What? I’m already posting about stockings?! You may think it’s because I’m early on the holiday posting, but actually it’s because I’m super late – I finished these last year just a few days before Christmas, so it was too late to post about them then. But I can’t just not post about them – because they are Ah-Mazing, if I do say so myself. Intricate Felt Stockings – they took a while, but it’s SO worth it!! This post may contain affiliate links.
I am posting about them now to give you time to make some yourself. They’re not hard, but I’ll tell you, they take some time! Just grab a favorite show, and work on these in the evenings, and you’ll make progress.
Intricate Felt Stockings
These are actually stocking kits. They are Bucilla Brand and this is not a sponsored post at all, but they’re the best in my opinion. You can find several kit options like This One on Amazon. For my oldest it had a Santa, so I stuck with that theme as I choose kits for the next kids – I narrowed it down to kits with Santa and went from there, trying to match personalities.
Bucilla Felt Stocking Kits – vintage and today
Did you have a felt stocking growing up?? I did, and I’m sure it’s why I assume that’s what I had to make for my kids – they’re ingrained in my soul. (Trevor’s family never had their own stocking – they just had a big pile and picked each year which one they wanted – that’s crazy to me!) Here’s the one my mom made me – in it’s vintage glory:
So as a newlywed (without exposure to the blog world to keep me busy) I bought 2 matching stocking kits similar to this one and set to work the foundations of stocking memories to come. There aren’t that many pieces on these ones, but there is a TON of sequin work.
And then when I was expecting our first baby I got to work on his. That year we were supposed to take a family skiing trip, but he was due at the end of November and ruined trip plans – so I choose a skiing Santa for him:
As life moves along, it gets busier – – I made this one for kiddo numero 2, but it wasn’t ready in time for her first Christmas. I think I had it done by her second Christmas (but maybe it was her third…) – – I liked how this one had a toy bag like my stocking as a kid:
Then I dropped the ball even more… kiddo number 3 was a surprise, so I bought the puppy stocking, thinking it was pretty gender-neutral. She ended up being a she. I worked on it before she was born, and didn’t get it done, or after, or that year, or the next… so she was 2 without a stocking and baby number 4 came – and he was a boy. And I started to think the puppy was more of a boy stocking. So I got it done, for him. And so miss number 3 – I picked out a nature themed Santa one which really fits her personality, and got to work. And kept on it. And I got it done – she finally had her own stocking!! And she was 5 years old. Old enough to know that she didn’t have a stocking of her own yet. But hey, better late than never 🙂
Don’t look close at these – there are lots of imperfections and places where I just made up how to do them – and the puppy one even has a missing envelope in the mail bag that I still need to fix….
Felt Stocking Kits Tips and Tricks
So – the nitty gritty on how these kits work….
–You will get everything in it! All you’ll need is some stuffing to make the pieces fluffy and stand out, and some scissors. It even comes with sewing needles.
–It is all hand-sewing! There are diagrams describing how to make various stitches, but some I don’t understand and I just do it however will make it sew together and don’t worry about making pretty stitches. Since it’s hand-sewing, it makes for a great couch project (love those!)
–it comes with folded pieces of felt with stamped lines of shapes on them. You just cut all the pieces out. But just cut out each piece as you work on it. If you cut them all ahead, you’ll loose some for sure (see above…)
–it’s like a sew-by-number. Piece “1” is the stocking itself. Then you just start attaching the pieces in order. Find piece “2” and sew it on, then piece “3” and so forth. For 3-D pieces (like say the toy bag or puppy) it’ll say “sew piece 23 to piece 24” and then attach it. The stocking has outlines of where the pieces attach (you can see that above in the picture with the missing envelope, which is piece “40”). There is a big “pattern” which is just a picture of the stocking with all the pieces numbered so you can get an overview.
–Don’t skip steps – do all the sequins and embroidery, etc. The details is what makes these amazing.
–Remember, it’s not hard, just tedious. You can totally make one!
Have you see these intricate felt stockings? Do you have one? They’re kind of throw-back compared to some more hip-n-happenin’ stockings I see these days, but I still love them.
These are soo cute!
So fun to see them in all their finished glory! Your kids will always treasure these!
I grew up with these! My Grandmother has made them and continues to make one for each new member of our family. It’s so nice to know they were made with love especially for me! Glad to see someone else loves them too!
Those are fantastic, I once tried to do felt stockings and mine did not turn out at all this nice.So much time and care put into these, and what a great keepsake for the kids ~ Lisa
This makes me feel soooo much better 🙂 As I, too, started such a project!! I did the first as my first born was born and continued with the second being done for maybe her second Christmas and now.. well, the third has been in progress for years, and my youngest is coming up on his 5th Christmas… maybe I will finish it this year!!! (My mom keeps offering to take it an finish, but it just wouldn’t be the same! You give me hope that I will finish his as well!! And your comments are correct, these aren’t hard, just tedious and time consuming! Yours look wonderful!!!
I’m right there with you – – you just HAVE to do it yourself. Trevor even suggested buying one already made from Ebay to get it over with – – what?! that’s crazy talk!
These so so cute. I was looking at these online, and they have so many cute options. Approximately how many hours are invested in an average stocking. Are they less tedious than needlepoint/cross stitch?
Good question! I think if you worked on it nightly for a couple hours each night you could probably knock it out in a couple of weeks. But as I mentioned it took me years 🙂 I would say they’re comparable to cross-stitch – not as many stitches, but you have to cut pieces and stuff them, etc. So more variety, but same amount of work. Good luck with it!
My mom made those for us when we were little and I still have mine. Actually, we all do! Hot cocoa stains and all… Great job on yours!
These are just beautiful Mandy!
Your stocking as a kid is the one my grandma made for my dad (her son-in-law). She sewed one for me and my brother…sequins and all! I started one for my daughter (now 4) and have yet to finish it, I feel awful about it and might get to work this summer for next Christmas!!
I’m in love!! They are so adorable, I have got to make some for my family!
Thanks so much for posting this! I looked at these kits last year and was a bit intimidated to purchase them but your post encouraged me to give it a try for this Christmas! Yours turned out so cute!
My mom and I made our first felt stocking for my firstborn in 1981 then two more in the next 4 years. My mom now makes them since she has the time and I sew on the names along with her initials and date on the back. She has made them for all my grand kids and my two dgt-in-laws and all of her other great grand kids. Such wonderful memories and gifts for the kids!
Yup! Here’s ours: https://christinashaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-12-24DIYShelf01a.jpg
My grandmother made mine (Christina) in 1976 and my first-born’s (Tristan, 1995) then my mom made my other 2 kids and my husband’s (Chester), who has since whined about his being too small/so much smaller than mine (hey…the kits changed in time!), so last year, right after Christmas, I attempted to recreate his stocking on my own but larger…and, nope! It’s still not done yet! Am actually rethinking his design now… 🙂
Oops! Just noticed my hubby’s stocking wasn’t hung in that pic! Here’s his compared to mine: https://christinashaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DSC_0011a.jpg
i grew up with these, too! i havent seen the kits yet to start our own, so i bought felt ones at dollartree till i can get the good ones made. where do you get them?
I found mine on ebay – – maybe online stores somewhere too?
my grandmother and great grandmother made stockings like these!
My brothers and I had lovely ones made by my mom. My daughter has hers and I made one for my mom years ago. My daughter just made her first for her nephew. Thanks for the tip about eBay and I love that you kept the Santa theme! I bet your mantle looks adorable!