Christmas Stocking Kids Can Make

Has your child ever expressed interest in making his or her own stocking just for fun or something to do?  Well, this next holiday season, why not let them get a bit messy and make their Christmas stocking.

First, a parent must be present because it will require some assistance, especially if you have young children.  You will want paper grocery sacks and you will want to draw matching stocking shapes on two different parts of the paper sack.  Your child can then cut out the shape or you can help, depending on the ability level of the child.  Once the stocking shapes are cut out, you can take a large needle and some red yarn and you and your child can put the two stocking shapes together by sewing them with the red yarn.  Your child can then decorate the stocking anyway he or she wants and by adding a ring of brown paper that is glued to the top of the stocking, you can hang the stocking right next to the others on the mantle.

This entire Christmas stocking craft is cheap and fun!

Where to Hang Your Stocking

Not everyone has a fireplace mantle to hang his or her beautiful heirloom stockings on.  It doesn't matter if you have a needlepoint Christmas stocking, a felt Christmas stocking or knitted Christmas stocking, if you don't have a mantle to hang your stocking on, you may be in a bit of a quandary about what to do with that darn stocking.

Relax!  You don't have to hang your Christmas stocking on a mantle, especially if you don't have one!  People these days are finding all sorts of unique ways to display those great stockings for Christmas. 

If you have kitchen or dining room chairs, why not hang your Christmas stockings on the back of the chairs?  Not only does it look super cute, it also dresses up your dining room or kitchen.  If that doesn't trip your trigger, do you have a banister or a stair rail?  If so, you can always hang your Christmas stockings from these two places.  If you have an entertainment center where your television sits, you could easily hang your stocking from the top of the entertainment center and decorate that piece of furniture up!

People are also known to hang Christmas stockings on Christmas trees, doorknobs and even bookshelves.  The point is, you don't have to have a mantle in order to display a Christmas stocking and you don't have to hang your stocking from a fireplace mantle if you have one.  There are many creative and fun ways to display those Christmas stockings!

Patterns for Christmas Stockings

If you are up for the challenge, you may want to consider following a pattern and making your own Christmas stocking.  As previously mentioned, Christmas stocking kits often come with patterns, material and supplies needed to stitch a Christmas stocking. 

If you don't want to purchase a kit but would rather purchase or use a separate pattern because you want to pick your own colors and supplies, then you may want to find a pattern for Christmas stockings that don't come as part of a kit.  You can find Christmas stocking patterns at sewing stores or online.  You can find patterns for cross-stitching or needle pointing your Christmas stocking or patterns for knitting your Christmas stocking. 

The real bonus of purchasing a pattern for a Christmas stocking is that you can individualize your Christmas stocking to your liking.  If it is needle point you want to use, you can pick your own thread colors if you don't like the recommendations given to you, the same goes for cross stitching and knitting your own Christmas stocking. 

Patterns for Christmas stockings can often be found for free on the Internet or purchased for very low prices at sewing stores or online.  Just make sure you have some knowledge of cutting and following patterns, because there is a lot of measuring and following directions that go into using a pattern. 

Applique Christmas Stocking

One other type of Christmas stocking that hasn't been mentioned is a very popular type, appliqued Christmas stockings.  An appliqued Christmas stocking is one that has a design or a cut out that is applied to another material, which is in the shape of a stocking.  This design or cut out can be glued or sewn onto the material that is the stocking. 

When you are looking at applique Christmas stockings, you may find a felt stocking that has an embroidered snowman sewed onto it, or you may find a stocking made from micro suede and an embroidered Santa Claus on it made from cotton.  You can even find stockings in velour with a velveteen applique. 

Applique's on stockings are very popular choices and are found in homes throughout the country hanging on mantles during Christmas time.  You can find these popular Christmas stockings at retail stores and on Internet websites that sell Christmas items.  Because these stockings can be personalized they may cost you over $20. 

History of the Christmas Stocking

Have you ever wondered as you were hanging your stocking on the mantle, where did the concept of the Christmas stocking originate?

Legend has it, that years and years ago, a man who was in deep despair over the death of his wife spent their fortune and left his family without a penny to spare. Because of this, his three daughters would not have a dowry to take into a marriage, meaning they would not get married and would be labeled spinsters.

Evidently, a man known as St. Nicholas got wind of the widower's predicament and one night he rode by the widower's home and threw three bags of gold down the widower's chimney.  Little did St. Nicholas know that the widower's three daughters had hung stockings on the fireplace to dry after washing and the three bags of gold dropped into the stockings that the daughters had hung. 

This is how the legend of the Christmas stocking supposedly began and why people continue to hang stockings each Christmas in hopes Santa Claus will fill them with special treats, just like what happened to the widower many years ago.

What is a Christmas Stocking Kit?

Many people are interested in making their own Christmas stocking but aren't sure how because they have no sewing ability or can't knit.  So, people just go out and buy one that is premade.

If you want to make your own Christmas stocking, but just don't see it happening because it appears too difficult, think again. You can purchase a Christmas stocking kit, which will give you step-by-step instructions and in many cases, you simply cut out the stocking that is prestamped on the material.  In most cases, these prestamped Christmas stocking kits have stockings made with felt, but if you want easy, then a felt kit may be for you. You simply purchase the kit, cut out the stocking from the material and follow the directions for putting it together, either with stitching or glue.  Many of these types of kits come with glitter, sequence and beads in which you can decorate your stocking once you have it together. If you are really lucky, you may even be able to find a kit in which the stocking is already cut out for you, you just decorate and put together!  It doesn't get much easier than that!

There are other types of Christmas stocking kit, usually ones that involve a pattern that must be followed and involves some sort of ability to do stitch work.  Counted cross-stitch, stamped cross-stitch, crewel and needlepoint are the most common types of Christmas stocking kit that involve stitching.  These are a bit more complex and if you have no ability with a needle and thread, you may want to stick to the felt stocking kit.

Depending on the type of Christmas stocking kit you purchase, they generally run around $20.  It is important to keep in mind when you are hoping to make a Christmas stocking either for yourself or someone you know, that you choose a kit that fits the personality of the person you are making it for.  Kits come in all different Christmas scenes, so do some research before making your choice. 

Christmas Stockings for Your Pet

Do you have a pet cat or dog?  Do you want to include your beloved pet with a Christmas stocking just for them?  Of course, you could purchase a regular Christmas stocking and have it personalized just for your pet with his or her name on it.  Or, you could actually purchase a Christmas stocking just for your pet.

If you have a pet dog, try doing an Internet search for "Christmas Stocking for Dog" and many sites will appear.  You will find cute stockings with dogs on the outside.  You can even personalize it with your dog's name.  You will see similar stocking choices for a cat.  If you have a specific breed of dog, such as a poodle, you can actually get a stocking with a poodle needlpoint on it and your dog's name stitched at the top.

Personalized Christmas stockings for pets cost about the same as other personalized stockings, from $13 to more than $20 for one stocking, but it is such a neat way to include your pet in your Christmas celebration.  You may also be able to find Christmas stockings for your pet at large nationwide pet stores!