I’m so excited about the family Christmas we have planned for this year! My Mom, Grandma, my two brothers, myself and all of our respective families are planning to gather at my next youngest brother’s and sister in law’s home for a (hopefully) white Christmas in Utah. We have all sorts of fun activities planned – and will be able to visit the newest member of our clan, expected in early December. There will be much baby bouncing, good natured arguments, long shared jokes and laughter.
All the festivities will be capped off by a stocking stuffer exchange. I’m making the stockings and the rest of the family are hard at work on the treasures that will fill them. The pattern for this Christmas stocking is really quite basic and truthfully, there’s not anything inherently retro about it except for the fabrics I chose to work with. I’ve completed 9 of the 16 stockings we’ll need and I’ve tried to stay with a retro theme.
Here are the items you will need:
Simply Notable Retro Stocking Pattern Download
Sewing Machine and/or serger
One piece of 25″ wide X 19″ high stocking body fabric
One piece of 10″ wide X 16″ high top of stocking fabric
Ribbon about 7 to 8 inches long depending on how long you want your hanger to be.
Coordinating button
Scissors
Pins (if needed)
Note: To ensure you are printing to proper scale, print using Page Scaling set to “None” and make sure “Auto-Rotate and Center” is unchecked. I also used “borderless printing”.
Once your pattern has printed on page 2 and 3, overlap the bold outer lines – make sure you are not overlapping the letters - of the Top of Stocking and tape them together. If the pattern printed correctly, you should have a square that measures 7 & 7/8 inches wide by 10 inches high. If your measurements are correct, let’s assemble the rest of the pattern in the same manner – matching the bold outer lines. You will have 3 pieces of paper on the top row and 2 pieces on the bottom row. Alternately, you can cut all of the pieces out and then tape them together.
Fold your fabric so that right sides are together. I, personally, trace my pattern onto my fabric using disappearing ink so that I don’t ruin my pattern if my scissors become a little reckless. 
You will be cutting through 2 layers for the stocking body and you will be cutting through 2 layers on the top of the stocking. With the top of the stocking, you will be cutting on the fold.
Sew around the body of the stocking with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Leave the top of the stocking unsewn and unfinished.
Clip notches into all of the inside curves and trim seam allowance to 1/8″. Turn right side out, press and set aside.
Sew the short raw edge of your top stocking piece. If using a sewing machine, open the seam and press. If using a serger, press the seam to one side.
Fold your Top of Stocking half way down so that raw edges meet.
Insert the raw edge of the stocking body into the circular opening of the stocking top. Match up raw ends. Pin the raw edges of the stocking body to the raw edges of the stocking top.
The next step is the only step that I prefer to use my serger over my sewing machine. This next seam is easily seen when looking into the stocking so I like the nice finished edge the serger gives. Of course, you could do some type of french seam here with a sewing machine to make a nice finished edge as well. Me? I’m far too lazy for that!
Now unfold the top of your stocking and then fold it back down again so that there is about 4″ of stocking top seen.
Next, fold your ribbon into a cancer awareness look-a-like ribbon and place your button in the middle of where the two pieces of ribbon meet. Sew a few stitches through the button and ribbon itself. You can then affix it through all layers of the stocking top at the back seam. I’m planning for a very heavy stocking this year so I’ll be sure to put in a few extra stitches to accommodate all that weight.
These work up super fast and are quite easy.
Have fun stitching these up and please post pictures! I need some inspiration and motivation to make 7 more of these! ♥
45 Comments
These are super cute! Sewing machines and I are not friends, but will definitely try these at some point. Love, love, love the owl fabric!
Amy, I think you’d be pleasantly surprised at how easy these are put together.
Did you use flannel or cotton? I am going to make some for my family this year. I am tired of the ones we have. They aren’t NEAR cool enough! Mine are going to be gingerbread men themed. I will post some pics if you want when they are done. You can take some credit for them, because I will be using this pattern.
Glad to hear it! I used cotton but flannel would work just fine if you prefer it. I cannot wait to see what you come up with!
Adorable as usual Carli. Love the owl fabric.
Those are soo cute. I’m currently learning to use my sewing machine- that I have owned for 21 years :/
Definitely adorable! And large enough to hold lots of goodies!
Pattern very easy to follow! Good job, Carli !!
Come on Ladies try it out!
Pattern was hand drawn, I was there! LOL!
Great tutorial! I featured it in a recent blog post…http://radcrafter.com/2011/11/10-diy-christmas-stocking-tutorials/
Alida
Great blog, Alida and gorgeous stockings! Thanks so much for the link! We appreciate it!
♥ Carli
I just found this last night, and today I found the fabric and made 2 of them… for my 2 dogs. I’ve been looking for stockings for my dogs for a while now, but couldn’t find any that were cute and affordable. I thought it was great to stumble across this so I could make my own! It took me about 2 hours start to finish to make both, and it only cost me $7.50! Wonderful idea, thank you for sharing!
Yay Randi! That’s great to hear. Would love to see your finished stockings here or on our facebook page if you’d like to share!
Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Thanks for the pattern! I did add batting and a lining to give them a quilted look – but the stocking shape is perfect
Love the fabrics you used!
So glad you liked it, Kristin! We’d love to see pictures of your stocking on our facebook page if you’d like to share. I’m especially curious about how they look quilted. I’m betting they hold their shape nicely when quilted. Great idea!
I am a very, very beginner sewer….I’ve had this pattern “pinned” on Pinterest for ages and finally bought the fabric last week! However, I’m stuck on the directions in the middle. I don’t know if I’m just being dense, but I can’t figure out how to insert and sew on the top cuff. Could you explain a little further? Thanks!
