Long Christmas Stockings Tutorial

Stockings are a critical part of wintertime holiday decorations, and are inexpensive to make on your own.

Christmas stockings are a delight for adults and children alike. While presents heaped under the tree are a wonderful sight, a nice long stocking crammed with toys, goodies and candy is especially exciting. By making your own stockings, you create an extra-special holiday feature that adds an important touch to such an important Christmas tradition. Each stocking can be tailor-made to match a family member's personality and interests, and can become a treasured gift in and of itself.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard of fabric or felt
• Glitter
• Glue
• Scissors
• Decorative embellishments such as cotton balls, bells and sequins
• Yarn
• Needle and thread
• Fleece fabric

Instructions

1. Cut two sock-shaped pieces of fabric or felt. Long stockings can be anywhere from 12 to 24 inches in length, depending on your preference. Cut them out at the same time by overlapping the fabric, or use a pattern to ensure the pieces are identical.

2. Lay the pieces on top of each other, finished-sides of the fabric facing in. Sew down the length of the stocking, along the bottom and up the opposite side. Leave at least 1/4 inch in from the seam, and leave the top of the stocking open.

3. Cut a piece of fabric to approximately 3/4 inches wide and 3 1/2 inches long, and use it to make a loop. Sew the open ends to the top of the stocking about 1 inch down, right along the back seam you just finished. The loop should be poking out of the top of the stocking when finished.

4. Turn the stocking right-side out. If desired, sew the fleece fabric along the top of the stocking to make a cuff. It can be of any width, though 3 to 5 inches works best. Be sure not to accidentally sew the stocking closed.

5. Decorate the stocking. For instance, write the person's name in glue along the fleece cuff, sprinkle with glue and let dry. Once dry, shake the excess glitter off and the person's name will remain. Yarn can also be used to hang bells or other decorative elements.

6. Hang the stocking from the loop at the top, and fill with presents.