Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Tips, Tricks & Techniques - anything to help fellow cross stitchers.

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Serinde
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by Serinde »

I am nominating Katiespark for a Helpful Thread Anniversary Award. Every year since it was posted in 2011, someone finds this thread not only useful, but clearly laid out, even for non-stitchers -- and many of them are kind enough to say so, too. :dance:

Well done!
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Katiespark
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by Katiespark »

Wow - thank you! :wub: I know I don't post as much as I used to (grad school has really cut into my stitchy time!), but it makes me so happy every time I see that this thread has a new message or has helped someone. My son Tristan is now 6 years old and his stocking is currently "hung by the chimney with care!"

Cheers, everyone!
Katie
North Carolina, USA

WIPs:
Little Snap Dragon
Sweet Dreams (Anderson) -HAED
Allessandra Adelaide CT13

Recent Finishes
...yeah... about that... :lol:
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fccs
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by fccs »

Katiespark wrote:Wow - thank you! :wub: I know I don't post as much as I used to (grad school has really cut into my stitchy time!), but it makes me so happy every time I see that this thread has a new message or has helped someone. My son Tristan is now 6 years old and his stocking is currently "hung by the chimney with care!"

Cheers, everyone!
A well deserved nomination, and I'm glad you popped in. I had been thinking of you and wondering how you're doing. Grad Schools should give stitchy time like kindergartens have nap time. Right?
Debby

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DisneyStitcher
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by DisneyStitcher »

jesswatson0924 wrote:Can you please elaborate on step 7 with the basting? I don't understand what exact pieces you are basting and why. Also you mention removing blue thread, what blue thread? Sorry I can't open the pictures to make them bigger unless I post here at least 10 times :( these are the best instructions I've seen for this yet! I was also hoping to add batting between the lining layers, how could I do this?

Thank you!
If you want to use batting be sure to get a batting marked low loft. The batting will need to go between an inner lining and the inside fabric of the stocking. You will need an inner lining to keep the batting from bearding (coming out of the holes in the aida cloth). So each side of the stocking (outside working in) would be your cross stitch, lining, batting, then inside fabric. The stocking will probably need to be quilted to keep the batting from migrating/bunching up over the years. I'd quilt each half BEFORE cutting any shapes at all. Cotton batting will bunch more readily and have to be more heavily quilted than polyester batting. The general rule of thumb I was taught was no more than 3" or 4" between quilt lines for polyester batting and no more than 1" or 2" for cotton batting. To do a simple cross hatch quilt, which you could do on your sewing machine; pin or baste your fabric in the following order, cross stitch face side down, lining fabric, batting, inside fabric face up. Take your fabric sandwich with the inside fabric face up and mark equal 1" increments along the left and right sides well outside of your actual cutting area. Use quilting tape or a water-soluable sewing marker and mark a diagonal sewing line from left to right at whatever width you want. For instance, if you want 1" cross hatch, start your line at the 1" mark on the left and go at a diagonal to the 2" line on the right. (Going 1" left to 3" right would give you a 2" cross hatch pattern Repeat the process in reverse going right to left. Personally I'd use quilting tape as I just don't trust that the ink will always disappear. Once both halves are quilted, then cut them using at least 1/2 - 3/4 inch seam lines because of the thickness you'll have. (You're going to want a sturdy needle, maybe one made for denim). Don't worry about knotting the quilting lines, they'll be held when you sew the stocking halves together. (You're sewing the stocking halves together right sides facing in but the cowling will be wrong sides facing in and then you'll turn the whole thing inside out and fold over the cowling.) Once it lays like you want it to, turn it inside out again and trim your seam line closer and do a zig zag to keep it from raveling then turn it right sides out again. If you're having trouble with the curved seams, use a blunt tipped chop stick and (carefully - don't stick it through your seams) top push the seams out and shape the toe, heel, and cowling. For this to work you'll have to add a cowling on top of the stocking to hide the raw edge at the top. Pick a complimenting fabric, or the white "fur" or whatever you like and sew the bottom edge of the cowling (right side) to the inside facing fabric so that when you fold it over the outside of the stocking the right side of your cowling is facing out. If folding over this piece would cover some of your stitching, extend the top of the pattern by however many inches you want the fold over to be. I hope this makes sense to you and it helps. All of this being said, I have several cross stitched stockings and none of them are quilted - just the normal layers to make the stocking itself fairly thick and sturdy. If you really want quilted stockings, you might want to consider piecing together cotton fabrics or just cutting the shape out of a single cotton or cotton/poly blend fabric you like. That way you'd only have 3 layers, (outside, batting, inside) and using cotton or cotton/poly would be less cumbersome to sew through. If this is a hot mess for you, PM me and I'll try to explain better. Merry Christmas!
Starlet83
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by Starlet83 »

This is exactly the post I need! About to start backing mine and didn't know where to start until now. Thank you!
Ladyjanekitty
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by Ladyjanekitty »

:D thx
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Katiespark
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by Katiespark »

So pleased that this post is still helping people! :dance: I made this for my son's first Christmas - he's about to turn 8! :wub:

Cheers, everyone!
Katie
North Carolina, USA

WIPs:
Little Snap Dragon
Sweet Dreams (Anderson) -HAED
Allessandra Adelaide CT13

Recent Finishes
...yeah... about that... :lol:
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rcperryls
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by rcperryls »

And so good to hear from you again!

Carole
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O Kitten Tree
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Serinde
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Re: Tutorial - Finishing a Christmas stocking

Post by Serinde »

This post has been ever so useful over the years. Thanks again. (And no, your son can't be 8. Nope. Not possible. )
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