Felt Appliqued Stocking

Felt stocking

Stockings are frequently an integral part of decorating for Christmas: they can be knitted, crocheted, quilted or sewn. One of the simplest ways to make a Christmas stocking is to make it from felt, and decorate it with felt appliques. Felt is a very useful fabric to use for this purpose because it does not unravel, and is easy to cut. In addition, you can find small sheets of felt in various colors at most craft or fabric stores, meaning that you do not have to purchase a lot of yardage to get a variety of colors.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Felt in various colors
• Thread
• Needle or sewing machine
• Fabric glue
• Optional: small embellishments, such as beads, sequins or buttons
• Small length of narrow ribbon

Instructions

1. Draw the outline of a Christmas stocking on the cardboard. Cut it out to use as a template. Trace the shape twice onto your main color of felt and cut them both out. Set one piece aside for use as the back of the stocking. The other piece will be the front.

2. Using your other colors of felt, cut out some simple shapes. A rectangle can go at the top of the stocking for a cuff; wedge shapes can be placed on the foot to indicate a heel or a toe. Cut out festive seasonal shapes, such as Christmas trees or candy canes, or circles to create a snowman. Once you have decided on the arrangement of your felt decorations, tack them down on the front piece with a small amount of fabric glue.

3. Sew decorative stitches around the outer edges of the felt shapes. Very small pieces may be attached with the glue only. If you choose to use some other optional embellishments, such as beads or sequins, add those now.

4. Place the front and the back pieces wrong sides together. Leaving a one-quarter inch seam allowance, sew around the stocking, leaving the top open. You can use a simple stitch or a decorative one; as the felt does not unravel, there is no need to hide the seam.

5. Fold the small piece of ribbon in half, and sew it to the upper edge of the stocking for use as a hanging loop.

Tips & Warnings

• When placing the felt applique onto the main body of the stocking, try to avoid layering too much at the outer edges where the seam allowances will be.

• Be careful not to use too much glue.

• Avoid getting glue on the parts of the felt that will show.

References

• "The Great Felt Book": The American School of Needlework: 1984
• Applique Crafts: Applique Felt Christmas Stockings
• Crafter's Touch: Working With Felt

Resources

• LovetoSew.com: Sewing with Felt Fabric