016

Yes, it's enough, Yvonne. I did not line the inside, though.

Lizette

Wednesday 17th of August 2016

I wanted to let you know that this DIY stocking for beginner sewers is featured on my blog to inspire our Bee Creative Stocking Swap participants.

Lindsey G.

Wednesday 17th of August 2016

Thank you so much for featuring my tutorial!

Anel

Monday 7th of December 2015

So I have my fabric, but I don't have the Fusible fleece. Is that a crucial part of the stocking? What does it do? I have regular fleece, will that work? Thank you!

Lindsey G.

Monday 7th of December 2015

Yay for fabric!!! The fusible fleece simply means that it has this nifty glue type stuff on the back that helps the fleece fuse to your fabric, making it easier to sew with and keep together. Regular fleece would work totally fine, just might be a little more tricky to keep it put together with your fabric without shifting, at least for me because I'm a SUPER beginner. You'll definitely want some sort of fleece or backing because it's going to make your stocking thicker and more sturdy... and it'll hang better. Hope that helps! I want to see your finished stockings!!

tiffany c

Sunday 22nd of November 2015

I am learning how to sew and this looks fairly easy, I will try this real soon! THanks for sharing! I love the idea and it'd be great to gift things with these!

Anel

Sunday 15th of November 2015

I bought a used sewing machine from a lady recently, and I've been so excited to work on my skills. It took me a while to familiarize myself with the machine, and used a few YouTube videos to teach myself how to work it. I think I have a just enough knowledge to make these!! I was going to make cloth napkins for Christmas presents, but I'm now thinking I should make these, and stuff then with the napkins! Thanks for sharing!

Lindsey G.

Monday 16th of November 2015

You totally should! They would make great gifts and they really are a great beginner project! I want to see them if you do make them, Anel! :)

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