Thursday, October 2, 2008

Handmade Christmas Stockings

Today is show and tell at Kelli's House. Please go her blog called "There's No Place Like Home."
You will see many fun and interesting things over there. I decided to show these Christmas stocking now in case anyone was looking for an idea and there would be time to make it before the holidays. These are felt Christmas stockings I made several years ago for my children.
I used an iron on transfer for my inspiration for our son Harrison's. I used a piece of a rubber band to make the sling shot in his back pocket. He has always like guns so there is a hand gun charm dangling near his name. You may click on the pictures to zoom in for detail.
I used another iron on transfer for my inspiration for our daughter Victoria's stocking. She had long blonde hair and wore it in braids often, so I braided embroidery thread to make her braids.
Her braids are loose and can be picked up and held. I used multicolored embroidery floss, then made a braided rug near the bed. Her interests were cats, hearts, skates and bikes, so those were the charms I added to hers.
Our daughter Jessica's was actually the first one I made, and it was made from a kit, which I borrowed from my friend Susan.
Some of Jessica's favorite things at the time I stitched her stocking were ballet, bunnies hearts and journals. I added a ballet slipper charm, a cute old rabbit and the heart journal that opens with a hinge.
I got my inspiration for making felt stockings from two sources. The first was from my mother. My mother used this pattern and made the large green and white stockings for the four of us children. I always loved my stocking and the fact that my mother made it.
My second inspiration came from my friend Susan. These were Susan's stockings which she made and allowed me to borrow and use her patterns. I thought her's were so cute. I was amazed at her talent and ability to make all six of hers, even, with a new baby. I'm grateful she let me borrow her idea. The upper right corner shows her version of the one I made Jessica.
My dilemma has been that for the past six years our son Garrett, who will be turning seven this year, has had to use this store bought stocking. I have simply not had time to sew one for him. Now that I am not homeschooling anymore, I have the time.
I'm working on this for Garrett. He loves snowmen, gingerbread men, and gingerbread houses. So I made up my own pattern and this is how far I come with it.
I printed off pictures of gingerbread houses for inspiration to create one for him.
I bought some little charms to dangle from the stocking when finished. I love the miniature cookie cutters.
I hope you've enjoyed my show and tell for today. I'm looking forward to showing Garrett's completed stocking later. Have a lovely day ladies. Kathi
"My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty Rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:7-8

26 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

I am very VERY much impressed. What a great Show n Tell. I love crafting myself, and I think I could do this. You're an inspiration.

My show n tell is Halloween, solar lights since most all my visitors have been asking for some of my halloween decorations I've been setting up...and a set of kitchen linens that match my blog's header that I found! Come on by if you can find time...Happy Friday!

luvmy4sons said...

My mother-in-law made a new one each time a grandchild was born. She is home now with the Lord, but every christmas her two unmarried daughters get those out and put them up and we all look at them when we gather...they are special and beautiful and mean so much more than a store bought stocking!

Grammy said...

Oh how cute they are. you did a wonderful job. Have a great week end.

Anonymous said...

Those are so special. I love how each one is different. Very nice Show & Tell.
Judy

Pamela said...

What a great Show & Tell! I love anything to do with Christmas and these stockings are beautiful. I love how you have added the little extra touches like the rubber band sling shot and the embroidery floss braids. My mom bought huge stockings that came on a bolt at the fabric store. You were supposed to cut them out, sew on backing and hang them up. She made them special by adding little touches like tiny ribbons, bells, buttons and charms.

Rose of Sharon said...

They are so cute Kathi!You are a very talanted seamstress. I think they all turned out adorable. I bet you will feel so great when you get Garrett's done. I am so happy that you have the time now!

I will see you tonight. Rachelle is driving up with us, so she will be sitting with us and I'm sure will be happy to see your kids!

Love you! Sharon

Carrie said...

Your stockings are each so detailed and personalized...wonderful designs.

onlymehere said...

I love them and you're right they do mean more bz you made them! I made all of my kids stockings too. A few years ago I updated Nicholas' and Brianna's since they were adults now. I did mine by counted cross and I think I'll show them when I bring them out this year! These turned out really cute and I'm glad you got Garrett's done for this year!

Dana said...

What a great idea for my girlscout troop or even a project with my little girl. They look great.

Nora Lee said...

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting, and I love your show and tell. How special these stockings are and so pretty!

Carla said...

How special! My mom crocheted special stockings for my kids, I know yours will always treasure theirs! Very nice work.

Elena said...

Those are so precious. I want to make a stocking for Mary. The only one she has is a store bought one from her grandma that says, "Baby's 1st Christmas" I will keep it for her as a keepsake, but when she gets a little bit older I would like to do what you have done! Thanks for the ideas:)

Jennifer said...

Hi Kathi!, Thanks for stopping in at my blog (ourfamilybookmarks). I have been enjoying your sister Sharon's blog alot and am excited to stop by here as well!

What a good idea! I think this would be a really cute project to do. We have two fluffy Christmas stockings with nothing on them. It's hard to tell whose is whose like that. I will have to look at some patterns at the fabric store and see if I can find anything similar.

Oh by the way, I love the gun charm. My husband is a hunter and archer, so both of my children LOVE guns. They think its a treat to go to the gun club and shoot with their Daddy. Our family and friends think its so funny that our DD is such a princess and LOVES to shoot guns!
Have a great weekend! Jennifer

Dana said...

Kathi, can I ask you a question? Why are there so many different types of churches like, Bapstist, Lutheran, Assembly of God,etc. when we are all reading the same Bible? I was just wondering. I know Iv'e expressed to you that I'm new to this, thats why I was wondering

Sarah said...

These are very cute Kathi! Thank you for sharing!

Kelli said...

The stockings are darling, Kathi! I love how you personalized each one and I know your children will treasure them for many years to come!
~Kelli

Lady Katherine said...

The stockings turned out so cute, I similar, But mine are store bought. Love the Victoria one. Soon they will be dangleing from the fireplace.

Charlotte said...

These stockings are just darling - marvelous details. I made Christmas stocking a few different times when my kids were at home. My daughter asked me about the white one she had when she was little. She wanted to put it in a shadow box for a Christmas decoration. I thought that was sweet. Sounds like a good idea too.

Anonymous said...

Those stockings are just darling! Something for your kids to treasure as they get older!

Manuela

American Homemaker said...

Those are so cute!!! Makes me wanna make some stockings :)

Anonymous said...

glad you came by and you know I always cherish your prayers.

Anonymous said...

How cute they all are! I know they will always treasure them. I love the little details like the slingshot and rug and braids. Adding the charms was a really neat idea, too!

Jan Parrish said...

Great stockings. I'll be needing one for my granbaby soon!

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

I love your Christmas stockings. To me there is nothing like handmade. Thanks for sharing!!

Gayle said...

I can't believe how much work you put into the stitching. I hope your children treasure them.

Pearl said...

Hi Kathi... I am so impressed with these stockings you made... each one is so full of love and many hours of crafting... They are so beautiful... This post reminds me of my stocking, as a child. One of Mom's girlfriends knit a stocking for my sister, when she was born, with her name on the front and the year she was born on the back. Then 3 and 7 years later, as my brother and I came along, she did the same for us! So all 3 of us have matching stockings... I love that Mom had such a friend for life to have created the sweet stockings for us... I still have mine! Thank you for sharing this with us... God bless...

~hugs 'n prayes~

Pearl

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