To make a stocking similar to my own, sew a felt or quilted stocking and then attach a collection of beads. This stocking is made of white and pink felt, then trimmed with felt pine trees and random antique buttons from my grandmother's old sewing box.
A collection of beads inside of an old canning jar. These may be found in many flee markets.
The finished ladies boots representing something that may have looked quite similar to the real thing during the Victorian era.
To sew this small Victorian inspired, felt stocking you will need just a few scraps of fabric in felted wool or cotton. I chose to use a woven plaid and/or tweedy looking primary wool combined with a contrasting solid color in each of the examples you see in the photographs; the possibilities for both color and pattern combinations are obviously endless.
Each stocking is sewn together with an embroidery needle and floss using a blanket stitch and the pattern is included below for visitors to download and print off on their own home computers.
Crafters may finish trimming each boot with three or more buttons each. For the boot on the left, I chose very pale pink buttons with rhinestones at their centers and for the boot on the right I used classic shell, pearl buttons to give each of them that vintage look.
In these small stockings, a cash gift or tiny candies may be hidden from view while hanging from the branches of a tree or chimney mantle. Tiny stockings like these may keep your gift exchanges both modest yet stylish at the same time.
I think small stocking like these would also look so charming hanging from a ''charitable contributions tree'' as the primary decoration in an agency or church. Give a little gift to the givers and include a message in each to describe the whether the recipient of your chosen present should be male or female of a particular age, while inviting the person to keep the stocking as a small token for their contribution.
Sometimes simple ideas are the most appealing. I made this homespun Christmas stocking from scraps of left over wool and stray beads/buttons from earlier crafts. It was very easy to whip together and I didn't need to visit a sewing shop to acquire any of my supplies.
Above, a grey wool stocking depicting a faux feather tree trimmed with odds and ends from
my button box.
Supply List:
scrap wool felt (approx. 1/3 yard)
faux tree branches, chenille stems
buttons and beads for tree ornaments
scraps for tree stand
embroidery needle and a variety of threads
dental floss for the hanger
red berries for the tips of the faux tree branches
Determine the side that you will use as the front and using a tiny whip stitch, sew on the chenille stems to look like a feather tree. (see the photo above)
Applique a tree stand beneath it from felt scraps, I used a bit of green with gold floss.
Sew on beads, Christmas berries and buttons to trim your faux feather tree.
Sew together the two sides of your stocking with a blanket stitch using embroidery floss in any color that satisfies your taste. I used a ivory to gold variegated floss to stitch up the sides of my steel grey wool stocking.
Leave the opening at the top, but sew around it's edges with the same fancy stitching in order to prevent the wool from unraveling over time.
String together a handful of beads using your dental floss for strength.
Attach this beaded hanger to your wool stocking and now you are ready to decorate a mantle or Christmas branches with the woolen creation.
Left, Note the holes at the bottom for attaching him to the stocking. Right, A Belznickle character for my chimney stocking.
Here is one of several chimney stocking patterns I have created from earlier Victorian designs. It is my own interpretation; obviously, because of the Belznickle! Chimney stockings are not new to American homes but, alas, as all decorative things in America, they have fallen out of fashion here.
I, however, am not a slave to what is fashionable; I have more of a curious nature than that. Vintage designs and the history of objects have always been peculiar hobbies of mine. So, here is a pattern to make one, two, or three for your own mantle this Christmas.
Left, Stitching through the cardboard to attach the Belznickle. Right, The backside of my chimney stocking.
Chimney stockings are usually stuffed with candies, nuts and/or small toys. This is in part because they are a bit more narrow than other Christmas stocking designs. Chimney stockings also have a Christmas character either poking out of the top of the chimney cap or through a fireplace depicted at the bottom of the stocking. My version here does not have a fireplace at the bottom, only a suggested foot. But I will include other versions of stocking patterns on this blog that will show you how to make a variety of interpretations in the future if you are interested in these.
