In today’s post, I’ll be showing you how to sew a Christmas Stocking — two ways! — as part of the Christmas in July Make Along. This beginner-friendly pattern makes a spacious Christmas stocking that you can hang by the fireplace or stuff with gifts as a gift wrap.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. This post is sponsored by Baby Lock. All opinions and words are my own. Additional supplies for this post were provided by Sewing by Sarah.
Believe it or not, this tutorial for how to sew a Christmas stocking has actually been percolating in my mind since 2018 when I was planning for the Little Gifts Sew Along. I’m glad I finally sat down to write up the pattern, because I added a second version to give you plenty of options.
Here are just a few ideas for making this Christmas stocking pattern uniquely yours:
- 3-Fabric Version: Use one fabric for the front pieces, a second fabric for the lining, and a third fabric for the hanging loop.
- 2-Fabric Versions: Use one fabric for the front pieces and the hanging loop, and a second fabric for the lining. Or, use one fabric for the front pieces, and a second fabric for the lining and the hanging loop. (This is what I did in both versions shown in this tutorial.)
- 1-Fabric Version: Use the same fabric for all pieces.
- 5-Fabric Version: Use a different fabric for each piece.
- Scrappy Version: Seam together fabric scraps or unused quilt blocks for the front pieces, lining, and/or the hanging loop.
- Quilted Version: Cut 2 pieces of batting following the cutting directions below. Make a “quilt sandwich” with 1 lining piece of the fabric facing wrong side up on bottom, 1 piece of batting in the center, and 1 stocking piece of fabric facing the right side up on top. Repeat “quilt sandwich” for the other lining, batting, and stocking piece. Quilt as desired. Seam together with right sides of front/stocking piece facing, then follow instructions for Version 1 to add the hanging loop and folded edge.
- Embellished Version: Decorate the front pieces with fabric paint, embroidery, or fabric markers to customize the stocking for the recipient.
Scroll down to get the free pattern for the Easy Christmas Stocking. This is the twenty-eighth pattern in the fourth annual Christmas in July Make Along with Underground Crafter. You can get all the details, including links to all 31 included patterns, and enter the giveaway for your chance to win a great prize in this blog post. Each pattern can be finished in less than a day! To join the Christmas in July Make Along:
- Sign up for the Underground Crafter newsletter to get regular updates, including links to new Make Along patterns, each week. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to my subscriber vault which includes exclusive free PDF patterns, a coupon code for your choice of any crochet or knitting pattern or ebook from my Ravelry shop, and coupon codes from other indie designers and crafts businesses.
- You can join in by crocheting, knitting, sewing, or making the projects as you have time.
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- If you need more handmade holiday inspiration, check out the weekly roundups with even more free patterns for gift ideas.
- By the end of the Make Along, you’ll have up to 31 awesome projects. Get ready for the handmade holiday season while having fun with us!
- Use this button below on your Ravelry project pages or elsewhere on social media. Right click (on desktop) or tap and hold (on mobile) to save.
How To Sew a Christmas Stocking – Two Ways!
Sewing Pattern by Underground Crafter
Learn how to sew a Christmas stocking two ways with this easy, beginner-friendly pattern.
Continue on for the free sewing pattern, or buy the ad-free PDF in my Payhip shop.
Finished Size
- Approximately 18.5” (47 cm) height at tallest point x 11.5” (29 cm) across at widest point.
Tools
- Sewing machine with free arm, such as the Baby Lock Brilliant. You can see my unboxing of the Baby Lock Brilliant below.
- If you can’t see my unboxing of the Baby Lock Brilliant above, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- Omnigrid Folding Kit and Omnigrid Folding 6”x24” Ruler, or 45 mm rotary cutter, cutting mat, and acrylic ruler.
- Fabric shears.
- Quilting pins.
- Iron and Sewing by Sarah Wool Press ‘n Lock Tiles™.
- Basic sewing supplies (seam ripper, etc.)
- Optional: 1/4″ quilting presser foot with guide for seaming.
- Printer, paper, painter’s tape, and scissor (for paper) for preparing sewing pattern.
Materials
- Universal sewing needle.
- 100% cotton thread in coordinating or contrasting colors for bobbin and top thread.
- 100% cotton quilting fabric.
- For a stocking with the same fabric for front and back, use 1/2 yard of fabric for the stocking and 1/2 yard of fabric for the lining.
- For a stocking with different fabric for front and back, you can use 2 fat quarters for the stocking and 2 fat quarters for the lining, or a total of 4 pieces of fabric that each measure approximately 13” (33 cm) x 21” (53.5 cm) for the stocking and the lining.
- For a patchwork stocking, you will need 4 finished pieces that each measure approximately 13” (33 cm) x 21” (53.5 cm) for the stocking in the lining.
- For the hanging loop, you will need 1 piece of fabric cut to 5” (13 cm) x 2.5” (6.5 cm) for each finished stocking. If using yardage or fat quarters, you should have enough fabric remaining after cutting out your stocking and lining pieces.
- For my version, I used the following Michael Miller Fabrics:
- White Hot in Snow Flurry (CX10417-WHIT-D) – 1/2 yard for the white version.
- Garden Pindot in Leaf (CX1065-LEAF-D) – 1/2 yard for the green version.
- Holiday Surprise in Green (DM8855-GREEN) – 1 yard for lining and hanging loops for 2 stockings.
