Christmas Stockings And Free Pattern

 

Items Needed:

 

• old cotton tablecloth, cotton fabric, or cotton muslin fabric
• stocking trim, plain fabric, or faux fur
• 10 tea bags
• pot of simmering warm water
• Jolees iron fabric transfer sheets light for light fabric, buy dark for dark fabrics
• wood cutting board
• iron
• large pot
• transfer of your choice - Etsy - a variety of images not just French images available  
• washable fabric glue
• free stocking pattern, 1 copy needed from any copy store

Step 1: Gathering The Items For Tea Staining

Tea staining is a fantastic technique and a great way to add a vintage touch to your handmade stockings. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to tea stain the stocking pieces:

• • A pot of water
  • Tea bags

•  

Tea staining the fabric for your handmade stockings is a straightforward process and the result is a perfect personal touch to give new Christmas stockings an aged and vintage look.

Start by filling a large pot with water and placing it on the stove to heat.

Add tea bags to the water and use a wooden spoon to stir, allowing the tea to infuse into the water. It's important to heat the water until it becomes warm but not boiling. Once the water reaches a warm temperature, turn off the flame.

Now, carefully place your free Christmas stocking and free pattern into the pot. Stir the fabric in the tea mixture, ensuring that each piece is evenly coated. Move the pieces around gently for uniform staining.

After a few moments of tea staining, move the pot near the sink to make the process less messy when removing each piece of fabric.

 

Step 2: Step-By-Step Directions: Tracing Your Free Pattern

  Start by using the free stocking pattern and begin tracing the body of the stocking for your set of Christmas stockings onto the tea-stained fabric or your pieces of fabric. When tracing the stocking shapes leave 1/4 seam allowance for the fabric glue. If you're using the free stocking pattern and wish to have a larger size, consider taking it to a copy center where they can enlarge it at very little cost. Once you've finished tracing the stocking template onto the stocking fabric, it's time to hang the pieces up to dry. The good news is that they won't take too long to dry, so you'll be able to proceed with the next step of this easy project relatively quickly.    

Step 3: Ironing Pattern Pieces   - Free Pattern DIY

  Before tracing the free printable stocking pattern onto each piece of fabric, it's important to iron them to ensure they are flat and free of wrinkles. Since each piece of fabric may have become wrinkled from squeezing out the excess water, use a hot iron with  NO  steam to remove the wrinkles making sure you are ironing the right sides. Carefully iron each piece of fabric, taking your time to achieve a smooth and wrinkle-free surface. This step will help prepare the fabric for tracing the stocking designs and ensure you have a neat end result. Once you have your simple Christmas stocking pattern, it's time to trace it onto each piece of fabric to create mirror images for your stocking.  

 

 

Step 4: Tracing Pattern Pieces  

  Using a pen trace the pattern onto the fabric, as it provides the best results. Carefully trace the pattern onto each piece of fabric, ensuring that you have mirror images for your new stockings. Take your time during this step to achieve accurate and symmetrical outlines for your Christmas stockings. Since the transfers will be getting ironed on the stocking pieces, they need to be printed in reverse so they will not be on the wrong sides.   Below, you will notice a piece of wood under my new stockings. The wood keeps the pattern pieces stiff and allows them to be added to the pieces of fabric. Follow the instructions on the package. For your simple Christmas stocking,   print the images 4×6 which is a perfect fit.  

Step 5: Transform Your DIY Christmas Stocking

  When ironing the images, it's essential to use a piece of wood underneath the fabric as I mentioned above. This is important because the fabric needs to be smooth. Be sure to set the iron on high with  NO  steam. Heat your pieces of fabric make sure the image is going on the right sides (outer piece) of the pattern pieces, and lightly add heat. Next step, place your image face down on the outer piece of your stocking and press the iron firmly. This is important because this is when the ink transfers to your new stockings. It's also necessary to press firmly when moving the iron. I suggest counting to 60. You will notice the ink pulling from the paper. Look at the packaging for instructions for your specific fabric. After you finish ironing, carefully begin to remove the backing.  

Step 1:  Putting The Stocking Designs Together

  Because these stocking designs are no sew, we are using fabric glue to put the bottom of the stocking together. This fabric glue allows us to have the option to wash the stockings if needed in cold water. I have seen handmade stockings put together with hot glue. So, if you aren't concerned with washing your set of stockings then it's an option. First, lay your pieces of fabric with the image facing inwards. Remember we are turning the right sides out once the glue dries for the stocking shapes. Make sure, to leave a 1/4 inch seam allowance for the fabric glue around the raw edges of your stocking pieces.   Begin to press on the long sides of your stocking pieces to bond your handmade stockings together and let dry.   After all the pieces were dry, I turned them right sides out.