You will need to purchase "brick" novelty print online for this sewing craft, for the fabric stores in the U. S. do not carry it this season. Perhaps we may start a trend here and brick or stone novelty prints will make a come back? But for now, you will need to search fabric suppliers online.
See how long I've made the chimney stocking? Most of these designs are very long and narrow. It's up to you to decide just how long you wish the stocking to be. I include the lower boot half in the pattern and the snowy piece above, but you must extend the length of the chimney part in accordance to your own tastes. The face mold that you acquire to use on your Belsnickle or Santa figure will also effect your own version of this stocking design.
cotton batting or white felt or faux white snowy fabric
Sculpey clay
press mold mask
paper clay
wood glue or hot gun glue
masking tape
acrylic paints: flesh tones, red, brown, eye colors, white etc...
acrylic sealer or Mod Podge
stiff cardboard
pattern (below)
embroidery needle or nail
dental floss
Step-by-Step Instructions:
First you will need to cut out the "figure" of the Belznickle from a stiff piece of cardboard. The stiffer, the better. Some of you may even choose to use a thin piece of wood alternatively.
If you use cardboard, cover it completely with masking tape.
I use Sculpey for making my Santa face molds, in part because Sculpey is very durable and waterproof. You do not need much for this project; a very small block of it will suffice.
After baking the clay face in an ordinary oven, let is cool and then glue it to the cardboard cut-out figure. See pattern for positioning.
Now mix your paper clay according to the directions from the manufacture. Spread this out around the face mask and over the entire surface of the cardboard cut-out, excluding a narrow strip at the bottom of St. Nick's coat. (see pattern)
After the front surface of your coat dries, turn it over and repeat the process on the backside of St. Nick's coat. Let it dry.
Take your sharp nail or large eyed embroidery needle and make a series of small wholes across the bottom of the exposed cardboard strip so that you will be able to sew the figure of St. Nick into the top of the finished chimney stocking.
Print, trace and cut the stocking pattern onto your brick, novelty cotton print, front sides facing together, because you will need two pieces exactly alike. Sticklers may wish to line up their bricks. Don't forget to add a half inch seam and to also position your pattern at the bottom of the folded fabric. This because you will need to determine how long your chimney stocking will be on your own. (see pattern)
With right sides together, allow for the seam and sew a straight stitch by hand or machine around the stock foot and up. Leave an opening where St. Nick will be sewn into the top, peeking out from the chimney as he slides down it.
Sew a strong loop six or seven inches long and approximately 2 to 3 inches wide to attach to the backside of your stocking. This loop may be made from the brick fabric or the snowy white fabric. (whichever is stronger) Attach it the the backside of the finished stocking before sewing the Belznickle in place.
I've included the curvy piece of pattern for a snowy top to add to the top edge of your chimney stocking opening. Cut this from a white felt or some other fuzzy white fabric.
I used a blanket stitch to attach the snowy applique buy any stitching would be nice.
Now sew through the backside of the finished stocking through the cardboard holes to attach St. Nick, leaving the front half of the stocking open to insert candies or nuts. Use a heavy thread, embroidery floss or even dental floss to do this with. The heavier the thread the better the wear of the stocking over time.
You may also choose to reinforce St. Nick to the stocking with a bit of hot glue.
A Chimney Stocking pattern by kathy grimm. Free for personal craft use only.
Property of https://belsnickle.blogspot.com/
A new stocking for baby in blue or pink felt; how sweet!
This little drawing of a blue felt sock is of an actual vintage stocking that once belonged to my husband when he was a baby. It is so tattered and worn but somehow it makes it's way onto our Christmas tree every year. It is far too fragile to fill with gifts however. The stocking was made by some loving grandmother in the late 1950s I'm sure. My husband's sister had a similar one in pink I believe. During the 1950s pastel colored ornaments and stockings on shimmering silver tinsel trees were all the rage. I've redrawn and included a pattern similar to this homemade stocking for those of you who would like to reproduce it.