- Michael Miller Fabrics are available at your local quilt shop or online at Fat Quarter Shop or Amazon.
- Optional: Fabric paint, fabric markers, and/or embroidery floss with embroidery needle for embellishing front of stocking.
Pattern Notes
- If you’re new to rotary cutting, watch the video below to see how to safely cut fabric and batting with a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and self-healing mat.
- If you can’t see the video tutorial above for cutting with a rotary cutter, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
Pattern Instructions
Prepare Fabric and Pattern – Both Versions
- Press fabric to remove wrinkles.
- Print out PDF pattern for the stocking (on pages 11-16 of the complete ad-free sewing pattern PDF in my Payhip shop, or click HERE and the printable version of just the cut file will download to your device).
- Cut out each piece of the pattern following the dashed “Cut” line through the crosshatched area. Follow the assembly diagram below to assemble the pattern.
- The crosshatched areas on each piece will overlap each other. I used painter’s tape to join the pattern pieces. First, I would attach a small piece on the front to keep them in position. Then I would attach a longer piece on the back as shown below. You can remove the piece from the front once the positioning is correct.
Cut Fabric – Both Versions
- For each stocking, you will need to cut 2 pieces from the stocking template for the front and 2 pieces for the lining. If you are using yardage, fold the fabric with wrong sides together (as shown in the photo below). I was able to cut through 6-8 layers of fabric at once using fabric shears to have fabric for multiple stockings. Because the fabric is folded with wrong sides together, you will cut 2 pieces from each fabric at once, and pieces will face opposite directions for front and back. Alternatively, you can “flip” the pattern (as shown in the photo above) and cut 1 piece of fabric with the stocking toe pointing in each direction while pinned to the right (front) side of the fabric. Remember to pin your pattern through your layer(s) of fabric before cutting so the fabric doesn’t shift.
- Cut 1 piece of fabric to 5” (13 cm) x 2.5” (6.5 cm) for the hanging loop for each stocking. I used the rotary cutter, cutting mat, and acrylic ruler for this with the same fabric as the lining.
Assemble Hanging Loop – Both Versions
- For the hanging loop, fold the right side of the fabric over the long way approximately to the center of the fabric piece as shown below. Then fold over the other long edge to meet at the center. Finally, fold over the piece a third time so raw edges are enclosed and right sides are out on the long side. Seam together with a top stitch along the long edge.
Assemble Stocking (Front) – Both Versions
- Position 2 pieces of fabric for the stocking with right sides together. Using a straight stitch, sew along edges of stocking on wrong sides of fabric, leaving top unseamed. I used a 1/4″ seam with a 1/4″ presser foot, but you can use a 1/2″ seam if you prefer. If you are new to sewing curves, reduce your speed when sewing around the toe and heel of the stocking.
Stocking Version 1: Folded Edge (White Stocking in Photos): Assembly and Finishing
- Repeat instructions for Assemble Stocking (Front) for lining pieces.
- With fabric shears, trim excess fabric from outside of seam.
- Turn sewn stocking front right side out. Push out curves with finger. Insert trimmed piece for lining with wrong side out/right sides together inside of stocking as shown below.
- Fold over open top of stocking twice so that lining appears on the outside with the right side of the fabric facing out and the raw edges covered as shown below. Pin around front and back of stocking to keep folded fabric in position. Fold over hanging loop so that raw fabric edges on short sides are touching. Fold raw edges again so they are facing together on the inside of the hanging loop.
- Pin the hanging loop to the inside of the back piece of the stocking lining with the loop hanging up as shown in the photos below.
- Using the sewing machine free arm, top stitch around the top of the stocking, seaming the rolled edge closed and attaching the hanging loop. Use reinforcement stitches at start and end.
- Using thread snips, trim excess threads. You’ll likely need to press the wrinkles out at this point, too!
Stocking Version 2: Seamed Edge (Green Stocking in Photos): Assembly and Finishing
- Repeat instructions for Assemble Stocking (Front) for lining, but leaving an unseamed opening approximately 4” (10 cm) across on one of the long edges as shown in the photo below.
- With fabric shears, trim excess fabric from outside of seam. Do not trim fabric at unseamed opening on long edge.
- Fold hanging loop over so that shorter raw edges are touching. Pin hanging loop to outside of stocking (front) facing downwards as shown in the photo below.
- Using the sewing machine free arm, top stitch around the top of the stocking, attaching hanging loop. I used a 1/4″ seam with a 1/4″ presser foot.
- Keeping lining with wrong sides out/right sides of fabric together, position stocking with hanging loop right side out on inside of liner. Liner wrong side is out, with right sides facing stocking right sides. Pin around edges.
- Using the sewing machine free arm, top stitch around the top of the lining, attaching the stocking (right side with hanging loop). Use reinforcement stitches at start and end. I used a 1/4″ seam with a 1/4″ presser foot
- Pull the right side of the stocking out of the opening in the liner.
- Turn the lining right side out as shown below. Fold over raw edges at opening and topstitch seam closed. Use reinforcement stitches at start and end.
- Insert liner into stocking.
- Using thread snips, trim excess threads. You’ll likely need to press the wrinkles out at this point, too!
- I hope you enjoyed this tutorial for how to sew a Christmas stocking! If you make your own Easy Christmas Stocking, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter or Instagram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group.