Handmade Christmas Stockings

If you discuss most cherished childhood memories of Christmastime, many people would tell the story about them getting up early on the Christmas morning to check what Santa Claus has left for them in the Christmas stockings! Well, the tradition of celebrating Christmas may differ in various parts of the world, but the most common and enthusiastic part of Christmas for kids, are the Christmas stockings that they hang on fireplace mantels or doors, in anticipation of goodies that are gifted by Santa. Now that the Christmastime is approaching, you need to plan ahead for the Christmas celebrations. There are a lot of things that you can do, to involve kids in learning Christmas tradition. The best thing to do for that would be to teach them how to make Christmas stockings. You can either teach them to sew the stocking or to decorate the ready-made stockings in the most festive way. Here are a few tips for decorating Christmas stockings.

Pattern

You can get handmade Christmas stocking kits that are available on the market and follow the instructions that are written on the user's manual. By following easy instructions you can create some beautiful patterns for Christmas stocking at home. You can actually inspire kids to participate in these easy to make handmade Christmas crafts. Here is an easy to learn Christmas stocking pattern that you can try at home.

Material

• 4 pieces of gold felt
• Gold embroidery floss
• 5 different colored felts
• 5 different colored embroidery floss (same as the felts)
• Large-eye sewing needle
• Long sewing pins
• 9 inches of red twist cord
• Clean tape
• Pony Beads

Instructions

• Cut all the pieces of gold felt in the shape of a foot. You can outline the old stocking to get the exact shape of the foot.
• Then color five circles as toenails, by considering the proportionate sizes of all the nails.
• Then, place all foot shaped pieces of felt on one another and place the round toenails on their respective places.
• Then, by using matching floss for each nail, sew them to their position. You can use whipstitch for doing so.
• Then sew three sides of the felt by using whipstitch. Make sure that you leave the top side open.
• To make cuff, you need to sew front two and back two edges of the felt with each other (front 2 with each other and back 2 with each other) and fold them down.
• Then, take the one piece of colored floss and thread pony beads in it. Size of the floss should be long enough to wrap it around the ankle of the stocking that you just made!

Stocking Ideas

There are various creative ways, that can be used for making some cute personalized Christmas stockings at home. If you are good at knitting, then you can make knitted stockings as well. But, the best thing that you can do to get personalized handmade stockings would be to bring home stocking and then decorate them with your creative spark. Well, here are a few ideas that you can think of, while giving a personal touch to this year's Christmas stockings.

Rustic Stockings
One of my favorite ideas to Christmas decoration with stockings would be to use those rough hewn bootie made with white burlap. First of all, pull out some lose ends of the cuffs throughout their length and give them a rustic look. Then with help of twine, you can make personalized letter and sew it just below the cuff. Then, on the cuff, just above the letter you can stick a dried orange. Then fill the stocking with bubble wrap and lastly, fill the top of the stocking with fresh and light sprigs of some greens, like spruce branches and seeded eucalyptus. In order to hand the stocking, you may have to thread a wire loop at the back side of the cuff.

Santa Theme Stockings
You need to buy or sew a red felt stocking with cuffs. You can use the same process for making stocking which is mentioned above (except the toes). Along with stockings, you also need to purchase faux fur in white color. Then, all that you need to do is to attach the fur to the cuffs of the stocking and your homemade Christmas stockings are ready. In order to make attractive stockings, always choose soft materials and bright colors. The best materials to make Christmas stockings are felt and wool. However, you can also use linen and cotton to make this Christmas craft. Along with Santa Claus, some other popular themes for making stockings include, cartoon characters, angels, snowflakes, snowman and reindeer.

Incorporating creative and easy Christmas craft ideas is always a fun activity that you can enjoy with your kids. You can make this year's Christmas decoration even more special with help of the above mentioned handmade Christmas stockings ideas! If you want, you can also purchase Christmas stockings with personalized touch and make your Christmas even more special! Merry Christmas!