In December I’m teaching a class called Sewing Simple Gifts. Students will spend the day making 3 simple holiday gifts, including a microwavable heating pad, a journaling bookmark, and these cute little stockings. They can be used as ornaments on a tree, or as gift card holders. I couldn’t decide between two similar tutorials, so I stitched up one of each to start.
I love the fabric of the uncuffed stocking on the right, but I felt like the cuff design was cuter, and made the project seem more complicated, although it was exactly the same amount of work as the uncuffed version. Plus by cuffing the stocking, it became shorter, and therefore less likely to lose the gift card in. (I had visions of people giving their gifts, and the recipients not realizing there was a card inside, and those gifts ending up in plastic totes of decorations for years to come.) The tutorial for the uncuffed stocking was intended for patchwork, using 2.5" squares, so if anyone wants to use up some Mini Charms, check it out!
The tutorial for the cuffed stockings came from Gathered Seams. After deciding it was the one I loved best, I used the remains of a precious hoarded fat quarter my mom sent me years ago, of scissors cutting paper snowflakes to make a few more demo copies. It’s so freakin adorable, and I’ve never been able to figure out the right project for it. Now I know it was always meant to be tiny stockings!