Now that we have a new little member of the family on the way, I realized that if I wanted all of our stockings to coordinate with my farmhouse decor and each other, I would need new stockings. Michael and I wanted to share how we created these one-of-a-kind rustic-style stockings using only things we had lying around the farmhouse. Buying seasonal decor is something I don’t feel comfortable about spending much money on, so I usually try to make most of it myself. Doing this also seems to add a certain warm homey touch to my christmas decorating. Here are 5 simple steps to creating your own rustic farmhouse style stockings:
1 Gather and choose supplies
First, I gathered up all my little scraps of lace, burlap, beads, and various buttons. For the grain sack texture of the stocking body, I used an old painters drop cloth. I simply cut the shape of the stocking I desired leaving a bit extra around the edges to sew with. I also left a 4in. piece across the top which I folded down to create the flap for the names.
Then, placing the two stocking cutouts with the name flaps facing in towards each other, I hand stitched them together (You could also use a sewing machine or even hot glue to affix your pieces together). I hand sewed mine because my sewing machine is still packed in a moving box.
2 Assemble stocking body
If you are hand sewing your stocking like me, make sure to do your stitches close together. Drop cloth with its wonderful texture is very easily frayed and your stocking may have some holes if you’re not careful. But remember, this is a rustic-style stocking so the more imperfect the better. Relax.
Once you have finished sewing your front and back pieces together, you can turn your stocking right side out and admire your handy work. Make sure to get all your corners pulled out completely. I left my stocking wrinkled partly because I detest ironing, and partly because I think it adds to the rustic appeal.
3 Stocking template
Now that you have your first stocking complete, you can use it as a template for the rest of the stockings you need. Simply lay your finished stocking on your cloth and cut around it, leaving a little extra to stitch with as you did before. Don’t forget to add some way of hanging your stockings. I sewed a loop of the drop cloth in each of my stockings.
4 Decorate and personalize
Here comes the fun part: decorating and personalizing your stockings. Both my husband and I have art degrees so it is a bit unfair to promise that your stockings will look exactly like ours. To help you get some beautiful handwriting you can print out your names in your favorite font and use transfer paper to get them onto your flaps. They also sell some great lettering stencils at any craft store. I just happen to be blessed with a very talented calligrapher for a husband and I love to hand letter things as well. Tuck a bit of paper inside your stocking to prevent bleeding through. Then add bits of lace or buttons to decorate them.
5 Hang and enjoy
Because I kept the color pallet neutral these stockings would match any farmhouse style room. I think they turned out pretty good, especially since they cost me $0 to make.
Feel free to post any questions you may have in the comments section below and I will do my best to answer them.
Did u really say u detest ironing???? How can this be? Your mother ironed every morning,!!! She probably still does,:) I remember she came to our house right before Paul’s graduation ceremony from college and asked where his cap and gown were. I replied”, probably still in the box,” she then proceeded to take the gown out of the box and iron it. I guess I hadn’t thought of that, boy did your mom have fun teasing me about that!! That’s why your family moved to OK, your mom got tired of ironing for the foresmans!:))
You know her well! She is definitely the ironing queen, which might have something to do with the fact that I don’t even own an iron. I just can’t bring myself to be as devoted to the sport as she is. I live in “rustic” wrinkled bliss.
Great tutorial! I made stockings last year and will never go back to store bought! Making your own stockings is a very cheap way to have them all match and you dont have to worry about finding another one to match should you need to add one.
Yes, we will be adding a new one hopefully by next year. Please pray for our adoption process and thank you for appreciating my tutorial.