One of the great aspects of this stocking is that it provides a small area where you can experiment with patchwork and quilting designs without a large time commitment and it is great for using up those scraps. Half square triangles are great to play with for this particular design and mini charm squares are perfect to use for this project as well. The best part; it will look great hanging up in your house for the holidays!
Fabric Requirements:
•
41- 2 ½” squares (mini charms) for front
•
12” x 18” piece for back
•
13”
x 18” piece for the stocking front “quilt sandwich” back
•
5” x 16 ¼” piece for fabric cuff (outer)
•
5” x 16 ¼” piece for fabric cuff (lining)
•
3” x 4 ½” piece for loop
•
1/3 yard for lining
•
13” x 18” piece of batting for front
•
12” x 18” piece of fusible fleece, such as Fusible Thermoloam Plus by Pellon, TP971F,
for back (can use batting instead if you want to quilt the back as well)
Instructions:
1. Print the
stocking template pieces (all four) on actual size (you will have to select this setting on the print menu or your pieces will not line up well). Piece them together using tape, by
trimming the edges to match up the lines of the template to create
a large rectangle with the stocking outline. Cut out the stocking
template and set aside.
Pattern Piece 4 Pattern Piece 3
Pattern Piece 1 Pattern Piece 2
***The links to the pattern pieces are arranged above as they will be pieced together. Sorry for four different links.
Piecing the Stocking Front
2. Arrange your 2 1/2" squares in the pattern that you would like using the photo below as a guide to determine the layout needed for the stocking front.
3. Starting with the top row stitch the squares in
the row together using a ¼” seam and then pressing the seams open or to one
side. If you choose to one side, just
make sure that you alternate by row so that the seams will nest well.
***Note: Chain stitching is a great way to piece the
front quickly. For example, after you
stitch one pair, don’t cut your thread, just feed another pair through, making
a chain. Do make sure that you keep them
in order, so that you remember what was where!
***Another
Note: It helps to lay the pairs back out
again before sewing the rest together to make sure your arrangement is how you
would like it.
4. Repeat the above step until all rows are together, resulting in nine strips total.
5. Stitch the rows together using 1/4" seams, making sure that you line up your seams and pin before stitching.
***Yet Another Note: I prefer to pin to the right of my seams, because there tends to be less shifting when it is stitched. This keeps my seams aligned more often than not and I do less ripping and restitching.
6. Place the stocking template on top of your patchwork piece, making sure that there is fabric under the entire area of the template.
7. Using a fabric marker of pencil, trace the outline of the template onto the patchwork piece. You could also pin down the template, if you prefer.
8. Cut out your stocking front along the template lines (or template itself, depending on your previous method) using scissors or whatever tool you prefer.
Cutting the Rest of the Pieces
9. Using the template, cut one stocking back piece from the 12" x 18" piece of fabric. I just used white fabric.
***Note: If using a print for the back, make sure you use the template in the correct orientation. You can just use the stocking front as your template and make sure that the wrong sides of both the front and back fabric are together. (Basically oriented as it will be when finished...hope that makes sense)
10. Fold the 1/3 yard of fabric for the lining by matching the selvages (as it would come off the bolt), so you have a doubled 12" x 22" rectangle.
11. Place the template as close to the bottom/fold as possible, then using a clear grid ruler, extend the top of the template by 3 1/2" and continue tracing the rest of the side and bottom of the template.
12. Cut out your lining pieces then from the scraps, cut two 3 1/2" x 7 1/2" rectangles. Set aside
13. Cut one 5" x 16 1/4" rectangle from the outer cuff fabric, using a grid ruler and rotary cutter.
14. Using the same method in the previous step, cut one more 5" x 16 1/4" rectangle from your cuff lining fabric. I just used white fabric again since it will not be seen.
15. Using the template or back stocking piece, cut one template piece from the fusible fleece. Make sure that you also cut this piece in the correct orientation. You want the adhesive acing the wrong side (on the inside) of the outer back stocking piece.