Hi Laura,
Absolutely! Assuming you have already sewn the raw edges of the top of the stocking together, you are going to open it up so it forms a ring and fold the wrong sides together so the ring is half as tall and the right side of your fabric is showing both on the inside and outside of the ring. Now you are going to slip the folded edge of the top over the top of your stocking so that the raw edges of your stocking and the raw edges of the top of the stocking meet and the seam of the top of your stocking is aligned with the back seam of the stocking. Hopefully that helps a little more!
I’m a little stuck as well. Hard to follow the written clarification. Any way to post a photo of this step?
Hi Michelle,
Which step are you needing further clarification on?
Starting in the middle of the paragraph above with “now”. I think that after you sew the raw edges together, you fold half of the trim to the inside so that the top edge is finished looking. But I can’t figure out what to do next. Thanks!
Michelle, you are absolutely correct in that after you sew the raw edges together, fold the top so that it’s an inside seam. At that point I just press and add my hanger.
My top of stocking came out 10″ where it says “7 & 7/8″ and vice versa.
Bethany – thanks so much for pointing that out! I must have reversed those measurements in my first edit. It should be correct now. Luckily I had that ruler in my first image so hopefully most, like yourself, picked up on that! Thanks again!
Thanks so much for sharing this fantastic pattern & step by step.
I have had in pinned on Pinterest for ages and have wanted to make stockings for even longer!
Hope you don’t mind that I shared about making them on my blog
http://lulusplace.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/christmas-creations-part-2-stockings/
I have referenced back to you.
Thanks again!
Lulu
Such cute stockings Lulu! Thanks so much for sharing your pretty new stockings! So glad your girls like them – even if the color didn’t initially suit your little one. Her reaction is just precious though!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Thanks Carli! You too.
I still giggle every time I walk past the red & green stocking!
Used your pattern to make stockings for my two little girls, and I’ll make another one after the Christmas craziness is over (for the next little one due in March). I had some Christmas-themed flannel that someone had given me, and found ribbon and buttons I already had so it cost me nothing out of pocket!! (Well, right now anyway…) It was really easy to follow your tutorial–thanks!
Something about not spending a dime on a project makes it so much worth while, doesn’t it? Ha! Glad to hear you found the pattern and tutorial useful. Thanks so much Katy!
Thank you for offering this stocking pattern for free. It’s just what I’ve been looking for. Yay for the holidays!
Thank you!
Our family Christmas activities this year will include “decorate your own stocking” – I couldn’t find any ready-made stockings that I liked, and thankfully your template came up in my search for a pattern! So far I have made 14 – your instructions are easy to follow, and the stockings look great.
Thanks again… and Merry Christmas 2012!
Yay! So glad to hear it, Brenda! Decorating your own stockings sounds like a blast! A very Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!
I love that fabric! Where in the world did you get it?
Hi Hiliary, the owl fabric? I think I got it on either equilter.com or fabric.com but that was probably about a year ago. If you want to search for it, it’s made by Robert Kaufman. Hope that helps!
I just found this pattern and going to start working on these tonight. I have about 15 to make before Christmas. Thank you very much for the pattern
At least you found it well in advance. Fifteen will be no sweat! You can do it!
I used your template & tutorial tonight to make my first stocking! Thank you so very, very much for sharing it with us all! Super easy & beautiful results!
So glad it worked out well for you, Tiffany! Enjoy!
So excited to try these out!! I want to put a light liner in mine. I can link back to photos when they are done!
Thank you for this – most generous. Good job on the pattern.
I too found your site on the search engine. I’m getting my first sewing machine for Christmas. I already bought the fabric so I can make the stockings. Easy Peasy, right? Thanks for the inspiration!
OMG THANK you! This is exactly what I was looking for!
I’m wondering about possibly piecing a few cute pieces of fabric for the front of the stocking, should I piece my fabrics together then cut out the stocking shape afterwards?
I’m also thinking of lining the inside so that you don’t see the wrong side of the fabrics inside. I’m assuming I just sandwich the pieces together (the outside fabrics with WS facing, then RS of the lining fabric sandwiched on the outsides?)
I’m also wanting to do a French seam for the cuff but can’t figure it out mentally until I get to that point in the project! Thanks for the help in advance!
Hi Ericka,
Yes, I’d definitely piece the fabric together prior to cutting out the stocking.
Because you want to line it, I think you can get away without doing the french seam by making the outer stocking and the inner stocking separately. When cutting out the lining, I’d increase the height of the pattern about 1/2 inch. Sew the outer stocking and attach the cuff. Then sew the lining and hem the top of the lining with about a 1/2″ hem. Insert the lining into the stocking (wrong sides together) and hand sew or machine sew the lining to the inside just above the cuff seam so that it’s hidden. Hopefully that makes sense?
I’d love to see your patchwork stocking when you’re done!
-Carli
Needed to make a stocking for my daughter’s boyfriend and found your post from last year, last night. Adapted your pattern just a tad as I wanted a lining in the stocking. It turned out super cute and then I made a matching one for my daughter to have as well.
This project is so cute and just what I need to practice my sewing skills. Thank you for sharing.
Mingz Eclectic Creations
Thanks for the pattern. I made 12 felt stockings for xmas.
http://sewcancass.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/felt-christmas-stockings.html
So fun Cassie, I loved that you used felt for the fabric and all of your great applique! Thank you for sharing!!
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