DIY stockings

Since we added a new member to the family this year, that also meant we needed to add another stocking to the mantel.  I wasn't totally in love with the stockings I've used the past few years and I only  had two of them.  I looked into buying some but they were a little pricey especially when I knew they'd be pretty easy to make.  I started out with some fabric I had in my stash.  I got it from Garden Ridge a while ago, I think it was $5 for 2.5 yards.  It's a nice heavy material and the pattern is textured, almost like a chenille.  Side note, if you are looking for upholstery material check Garden Ridge, it's hit or miss  but I've found some great fabric there.  Onto the stockings.  I traced the stockings I already had to get the basic shape.  You will trace one side going one way and the other going the opposite way so they will match up when it's time to sew.  I just used some chalk to trace mine so I wouldn't be left with any marks.  

I did the same for the lining, you could make this really easy by not lining them but I chose to go with the lining.  See how they are facing opposite directions?

Here they are all matched up and ready to be sewed.  Pretty easy, put the right sides together, sew around the edges leaving the top open.  Do the same with the lining.  Then stick the lining inside the stocking and sew around the top edge.  It was late at night when I did this so I forgot to take pictures after this point but it's pretty self explanatory.   

I chose to add cuffs to the top so I could embroider them one day if I wanted to.  For that part I just sewed a basic rectangle that was long enough to wrap around the top of the stocking. Then I just stitched it to the top of the stocking.  Sorry for the vagueness, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words and I wish I had remembered to take some more.  So here's the finished product.

Did you notice I painted the wall behind the fireplace?  It was burnt orange before and was just bugging me, plus it always clashed with my Christmas decor.  So this year before I got to decorating I painted it the same as the rest of the room.  I'm so glad I did.  You wouldn't think it would make much of a difference but it looks so much better.  Next on my long list of things to do is to prettify the TV and figure out a way to get those electronics off the mantel.

I just hung them with Command hooks since the mantel was already pretty crowded.

The center one is for my daughter.  I just added a clip on fabric flower and stuck the antlers in the top for fun.  They are actually just a headband so I can easily take them out.  

 Do you make your own stockings or have a go to place to get them from?  Can you believe Christmas is less than a week away?!?