How to Make a Ballet Slipper Christmas Stocking

If you're one of those people for whom no Christmas season is complete without a performance of the Nutcracker Suite - or if there's someone in your life who's just dying to dance the part of Clara - try this ballet slipper Christmas stocking.

Things You'll Need

• 2 Yards Pink Satin Ribbon
• 1 Yard Flesh-colored Fabrics
• 2 Pieces Pink Felt
• Needles Or Glue
• Sewing Machine
• Straight Pins
• Threads

Instructions

Get Your Materials Ready

1. Buy 1 yard sturdy, flesh-colored fabric for the basic stocking, two sheets of pink felt (comes in only one size) for the slipper, and 2 yards 1-inch-wide pink satin ribbon.

2. Make a pattern by drawing a leg (starting right below the knee) and foot in a toe shoe (in profile with the heel sticking out a bit) on a piece of paper. The pattern should be about 15 inches high altogether and about 5 inches wide at the ankle, with the heel extending another 3 inches. Play with the pattern until you're satisfied. Remember, a rounded toe and crisp arch are the crucial defining characteristics of a foot in a toe shoe. Make the top (of the leg) straight.

3. Draw a seam allowance (a second outline 5/8 inch outside the first) all the way around your pattern.

4. Fold your flesh-colored fabric in half to make two layers. Pin your pattern to it, and cut out the whole thing - leg and shoe.

5. Stack your felt pieces. Use the ballet slipper part of your pattern to cut out the ballet slipper (two identical pieces) in pink felt.

Make the Stocking

1. Pin the leg pieces together with right sides in.

2. Sew together using a sewing machine: Begin at one side of the top opening, and (using a 1/2-inch seam allowance) sew all the way down and around the toe and back up. Sew again 1/8 inch outside the first line of stitching.

3. Turn the top edge down twice - 1/4 inch and then 1/4 inch again - to make a narrow hem, and sew.

4. Cut a 4-inch-long piece of ribbon, fold in half to make a loop, and pin and sew to the top edge of the back of the leg. (Sew to what will be the inside after you turn the leg right side out.)

5. Clip the seam at the curves - to do this, cut carefully into the seam allowance, being careful not to cut through the stitching.

6. Turn the leg right side out.

Make the Slipper

1. Pin the felt pieces together, and sew all around the outside edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Make sure not to sew the inside edge (where the foot goes in).

2. Turn the slipper right side out.

3. Put the slipper on the foot.

4. Cut the rest of the pink ribbon in half.

5. Sew each half to one side of the slipper, and crisscross the ribbon up the ankle, tacking with glue or a few stitches as you go.

6. Tie in a bow above the ankle.

Tips & Warnings

• If you - or a relative or a friend - have a toe shoe, lay it on the paper, and draw around it to make your basic pattern.

• The stocking will look chunky and ungainly when you cut it out - otherwise once you sew it together the toe and ankle will be too narrow for Santa to get anything into it. Don't worry - it will look more graceful once it's put together.