How to Make a Stocking...Fast!

I don't know about y'all, but my summer has flown by!  February to October has just gone by so fast!  We have worked really hard on our yard this summer.   We have taken several pick-up truck loads to the transfer station and we aren't done yet!  We've dug up a gazillion daffodil bulbs and calla lilly bulbs!  Now that fall is here, we've moved plants and planted bulbs, putting them in a better location for us.  Here's our progress in the front yard so far:

After having the same glasses for 6 years, I finally got some new ones!  Completely different from anything I've had before!  Still working on getting used to them, but I like them and better yet, Tony likes them!  I always take him with me to pick out new glasses because as I tell him, "You're the one who has to look at my face!"

Now that Tony has retired from the Army (gosh, that's now been one year!), we are quickly putting down roots here.  Hair stylist (without having to go through even one bad haircut before I found her!), optomotrist, dentist (how nice that we won't have to change doctors in 3 years!), neighbors, friends, civic club, church, shopping, sewing machine service, car repair (I could have waited on that one!), sewing group...I'm really feeling at home here and I love it!

Now to the title of my post.  To help with a women's ministry in this area, I offered to make 100 pink stockings.  I know what you're thinking; believe me, I thought it myself!  One hundred stockings?!!  I needed a super fast method for making all these stockings.  I found this technique on another blog from a few years back  (she has lots of cute ideas, click here for her blog)  and adapted it for my stockings.

Use whatever shape stocking you want, it doesn't matter the size or the shape, to make these stockings.  Because I have so many to make, I didn't want a separate cuff to sew on.  I adapted my stocking pattern so I could turn down the top of the stocking for my cuff.  An easy way to do this is to draw your stocking pattern on a piece of paper, decide how big a cuff you want, (I used 2 inches),

fold down the cuff on your paper pattern,

fold over the edges to get the cuff close to the body of the stocking,   

unfold, and you have the angle for the cuff!

I then transferred my pattern to some sturdy plastic.

 

With right sides of your fabric together, place template.  Cut a lining fabric and an outer fabric.  I used my small rotary cutter and cut through 6 layers at a time.  Don't have time to waste...100 stockings!

Layer your fabric this way: lining fabric right sides together, pretty outside fabric right sides together on top of lining fabric.

Stitch 1/4 inch seam around the stocking, leaving the top open.

I used my pinking shears (gosh, it's been a long time since I used them!) to trim close to the seam all around the stocking.  Or you could just clip into the seam at the curves.  The main thing is to have your stocking be flat and smooth.

Now you are ready for turning.  Reach between the lining fabrics and turn the stocking.

Use a point turner to smooth out the seams.

Next, reach between the pretty outside fabric and turn.

 Use as point turner to smooth out the seams again.

Give it a good press.

Now after pressing, you may notice that the top raw edges of the stocking aren't exactly even.  That's ok!  Use your rotary cutter and ruler and trim even.  

Satin stitch around the opening.  You'll be stitching the lining fabric and the pretty outside fabric together. I used a water soluble stabilizer to make sure my satin stitches were nice and smooth.  

 Follow the manufacturer's directions to remove the stabilizer at this point.  Press cuff down.

For the hanging loop, I cut 1 1/2 inch strips.  Fold so the raw edges meet in the center, then fold again.  Stitch close to the edge.

I satin stitched the ends of the loop together and then placed it inside the stocking, about a 1/4 inch down from the edge.

Stitch close to the edge all around the folded edge of the cuff, making sure to catch the loop.

Now for some bling!  I found the cutest little snowflake button.  Dug out my glue gun and glued the button to the cuff.

 The finished stocking!

Only 99 more to go!

LaDonna

Finally another finish!

     One of the last quilts that I completed was the one for my "princess " granddaughter, so it has been a while since I have been on here.  School started and the circus really got into full swing.  With a daughter in college ( where every professor  thinks they are the only one and papers galore have to be written), a granddaughter beginning kindergarten, a four year old who just doesn't get it that he can't go with his sister, and my husband's work schedule changed, it has proved to be a hectic time here at my house. However, I have finally completed my grandson's "all things with wheels" quilt.  This child loves and I mean loves things with wheels! The bigger more rumbling the better!!  One of the adventures that LaDonna and I went on during the time she and I were together  last year, I found some fabric that just screamed to be made for the boy.  Long story short, I finally got it finished in spite of all of the interruptions.  LaDonna has been telling me that she couldn't wait to see it and since I took it out of the dryer yesterday, I can now post the pictures.
    I did have to rip out some of the quilting and switch to the wonderful Aurifil. I thought I could at least try to use up some of the other thread that I had but once again, I was proved wrong.  I have learned my lesson.  Piecing with the other thread is fine....but for quilting...Aurifil all the way!  Once again, my sister was right!!

I did different kinds of quilting on this quilt....stippling, waving lines, diagonal lines, swirling circles and attempted the pebbling ..... which turned out to be much more enjoyable that I though it would be.

    So now I am off to the next.  At this time, I am working on a baby quilt for one of my former students and then stockings for my granddaughter's class.  I really  have to get busy!.....there are 23 children in her class so far!!!


~Diana