Sew It Yourself: Chenille Christmas Stocking

Courtesy of Olfa

This elegant Christmas stocking is sure to add a bit of luxury to your holidays. Faux chenille gives it softness and an old fashioned look, while metallic thread adds sparkle to decorate your mantel.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Tools Needed

• Chenille Cutter (CHN-1)
• 6″ x 24″ Frosted Acrlyic Ruler (QR-6×24)
• 24″ x 36″ Self-Healing Rotary Mat (RM-MG)
• 45mm Rotary Cutter (RTY-2/G)

Materials

• 1-1/2 yds. Christmas fabric with large print for stocking
• 1/2 yd. complementary fabric for cuff
• 1/2 yd. fabric for lining, if desired
• Metallic thread (optional)
• Chalk marker or pencil
• Faux flowers, berries, or ribbon for embellishment
• Basic sewing supplies

BEFORE YOU START

• You want the fabric you use for the stocking to fray after you sew, cut and wash it—that’s what will create the chenille texture—so be sure to choose woven fabrics like cotton, flannel, rayon, or a homespun.
• New to chenille or the OLFA Chenille Cutter? Watch this informational video.
• Bright flannels sometimes bleed when washed, adding an unintentional tinge to an otherwise beautiful project. To minimize color bleeding, pre-treat flannel pieces by washing them.
• Keep your stocking simple by using the same fabric for all layers, or mix & match for a more colorful look.
• If you want the pattern to still show through after you chenille, you need to layer the fabrics so the pattern on the fabric is directly on top of the same pattern placement on the other layers.
• Consider stockings of different sizes. A mini stocking could be perfect for the furry friend in your life.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Using free-hand or an internet search for clip art, create an outline of a stocking 19″ x 12″ or smaller.
2. Using that pattern, cut three stockings. One for the back and two for the lining. Set aside.
3. Cut bottom layer of Christmas fabric 23″ x 16″. Cut 3 top layers of Christmas fabric 21″ x 14″. Center smaller layers on top of larger layer. Pin in place to hold.
4. Cut bottom layer of cuff fabric 20″ x 8″. Cut 3 layers of cuff fabric 18″ x 6″. Center smaller layers on top of larger layer. Pin in place to hold.
5. For both stocking and cuff, draw a diagonal line on the bias of your fabric stack. Use the 45 degree angle marking on your OLFA non-slip ruler to get the true bias.
6. Using this diagonal line as your guide, stitch parallel lines across the entire top surface of the fabric. Sew parallel lines according to the channel guide width that you have chosen and the final look of the chenille that you want. (See “Tips from the Experts” below for more information.)
7. Once sewing is complete, select the channel guide width on the OLFA Chenille Cutter to match the width of the sewn channels. Insert the guide into the channel and cut through the top three layers, slicing the fabric open. Be careful not to cut the bottom layer.
8. Wash and dry fabric to fluff it up.
9. Trim cuff to 15″ x 6″. Sew a 1/2″ hem on the bottom of the cuff. With right sides together, stitch short ends of cuff to form a circle.
10. Using pattern from above, cut stocking front out of chenille fabric.
11. With right sides together, sew stocking front to back and lining front to back using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Insert lining into stocking.
12. Sew cuff onto the top of the stocking, right side of cuff to inside of stocking to conceal the seam allowance. Turn cuff right side out.
13. Add embellishments as desired, stitching them in place on the cuff.

TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

• You can vary the look of your chenille by sewing the lines different widths apart. For a softer look, sew lines or channels 1/8” or ¼” apart. For a more textured look, sew channels 3/8” or ½” apart.
• To speed up sewing, you can increase the stitch length on your sewing machine to 3.0.
• Be sure to pull fabric taut as you sew along the first diagonal line to ease stitching and prevent puckering.
• Sew one line of stitching in one direction, and then sew in the opposite direction for the next line. Repeat until sewing is complete. This will prevent the stitching from pulling in one direction and causing distortion.

Hancock Fabrics

Founded in 1957, Hancock Fabrics is committed to nurturing consumers’ creativity. We are the inspirational authority in fabric and sewing with a complete selection of fashion and home decorating textiles, crafts, sewing accessories, needlecraft supplies and sewing machines. Hancock Fabrics currently operates 263 retail stores in 37 states, along with our web site, HancockFabrics.com.