A personalized Christmas stocking is a lovely way to bring your own unique touch to Christmas, and it doesn't take expert knowledge of crafts to make one. You can make Christmas stockings out of felt, fabric scraps, fat quarters or or something lush and luxurious like velvet or lace.

First of all you need to decide how big you want your stocking, and draw up the shape on paper (newspaper will do fine). If you want stockings of different sizes, just draw up larger or smaller shapes for your templates. Place the template on your fabric and pin it so it doesn't move around. Cut carefully round the template with very sharp scissors.

Now you have your basic fabric stocking shape. If you have a sewing machine, pin the two sides of the stocking together, making sure you have the pattern, or the good side of the fabric, inside. This is not so important with felt. You can just pin the two sides together as you cut them out.

Sew a seam around the edge of your stocking shape, leaving the top of the stocking open. Turn it inside out. Now you have your stocking ready to personalize. The first thing you should do is add a decorative trim to the top of the stocking. You can cut a pointed edge strip out of felt, or use fancy braid, fringing or lace. Look in your local craft shop for trims that would go well with your stocking fabric. Make a loop out of fabric or felt and attach it to the top of your stocking, on the side with the heel. You can also use braid or decorative cord for the loop.

A beautiful velvet stocking should be trimmed with lace and silk ribbon. Decorate and personalize the outside of the stocking with with iron on motifs. If you can embroider, stitch on the name of the recipient, otherwise sew on sequins or buttons in letter shapes. A felt stocking can have felt shapes added for embellishment, with felt letter shaped glued on to form the name.

Fat quarters in bright Christmas themed patterns make lovely stockings. If you are adept at patchwork, you can create a patchwork fabric and use your template to cut out a stocking shape. Trim with bright braids and ribbons, and sew little Christmas bells around the top edge of your stocking for a really festive touch.

Lovely light fabrics such as gauze, tuille or organza also make beautiful feminine Christmas stockings for your favorite princess. You can leave them transparent, and trim with lace and silver ribbon, or line them with silk for a totally luxurious effect. Trim these with tine artificial flowers, and hang charms around the top.

Another way to personalize your Christmas stocking is to take a piece of spare fabric and paint the name with white craft glue and a fine brush. While the glue is still wet, sprinkle glitter on it. Shake of the excess and you have a sparkly name tag. Sew the tag onto the stocking, or fix it in place with fabric glue.

Making and personalizing your own stockings is a fun way to make Christmas your very own, and the results will be treasured for years to come.

Learn more about this author, Gail Kavanagh.
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