A pair of pinking shears was used to cut the felt stocking out originally. Use a pair of ordinary sharp scissors to cut the marked openings on the sides of two identical felt stockings so that you can weave a pale pink ribbon through the center of the stocking. If you are making a pink felt stocking for a girl, use a blue ribbon instead of the pink. The Christmas trees are also cut from white felt and tiny sequins and silver beads are sewn on to give them sparkle. The "Hello" on the bottom of the stocking is made from silver rick-rack. This word is stitched into place with silver thread. This little felt stocking would be a charming addition to any tree for a new baby.
I used a grey felt, silver and crystal seed beads and a simple
scene depicting a snowman to create this small stocking that
now hangs on my youngest child's Christmas tree every year.
When my mother-in-law passed away many years ago, I was given a few pieces of her costume jewelry. I did not frequently wear rhinestones nor did my little ones at that time, for they were quite young.
I did, however, have a mind to use these vintage pins in some way so that my children could have some sentimental memory associated with them. So I incorporated this glittery costume jewelry into a couple of beaded Christmas stockings. Then I gifted these to my girls on the Christmas following their grandmother's death.
Now every year I see these charming little socks hanging on their trees and think of her. She would have liked for her granddaughter's to remember her most at Christmas, for she was quite the Christmas fanatic herself. It was one of the happiest common interests that we shared together before her passing.
The pins can also be removed for wearing should my daughters care to use them for that purpose some day.
I will also post photos of my older girl's version as soon as she unpacks her ornaments for the season.
My appliqued snowman is made from white wool and he
sports a wooly scrap scarf as well.
Photographed here is one of the little rhinestone twig pins
that once belonged to my mother-in-law.
I finished the top edge of these stockings with wire and glass
seed beads. The sides of the stockings are finished with
embroidery floss using the blanket stitch.
I wish I'd a stocking three feet wide, And six or seven feet high, And Santa would fill it full for me. Wouldn't that be a Christmas? My! I'm going right now, and ask Aunt Matt To knit me a stocking, just like that!
For many years I have designed little stockings to hang from my children's Christmas trees. These are extra special because of the time and care it took to handcraft the faces. The old patchwork came from a damaged quilt remnant that I hadn't the heart to toss out.
I have yet to add the loops to the top of these stockings but they are finished enough for you to see how these stockings will look hanging from our Christmas tree.
Supply List:
Fur trim
patchwork scraps to sew the small stocking with
grey felt for the hood
embroidery floss for the stitching and braided cord
Acrylic paints: black, blue, red, gold, white, and two variations of flesh toned paint, if you are intending to paint a mask.
Flesh toned oven bake clay for the mask. (optional)
white paper clay if you plan to paint your mask
A face push mold (sold in hobby shops)
white tacky glue
acrylic gel sealer to preserve the face
embroidery needle
scissors
The pattern included with this project for the stocking and the "hood" of my Belznickle.
Step-by-Step Directions:
First you will need to acquire patchwork scraps, sew them or purchase patchwork fabric from the sewing shop. These little stockings are sewn from old patchwork scraps that I already had on hand. Patchwork is also sometimes sold for the constructing of baby blankets, however, some of you my enjoy making your own patchwork. Visit Carolyn Wainscott to see how she she sews a patchwork Christmas stocking.
Below is a pattern that you may download and print to use for a stocking similar to the one pictured here.
I used a blanket stitch to sew together the two sides of my stockings. You may wish to craft the Belznickle's head and attach it to the stocking prior to this step. I did not do this because I made the small Christmas stockings prior to deciding to add the Belznickle head.
Slip a piece of wax paper between the two stocking halves before gluing the Belznickle mask on top of the front side of your stocking. This will prevent the glue from seeping through the fabric and sticking the two sides together while the mask dries.
I made my mask by pressing paper clay into a half press mold. The mold that I used was purchased from a hobby supply store. The mask measures roughly 1 1/2 inches both up and down.
The paper clay dries relatively fast, but I waited for the mask to dry overnight before gluing it on to the stocking.
