Monday, December 17, 2012

Christmas Stocking Hangout




Patchwork Christmas Stockings

Hello!  For those of you joining me for the first time for the

... welcome to my quilty corner! 

For those of you from the Monday Morning Link-up, I am happy your found your way back to my little scrapatch.

For those of you who have been following along for awhile, thanks for reading and  leaving kind comments. It makes me feel all warm and quilty.

I started these stockings here a week ago and I have the first four completed.   I have a few more to get ready for Santa so more stockings are in the works and ...

... this one is on my sewing table waiting for me now.

Although I used the template and patterns from  Maywood Studios Free Quilts & Projects as an inspiration, I have designed my own tops and I have found a way to sew these that I find easier than their instructions, which call for leaving an opening on the side to turn the stockings inside out and hand stitching the opening closed.  My method is all machine stitching and I leave the opening at the top and attach the cuffs with a ...


double seam to cover the cut edges.
 
Note:  This method is similar to a French Seam, where you would sew right sides together and then turn wrong sides together and sew a wider seam to cover the raw edges.

Here is my method, step by step ...

My first stocking was made with some 1.5" scrap strips that I had strip pieced a few years back for another long forgotten project.


Pin the template to the front, right side up, and use scissors to cut around the curves.
Cut the back with the pattern template facing down
 
so it is the mirror image of the front
 
cut the lining pieces together at the same time
from fabric that is folded double
 
add toe pads to the front using  a sew, flip, press and trim technique
 
add heel pad details the same way
 
press and trim and your top is ready

pin and sew front to back, right sides together, leaving top open
 

pin and sew lining together, removing pins as you go, 
leaving leaving top open
 
Turn stocking right side out, seams inside. and press.
Press lining wrong side and seams out.
 
Important Note:  Insert lining into stocking so that the seams are hidden between the layers and only the top is open.  Then make the cuff and hanger to pin to the top opening.


cut a 6.5" WOF  strip for cuff,
 measure top ...
my top openings were 16.5" so I cut the cuff strips at 17"
 
 
cut a 6" x 1.5" strip for hanger, fold in half right side together and sew
 
 
using a safety pin to turn hanger right side out
 
 
press cuff seam open and then press in half, right sides outward

The next step is to assemble
and to stitch the top closed.

Pin the folded cuff to the open top ...
 

make sure the hanger is up; reinforce hanger with stay stitching

 
Stitch the top opening closed through all layers, cuff, stocking and lining, removing pins as you go. 


First cuff seam is done.
 
The raw edges of the top seam will be covered in the next seam.

 
Press the cuff seam down, making sure the hanger is straight down
 
 
Turn the cuff inward and press
 
 
Stitch the second cuff seam about 1/2" from top being sure that the your new seam is below the seam that had been turned inward and that the hanger is straight. You can feel the bulk of the seam through the layers.


Turn cuff upward and press

 
Turn cuff outward and down and press.
 
 
Stocking #1 is Done!

Time to sew my current stocking project.

If there is a part of this tutorial that is confusing, please let me know and I will try to taker pictures to better explain the method.

Have a happy sewing day!
 
Ho! Ho! Ho!

24 comments:

Quilting Babcia said...

Great tutorial. Still working the cuff stitching through my mind, but I'm sure it'll become clear when I actually do it! Thanks for showing this great stocking.

Linda said...

Those are so cute! They should be loved for a very long time!

Scrapatches said...

Thanks, Linda and Pat for leaving kind comments.

For adding the cuff and sewing the top closed ... it is basically a French Seam, where you cover the raw edges with a second seam. I always use these seams inside pillowcases, clothing for small children and for other seams to which I want give a more finished look and duarability.

I will try to take more pictures when I make the next stocking to show this step better ... :) pat

Patricia said...

What a wonderful stocking tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing your stocking on the Christmas Stocking Hang Out and promoting it on your blog! It is a big relief to see that my first Linky Party is getting some participation! Great photos by the way.

Delia Moran said...

Pat, these are so cute! I was a little confused about the cuffs at first, but then had an Ah-ha! moment when I realized it was a French seam. Now if I could only figure out how not to mess up linings. ;)

Queenie Believe said...

Your stockings are wonderful, so full of Christmas holiday cheer!
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie

ThreadCatcher said...

Wonderful stockings! I love that you repurposed the strip pieceing from a forgotten project. It worked great and looks super. Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

LJ said...

I love the stripey look of your stocking. Thanks for the tut.

Dorian said...

Great stockings Pat! Love how you put yours together, so nice.

Penny said...

Those are cute!

Needled Mom said...

Those are all beautifully made. The star is my favorite.

Scrapatches said...

Thanks to all who have stopped by my blog and left such lovely comments.

I shall be hanging out a few more stockings later today and in the last few days here before Christmas Eve.

Thanks for making my Christmas warm and quilty ... :) Pat

Rosemary Dickinson said...

Love your tutorial. So nice of you to share! Your stockings came out great and I love that it was all finished by machine!

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

I love a stocking with a cuff - thanks for sharing!!!

sew.darn.quilt said...

Wonderful tutorial and fabulous stockings! Thank you for sharing both.
Merry Christmas*

Judy B said...

Thank you for the great tutorial! The french seam is a wonderful idea.

Bonnie said...

Great use of scraps. Your striped stocking looks so cute especially with the toe and heel. I've made a very similar stocking except I have the raw edge of the stocking top covered by the cuff. Saves one little step. I like the idea of using up stash.

Scrapatches said...

Thanks for stopping by my Christmas Stocking Hangout and leaving lovely comments!

Merry Christmas, everyone, to you and yours ... :) Pat

Barb Neiwert said...

What a nice tutorial - thanks!

Swedish Scrapper said...

Thanks for the tutorial and for showing your stockings. I love the scale of the foot! And those stripy stockings are darling!

Scrapatches said...

The Stocking Hangout Linky Party is sew much fun. I am really enjoying seeing all the stockings and sharing mine with all of you. Thanks for visiting and sharing my Christmas with me ... :) Pat

Melinda said...

These are great as is your construction method! I never seem to follow the finishing directions with stockings. They always call for exposed seams or stitching, and I'm always left puzzling through the correct way to do it. I could have used this tutorial! I got the same result (no raw edges) I just went about it a much longer way!

Nanbon44 said...

very nice, and a wonderful tutorial

Aida Sosoxy said...

I bought a sewing machine, I already know what I will sew first. Thank you for this entry :)