Step 2: Cutting And Adding The Trim

After gluing the raw edges and the long sides of the family stocking, it's time to add the cuff piece to the top of the stocking. I saved the tops of old stockings for two of my stockings. Since I am making four, I cut the ends from an old runner and added them for a cuff piece. For your own Christmas stockings, mix it up, and add plaid fabric, Ric Rac with pom poms, or faux fur for your cuff piece.  

Add The Cuff Piece To Top Of The Stocking

  Slide each stocking bottom into each cuff piece with the right sides facing inwards. Add fabric glue to the wrong sides (the piece inside the bottom of the stocking), and glue each cuff piece. After each cuff piece is glued and dried, fold the cuff over and you have new handmade stockings. Add a hanging loop using leftover fabric pieces or a strong piece of ribbon. Place a dot of fabric glue on the inside corner of the cuff piece. Attach the first piece of the hanging loop and let it dry for a few moments. Next, glue the rest of your hanging loop and let it dry. Lastly, heat the iron on high with no steam, and iron the bottom of the stocking to press the seam, the end result is a clean and professional handmade stocking.

Step 4: Tracing the Pattern onto the Fabric

  Using a pen is recommended for tracing the pattern onto the fabric, it provides the best results. Carefully trace the pattern onto each fabric piece, ensuring that you have mirror images for the stocking shapes. Take your time during this step to achieve accurate and symmetrical outlines for your stockings.  

Grab a good pair of scissors and cut out your stocking pattern pieces. Using your scissors, carefully cut along the traced lines to separate each pattern piece. Since we are making four stockings, you will need a total of eight pieces to create mirror images for each stocking. Take your time and ensure precise cuts to maintain the integrity of the pattern and fabric.  

Step 5: Adding The Images to Stockings

  If you plan to add images to your handmade stockings, now is the perfect time to do so. Incorporating images into your stockings is a simple and easy process. As a recommendation, consider using Jolee's Boutique Easy Image Iron Transfer paper in white, especially if you're working with light-colored fabrics. This transfer paper is also available for use with darker colors. Follow the instructions provided with the transfer paper to print your desired images onto the iron transfer sheets. Once printed, carefully cut out the images, leaving a small border around each one. Position the images onto your fabric pieces, ensuring they are arranged to your liking. Make sure to follow the specific instructions provided with the transfer paper to iron the images onto the fabric effectively. Adding images to your stockings adds a personal touch and enhances their overall appearance. Get creative and enjoy this step of the process!

 

 

 

Step 6: Carefully Iron on Images of Your Choice

  Iron the images, it's essential to use a piece of wood underneath the fabric as I mentioned above. This is important because the fabric needs to be smooth. Also, set the iron on high with NO steam. First, go over the outer fabric where you want the image, and add heat. Next, place your image face down and press the iron firmly. This is important because this is when the ink transfers to your stocking fabric. It's also necessary to press firmly when moving the iron. I suggest counting to 60. You will notice the ink pulling from the paper. Look at the packaging for instructions for your specific fabric.  

 

 

 

 

Putting  Them  Together  and Adding  the Top Trim

Step 1: Let's Begin Putting These Together

  Because I don't sew, I am using fabric glue to put the bottom of the stocking together. I am using this fabric glue because it allows me to have the option to wash them in cold water if needed. I have seen this done with hot glue. So, if you aren't concerned with washing these stockings then that is an option. This glue also dries quickly so don't make that a concern.  

 

 

Lay down the piece with the image facing up. Add glue around the long edges and place the blank piece on top. Press on the long sides to bond together and let dry.   I did the same steps to my other stockings.

After the pieces are dry, turn them right side out and it gives a finished look for the Christmas project.

Step 2: Cutting and Add the Trim

  Glue the body of the stockings together and add the top of the stocking. I saved the tops of old stockings from years ago, perfect for two stockings. However, I am making four. So, having a runner I don't use anymore, is the solution.

 

 

Slide the cuff stocking tops on the stocking and add fabric glue. After gluing and drying,   fold over the trim to have a top for this easy project. Also, add a hanging loop with leftover fabric for this simple Christmas stocking tutorial.

 

 

  Happy Crafting!