Gettin' Ready for Christmas!

Christmas time is by far my favorite time of year, but only because no one really decorates for July 4th. Otherwise, I'd be all over that summer-time goodness.

This will be my first Christmas (after 9 years of living here) in New York City, and so I decided that my boyfriend and I needed all the essentials, but wouldn't it be nicer if they were home made? So I set out to make our stockings. So far only mine is complete, but I'll finish his this week. I don't have a sewing machine, so everything was done by hand, and I think I did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. I've never been any sort of seamstress, much to my mother's dismay, I'm certain, but with a little creativity, I made things easier on myself and completed my stocking out of an old, much abused, much loved t-shirt. My boyfriend's will be made out of the same thing, and thus they will be uniquely us, and anyone of our friends who sees them will recognize that these t-shirts they used to see regularly have finally moved on to a better place.

Without further ado, my stocking!

First I downloaded and printed templates from Marthastewart.com Then I realized that you needed a photocopier to blow up the image 300%, so I made my own pattern. I laid a small boot of mine across the t-shirt and drew around it, modifying here and there until I had something that looked quite stocking-ish.



Then I cut it out. It's not very easy to cut up an old, favorite t-shirt, but I did it without crying. I pinned the cutout side back to the rest of the t-shirt, and I cut out the other side right away to avoid battling nostalgia.



I took all the pins out and then noticed that it had been pinned perfectly for stitching. So I pinned it back up and got my needle and "thread" ready. Knowing that I don't sew well, I figured if I used a GIANT needle (I think it's a crotchet needle?) and ribbon the stocking would still look festive, but it'd take much less time to complete, and my awful stitching would be less noticeable. I was right!





I probably should have used a whip stitch, and I will when I do the second stocking, but mine turned out fine.



Yes. It is hideous. But! It's much better when turned right-side out!



A little loop of ribbon sewn onto the back allows the stocking to hang.

I used Stiffy (he he), a liquid fabric stiffener, to make the folded-over cuff firmer. I've embellished it a bit with felt snowflakes I glued onto the cuff, but I don't have any photos of that. Anyway, happy holidays and happy crafting!!

-Bea