Below you can see the colors of acrylic that I used to paint the mask with: black, blue, red, gold, white, and two variations of flesh toned paint. I am aware that some of you do not have the confidence yet to paint ornaments. If this be the case, I recommend that you use a flesh toned low firing oven clay for the mask. Then add suggest a few facial features with fewer colors. Let your acrylic paints dry for an hour.
Next, you will need to use tacky white glue to paste on the fur beard. You can use any kind of fur that you prefer for this procedure. I cut out a small "u" shape of fur to attach to the chin of my Belznickle and then added strips of fur to the inside of the felt hood attachment after sewing it to the stocking. (see photo process below)
The felt hood is constructed by sewing together two end pieces and then attaching this strip to the stocking over the top of the Belznickle's head. Leave a bit of room above the head approximately one inch so that the Belznickle will look as though his head is inside his hood.
stuff between his furry hair and the felt hood a bit of cotton batting and then glue with tacky glue a few strips of fur to the inside of the hood. (pictured)
Now you are ready to trim out the rest of the hood with a few blanket stitches and a cord for the ties on his hood.
Coat the mask with acrylic gel to protect the face from general wear.
Add a cord made of extra scrap fabric or calico to hang the stocking from the tree.
Left, the paperclay mask is dry and glued to the patchwork stocking. Center, you can see the variety of paints that I used to paint my small masks with. Right, the masks have been painted and now I am ready to glue the fur onto my Belznickles faces.
Left, the fur trim beards have been glue both to the mask and the stocking material. Next, the felt hood brim is sewn to the patchwork stocking with a strong straight stitch. Center, I then glue down my Santa's bangs and tuck inside a bit of cotton batting to keep the hood stiff. Right, glue in the final grey fur strips to the upper, inside edge of the hood.
Christmas stockings come in all shapes and sizes; it's true. However, I thought this botanical shaped stocking quite unique. Why not hang one of these from your front door or barn door if you have one, or fence post or anywhere really, this holiday season?
If you're looking for a fresh way to decorate your door for the
holidays,
Allen Smith has a different idea. With a little chicken wire
and some moss,
he shows how to create a stocking filled with greenery. Smith's YouTube
Save some of the Halloween candy for the Christmas stocking. Choose the treats that are not marked in such a way as to identify it as "Halloween" treats.
Collect small toy tokens from cereal boxes.
Purchase small school supplies and art supplies for Christmas stockings while stocking up on school supplies during "back to school sales." Many stores do not charge for tax during this time in some states.
Watch for sales and discounts all year long and buy for children's stockings during store wide clearances.
Print out paper dolls from the internet and create a paper doll collection for your child for free!
Make homemade fudge for your children and top it with their favorite candy treats. Pack the fudge in small tins.
Collect small toys from yard sales. Make sure that the toys look unused. Sometimes you can find toys with tags still intact.
Often times makeup or perfume retailers/companies will give away free samples of their products. These make perfect stocking stuffers for young teens.
Collect travel size lotions, soaps, shampoos etc... when your on a vacation; hotels give these away to their customers.
Customize your own handmade coupon books.
Start an ornament collection for your child and slip one into their stocking every year.
Trial sizes of cookies, candies, jams, coffee etc... are available at stores like World Market.
Shop thrift stores for items like silk scarves, pocket books and vintage jewelry.
Homemade art supply kits. Mix up some play dough.
The dentist gives away free wrapped toothbrushes and I always save these for Christmas Stockings.
Include nuts and dried fruits in your stockings; my father always stuffed these into my stocking when I was a child.
Record tapes or burn CDs of yourself reading a favorite storybook to your child. These kinds of gifts come in handy when your traveling across country in a car, plane or on a train. Children can look at their favorite book and listen to you read even when you are not there with them!
Give small jars full of cookie decorating supplies and a treasure map to the cookie dough hidden deep inside the refrigerator. Make a game of helping mom or dad to celebrate Christmas with fresh baked cookies.
