Molly's Sketchbook: Strip Pieced Christmas Stocking

I always hear people complaining that the holiday season comes earlier and earlier every year. But for those of us who like to make things for the people we love we know that we've got to get started early! So every year about this time I start thinking about presents to make, things to bake, and holiday traditions.

Christmas Stockings are a favorite holiday tradition at my family's house. Even though all the kids are grown "Santa" still visits my parent's house every year and fills our stockings with gifts. I have a feeling that even when us "kids" have grown children of our own we'll all still be awoken by my mom saying "Santa's been here!" as if it's a total surprise to her.

As my family gets older it also, happily, gets bigger and it's great to get to introduce new family members to our holiday traditions. I love the idea of making a very special stocking for each new addition to our family and with that in mind I designed this one. 

This isn't an ultra quick project but it's not a labor intensive as it might seem at first and most importantly,  it will last a lifetime. It's is made with our beautiful new Stocking Fat Quarter Bundle, simple white muslin, and thick 100% cotton batting. The patchwork of the stocking is put together in a very cool way by strip piecing. That means you don't have to cut a million little squares and piece them all together one by one. Instead you cut long strips, sew them together and then cut the sewn pieces. If you've never tried strip piecing this is a great first project since it's so small and satisfying.

This is also a great first hand quilting project since the hand quilting isn't trying to be totally tiny or even and it's the hand quilting and the hand sewn binding on this project that really make it special. This was was also the most enjoyable part of the process for me. I loved sitting and stitching it, inch by inch as I started to think about the holidays.

If you'd like to introduce a new family member to an old holiday tradition please visit my Strip Pieced Christmas Stocking Project Journal. Happy Holidays! --Molly

Comments

[maria]

My children are 32yrs & 28yrs and I still put up a X-mas stocking for them every year. It gets harder and harder to find *useful* (that's my policy with these gifts) gifts to put in. This year we have two *additional* members and I am a bit lost for ideas.

What do you sugget as gifts for the stockings ? They range from 26yr. to 37yrs.

Thank you !

maria

[Becca]

Cute stocking, Molly. Thanks for sharing. I would like to make some to match my fabric swag and tree skirt.
Maria, I'm in college and my mom (Santa) gives me toiletries--such as bar of my favorite soap, chap stick, toothbrush, paste and floss, deodorant, and the like. Santa also gives me emergency supplies such as coins for the emergency stash in my backpack, or one year I got an emergency poncho and flashlight. Good luck.

[Theresa Grant]

Cute stocking!

Maria, check out Etsy for some great stocking stuffer ideas! Jewelry, candles, hand made soaps, washcloths, body sprays, etc. So many great ideas there!

[domoshar]

For me or someone who crafts/creates something - craft supplies. It si beauty and emotion plus the opportunity to create.
If the recipient is not making things - well, something hand made to spoil him - small, but real and beautiful - no artificial flavors if it is a soap for example, pure wool if it a pullover - preferably hand knitted, paraben free if it is cosmetics etc,

[badlandsquilts]

Hi Molly,
If your kids live in a cold climate... I highly recommend smart wool socks they are one of my latest must haves for up north OR how about an i Tunes gift card?

[Blair]

I agree with Becca about the toiletries, also candy, mints is a big one. I am about the same age as your kids and I always get excited about the basics, especially on my student budget because I don't necessarily think to buy these necessities for myself. Socks would be great too, store bought or handmade = -). Also, little impulse buys you see at the register, like at a bookstore for example, one year I got a moleskine notebook and it was very special to me. Since the holidays are a time to indulge a bit getting something simple buy a little luxe like in a special fabric or from a nice boutique is always exciting and a lot of places like cosmetic counters in dept. stores have a variety of things for any budget so you don't have to worry about going broke on stocking stuffers. Also gift cards, like $20 bucks to go the the movies with a friend etc. Hope that helps!

[Genevieve]

I agree with Theresa! Etsy is my fave place to shop for Holiday gifts! Lots of unique items that are all handmade by artists...

As far as the "useful" requirement goes, there is nothing better in my book than a Lowe's gift card! Perfect for buying stuff needed to fix up the house...

Good luck!

[Libby R.]

Car Wash coupons, coffee shop gift cards, booklets of postage stamps.

