A Handmade Holiday: Christmas Stockings

“The stockings were hung by the

chimney with care”

Christmas is filled with so many wonderful traditions.  One of my favorites is hanging our pretty stockings every year.  Growing up, my sister and I were always thrilled when we were finished opening all of the presents Santa brought us and then realized there were still goodies to unwrap in our stockings!  Yesterday, my niece Lilly was over for a visit – her 5-year-old eyes were gazing at all the pretty ornaments and she loved picking her favorites. 

She pointed out how much she loved my stockings and commented “Aunt Beckie, you always have such pretty things.”  My sister who was standing behind her looked at me with a wink (and maybe an eye-roll). 

Her words and eyes of wonder inspired me to write this post on Christmas Eve.  Surely all of your stockings are hung and filled to the brim, but I wanted to share a few beautiful handmade designs that I was delighted to find on Etsy.  

Our stockings (pictured above – and on our mantle below) were created for me years ago by the talented Alicia Paulson.   Alicia is a celebrated artist that creates beautiful things by sewing, crocheting, embroidering and more.  She also has written a few great books on embroidery and patterns.  I’m not sure if she still makes stockings, but to learn more about her work, visit her  web site: Posie: Rosy Little Things.  

  This adorable design is from The Thread House, a great Etsy vendor that creates all orders by custom request.  Your stocking will be a one-of-a-kind treasure made uniquely for its namesake.  The stockings are made with a soft fleece lining - you choose the colors for the main, interior and accent fabrics.  You also can choose the image/animal you would like to adorn the front and have the option of including an embroidered message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The designer will send you a sketch of the stocking and a photo of materials for approval before starting the stocking. 
 

Dansmamaisonilya, an Etsy shop owner from Montreal, Quebec created these delicate beauties.  They are made from recycled wool fabrics – this one is my favorite, trimmed with red felt flowers and croquet.

The others shown below feature  blue and pink flowers, recycled wool blanket pieces and ornament designs.

This vendor also notes that her designs are made in a smoke-free home – a nice touch.

 

 

I love the rich colors in this elegant felted wool Christmas stocking by Dream Adventures. 

The back is a solid gray felted wool, with a strong black front mixed with reds and grays.  The stocking is unlined with a hand created flower and hand applied wool roving to create the curly-q's (see below for a close-up).

 

  

 

Also by Dream Adventures, this stocking is whimsical and fun, made in a natural color felted wool.  The designer created it from a recycled wool sweater that she felted and sewed to make the stocking.  The stripes and circles are dyed felted wool and then sewn onto the body of the stocking.  Red buttons finish it off.
 

There is something so regal about this beautiful plaid stocking by Peter Valentina.  The pretty ruffled velvet trim adds a feminine touch to it’s traditional appearance.  The body of the stocking is 100% wool.  

Custom orders also are available by this vendor.

 

 

 

 

Last but not least – I love these luxurious stockings by Four Monkey’s Heirlooms.  They are made with a great attention to detail with four unique, yet  coordinating  styles – a selling point that I love.  The body is velvet (available in red or green) and the top cuff, heel & toe accents are a realistic chocolate fur.  They are lined with a chocolate cotton fabric that is attached only at the top so they can easily be pulled most of the way out to clean.  Each stocking is made the same on both sides so you can turn them either way you choose.