Tuck extra toys inside a pair of cozy socks. For teens, you could add some fun nail polish inside a pair of toe socks.
Include mints, gum and sunglasses for teens to add to their stash of must haves.
Mistrot Bros. & Co. Christmas Ad from the Houston Daily, 1898. "... Let Industrial Houston's Greatest Store Fill Your Stockings With Sensible Holiday Gifts"
A Christmas stocking is
an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children hang on Christmas Eve so
that Santa Claus (or Father Christmas) can fill it with small toys,
candy, fruit, coins or other small gifts when he arrives. These small
items are often referred to as stocking stuffers or stocking fillers.
During
The Great Depression/WWI and WWII, the contents of the Christmas
stocking were the only toys children received at Christmas from Santa
Claus in many American families. Both of my parents used to look forward
to receiving citrus fruits and nuts in their Christmas stockings
because these items were rarely eaten during the cold months where they
grew up.
Tradition
in German and Dutch culture sometimes dictates that a child who behaves
badly during the year will receive only a lump of coal. A lump of coal,
however, is not always considered bad during the winter, holiday
season. Coal is equated with warmth and salt with good fortune and bread
symbolic for enough to eat for the coming year in England on New Years
Day.
The
tradition of putting out a stocking for St. Nicholas began in the
Orthodox Christian churches; the exact date for it's humble beginnings,
historians are not sure of. St. Nicholas, who was a real person, a
Catholic bishop, had quite a reputation for purchasing the freedom of
indentured servants (slaves). In legendary stories written about St. Nicholas, his character is revealed through a series of charitable acts.
One
of these charitable acts is demonstrated in a story about a poor man
and his three beautiful daughters. Because none of his children had
dowries (marriage settlements) and he feared they would need to be sold
into indentured slavery to keep from starving as was the custom for
many poor Roman citizens at that time. Saint Nicholas happened to be
visiting the small village where these three sisters lived and overheard
the villagers talking about their problem. The villagers warned him of
their father's pride, saying he would not eccept Christian charity. So,
St. Nicholas kept his donation secret by tossing gold coins for the
girls down their chimney at night.
What
about the stockings you say? Well, it was also the custom at that time
and for many centuries afterwards, to wash one's stockings out in a
basin and to hang these up to dry over night in front of a fireplace.
Some of those gold coins tossed down the chimney at night apparently
made their way into the three sister's stockings. With the telling of
this particular story, in the Orthodox Church, the popular tradition of
concealing gifts in stockings began.
There
are other variations to these stories told in churches about St.
Nicholas. So much so that artists have painted symbolic gifts along side
or in the hands or pockets of St. Nicholas throughout the history of
his depiction in art.
The
popular retelling of the charitable acts of St. Nicholas according to
American television are a far cry from the original stories. St.
Nicholas is now Santa who doesn't much resemble his former glory and
certainly does not take upon himself the necessity of telling little
children about Jesus. St. Nicholas was a very charitable bishop who
loved Jesus so much that he gave his family's entire fortune in exchange
for the freedom of others; he was a devoted abolitionist. The truth is
almost always more inspiring than fiction.
Left and center, a printed Santa figure on cotton with dimensional boots and sack of toys. Right, a snowman with dimensional top hat, scarf and pocket with tree. Both of these figures were sold as panels off of a bolt of printed cotton fabric. They are from the 1990s.
I purchased this "cut and sew" Santa pillow (above) on an after Christmas sale. The copyright of this Santa belongs to Dorothy Dear Designs, 1979-1991 Forest Grove, OR.
I cut and sew the snowman (pictured upper left) many years ago from a panel that I purchased from my local sewing shop.
This vintage felt stocking was once owned by my mother-in-law. I believe it to be a reproduction of a much earlier printed stocking from the 1950s.
These three stockings were given to myself and two older siblings in the 1960s. They are origianl. I've drafted similar patterns for reproducing them below.
The glitter shapes from thecenter stocking with bells.
Similar shapes for the stocking above for those of you who would like to make something like these retro stockings for personal use only.
