Maggie's Christmas Stocking

Maggie's stocking hanging by our fireplace

     A new grandchild born in 2015 meant it was time to make another stocking for Christmas.

Templates on stocking pattern

     I went to my favorite place to look for ideas, Embroidery Library.  My daughter requested Santa and his toyshop.   I found this Santa checking his list.  For the toys I chose these toys.

First hooping. Note the crosshairs and outline of stocking

    I printed out templates with my software after I reversed Santa.  The stocking pattern is the same one I used for her older brother which I also got from Embroidery Library.  I laid out the templates and marked the centers.

Detail of the first hooping

     I then traced the outline of the stocking on a large piece of white felt with a disappearing marker.  I marked my centers and then hooped the felt along with a piece of heavy stabilizer.  

All 94,315 stitches

     Three hoopings and 94,315 stitches later it was ready for me to construct the stocking.  

Back of stitching with traced pattern

     I again traced the outline of the stocking, but this time on the wrong side of the fabric/stabilizer piece.  I cut it out and then sewed some eyelet lace that was leftover from her Christmas dress as a faux cuff.  Also added a bit of green ribbon.

Name and faux cuff detail

     I then cut another piece of felt for the back and two pieces of candy cane flannel for the lining.  The flannel was leftover also from her dress.

Santa detail

     I sewed the outer pieces right sides together and turned it right side out.  Then I sewed the two lining pieces right sides together but left an opening along one long side.  Then I placed the stocking inside the lining, right sides together, and stitched around the top, adding a loop of felt for hanging. 

Toys detail

  Pulled it all through the opening I left and then quickly machine stitched the opening closed and placed the lining into the stocking.

All done

 

      So different from when I made the stockings for my children.  They were all from kits I bought and spent hours and hours hand stitching them.  They all are still being used though some 30+ years later.

Christmas Decorating 2015

Cedar chest in window bay

     The day after Thanksgiving I start to decorate the house for Christmas.  It usually takes all weekend long.  This year a couple of rooms took a little longer because we had rearranged them and I had to figure out what to put where.

This is where the tree usually went

     The living room was the biggest difference.  We removed one bookcase and changed around the other pieces.  We did this to better accommodate our large family when they come over.  We opened up the room to provide easier access for those relatives that use walkers.

I like the poinsettias under the glass, keeps the top clear for food and drinks

     The cedar chest that was behind the couch is now in the window bay.  We moved the two small lamps from the dining room and placed them there.  Normally a large plant is in this sunny window but now the nativity scene resides there.  This also means we can't put the tree in the window like usual.  We will move a chair and place it in a corner.

Angels in a new spot

     The couch now faces the large window bay and is flanked by matching chairs.  The glass fronted bookcase now stands where the tall bookcase was.  Since the tall bookcase is no longer in the living room, the items that were normally displayed there at Christmas were either put in different places or I got rid of them.  

Temporary bookcase in the foyer

     That tall bookcase in now temporarily in the foyer until we can decide what to do with it.  I used it to display my teddy bear nativity set and some other teddy bears.

Family room fireplace

     The only real change in the family room is the addition of two new stocking holders.  Our daughter and son-in-law had a girl in February and our son and daughter-in-law are expecting in April.  So fun to see all those extra stockings on the fireplace mantel.

Santas sharing a new spot