[Susannah @ Art Nest]

My favorite stocking stuffer is Burt's Bees lip balm. Also gift cards to my favorite book store / coffee shop. I've often thought about participating in the Heifer Project ( http://www.heifer.org ) - Your children are old enough to appreciate that you gave for them - but, I really do like that lip balm LOL !!

[alexis]

agree on the basics. socks - maybe some cashmere or other cozy/warm socks that they normally wouldn't buy themselves? also hansel from basel makes great socks in fun designs and colors. if one of your kids is a girl, some wool tights would be much appreciated. maybe also some small travel candles (pacifica - they make soy based candles now). moleskins are always welcome - they have mini ones in packs of 3 with the cardboard covers. maybe some "grown up" candy like sea salt caramels or truffles? a nice pen? i've seen felted soaps around - basically a bar of soap with a felted "cover" that exfoliates and can be used again and again. maybe a handmade coupon book?

i'm getting some great ideas myself because this year i am planning on only stocking presents for myself and partner.

[dahliab]

Stockings are still my favorite (I'm 35)! Our whole family contributes to stockings. I'm a big believer that stocking gifts should be relatively inexpensive and anything from the silly to the practical. My mom is an artist, so for her, a paintbrush, a few colored pencils, a nice pen... spice packets for Dad and boyfriend who love to cook, special chocolates for all. Other favorites: soap, lip balm, beads/charms (for collectors), movie tickets, gum/mints, batteries, sample sizes of any cosmetic/perfume, bookmarks, individually wrapped tea bags/gourmet hot chocolate packets, stickers, rubber stamps, post-its, prints of favorite photos, socks, flower seeds... I personally love the consumables. :)

[carol]

Corkscrew; Swiss army knife; inexpensive watch; bandaids with pictures of something silly on them; expensive candy bar; gift card for $15 to Itunes; extra charger for cell phone, tissue pocket packs, earrings, kitchen magnets or keychain, silly snowglobe, for girls - lipstick, nail polish, anything related to a hobby of theirs (fishing lure, golf tees, pincushion, sweatbands for a runner, etc.), cell phone cover, some nice pens, high-end soap or bath gel + scrubby, change in a changepurse for tolls or parking, candy they loved as a child, photo of you two in a frame...

[Amy's Stocking Stuffers]

That stocking is gorgeous! I wish I was able to sew -- I once sewed a button on so tight I couldn't move it to get it through the buttonhole!

[becka]

I'm a grown up and my mom still does a stocking for me if I am home, with the same stuff I always got as a kid - pocket packs of kleenex, funny socks, chapstick, a nice pen, scotch tape, post-its, yummy tea or coffee, paperback book...

[Kim]

As someone in the 27+ range who still loves her Christmas stocking... I would suggest lovely little things that brighten the everyday, but that the receiver might not splurge on herself. Pretty things like colorful kitchen sponges, coasters, drink stirring sticks, dish cloths, spoon rests, scissors, tape measures... even if I had any of these things already, I would always use more!

I always love gifts of stationery, especially thank you notes, decorative sticky notes, or note cards because I'm strangely more likely to actually use them if I didn't buy them myself!

[Steph Briggs]

Stocking Stuffer ideas: StarbucksGift Card, Barnes and Noble Giftcard, Chapstick,Gum, Altoids, Itunes gift card, gift card to a movie theatre, their favorite candy, their fav magazine rolled up,

[maria]

Thank you so much everyone for your ideas. I am a knitter and everyone gets a pair of handmade socks for their b-day and for X-mas - it is a MUST ! I am pleasantly surprised to see that so many people still carry this tradition with their children into adulthood. My adult kids love this tradition and I hope they will continue with their partners and eventually - their own kids!

Thank you !!!!!

maria

[purl bee]

Thanks everyone for your great stocking stuffer suggestions! Many of you mentioned socks. We think these Pom Pom Peds from our archives would be so fun to make and give!
http://www.purlbee.com/pom-pom-peds/

Maybe in white and red?

Thanks again for all your helpful comments. You guys are the best!- Molly

[That Girl]

I love this stocking! I need to make new ones this year and as always, you have such fabulous ideas and inspiration. Thanks!