***Below is a photo of all of the pieces you should have.
Quilting Your Pieced Stocking Front
16. Using a 1/4" seam, stitch one of the 3 1/2" x 7 1/2" rectangles to the top of the stocking front, matching the long edge of the rectangle to the top of the front piece with right sides together. Press the seam toward the top of the stocking.
17. Stitch the remaining 3 1/2" x 7 1/2" rectangle to the top of the back stocking piece, in the same manner as the previous step. Set both the front and the back aside.
18. On a flat surface, smooth out your 13" x 18" piece of fabric for the "quilt sandwich" back.
19. Place your 13" x 18" piece of batting on top of the fabric in the previous step.
20. One top of the two previous layer, place your pieced stocking front with the wrong side facing the batting, making sure there is a bit of batting and backing showing around the entire stocking front. This is your quilt sandwich!
21. Pin the three layers together, or use your preferred method of basting, as long as the layers are secure and don't shift too much as you quilt.
22. Quilt your stocking front using whatever method and design you like. In the photo below, I just stitched diagonal lines using masking take as a guide and my walking foot on the sewing machine.
Construction the Stocking
23. Pin the front stocking piece to the back stocking piece with right sides together.
24. Starting with one of the top corners, stitch a 1/4" seam around the edge of the pieces, stopping at the other top corner, leaving the top open.
25. Turn right side out, pushing along the seam on the inside of the stocking to smooth it out. Set aside.
26, To make the loop, with right sides together, fold the 3" x 4 1/2" look piece along the long edge and pin.
27. Stitch the pinned long edge of the loop with a 1/4" seam, press the seam open and then turn right side out.
28. Press the loop flat, centering the seam on one side of the loop (this will later be the inside). Set aside.
29. To make the lining, pin the two stocking lining pieces with right sides together.
30. Using a 1/4" seam, start stitching at one top corner, but only stitch down the side about 5" and then stop. Leave about a 3 to 4" opening (this is for turning the stocking later) then begin stitching again long the side and bottom up to the other top corner, leaving the top open.
31. Take the finished loop and fold it in half, matching the short, raw edges. Pin.
32. Line up the pinned raw edge of the loop with the raw edge of the lining (on the inside or "right" side), centering the loop on the side seam of the "back side" of the stocking (see photo below for clarity). Baste. Set aside.
33. To make the cuff, layer the cuff and cuff lining with right sides together and pin along one of the long edges.
34. Stitch the pinned edge of the cuff pieces using a 1/2" seam. Press seam toward the front cuff piece.
35. Then take the joined cuff pieces and with right sides together, pin along the short edge and stitch with a 1/2" seam. Press this seam open.
36. Fold along the long seam and press, creating your cuff.
***Note: When you press this piece, allow some of the front fabric to fold toward the back so that none of the lining fabric shows.
37. Now take the cuff you just made and place it over the top of your stocking with the cuff lining facing the right side of the stocking, matching up the raw edge of your cuff with the raw edge of the stocking. Pin these layers with a couple of pins on the inside of the stocking (remove pins after you pin in the next step but before you stitch).
38. With the stocking lining still wrong side out, slip it over the stocking and cuff, matching all of the raw edges at the top opening. Then right sides of the lining and stocking will be facing each other with the cuff and loop sandwiched between.
39. Pin around the entire edge of the top opening, making sure to also line up the side seams first.
40. Stitch a 1/2" seam around the top opening through all layers.
41. Turn the stocking right side out by pulling the stocking through the opening in the side of the lining.
42. To close the opening in the lining, hand sew with a slip stitch or pinch the edges together and machine stitch close to the edge.
43. Push the lining into the stocking and you are done!
Please let me know if you notice any problems, corrections that need to be made, etc. with this tutorial, or if you just have any questions or suggestions. I haven't had a lot of time to perfect it, because I wanted to get it out there before Christmas. I am also working on a PDF format with more options and variations. I do hope that you find this tutorial helpful. Thanks so much for checking it out and any feedback would be much appreciated!
This post has been linked up with Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts and Show Off Saturday at Sew Can She.
