Easy Christmas Stocking Pattern & Sewing Tutorial

In this post I’m sharing a super EASY method for making lined Christmas stockings.

This little Christmas stocking pattern is a festive way to hold gift cards, some treats, or any other small gift you want to dress-up a little. The great thing about this method though, is that you can blow-up the Christmas stocking pattern and make stockings as big as you want by following the same, easy process. Every December this is one of my top blog posts – it’s a popular proven-winner!

This Christmas stocking pattern is easy enough that you can make a bunch of stockings in an afternoon, either for yourself or a gift. (And who doesn’t sometimes want new, hip stockings to impress Santa?) 

I’ve also updated the tutorial to include a simple attached loop for hanging your stockings by the chimney with care. (Or anywhere else you want to hang them.

Christmas Stocking Pattern & Tutorial

So start by printing the stocking pattern (click here for template) -or designing one of your own. (For the larger size stocking, I used the stocking template in this post.) 

Fabric requirements need to be enough fabric to cut two stocking shapes from two different fabrics. For the small size stocking you will need an 11″ x 14″ piece of fabric for front and back outside pieces and another 11″ x 14″ piece for front and back lining pieces.  1 Fat Quarter would be enough for all four pieces, but they would all be the same.

For the larger size stocking 2 different 1/4 yards (not Fat Quarters) will work great.

With wrong sides together, cut TWO stocking shapes of both your outside fabric and your cuff/liner fabric.  IMPORTANT: make sure your toe faces both directions for each fabric. (This is why matching wrong sides together will help you get pieces facing both directions.)

 Now pair up one outside fabric with one lining/cuff fabric with the toes pointing the same direction like this. (See picture above.) Match the outside fabric and lining fabric from each set right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam along the top of the two pieces. Open pieces up and press seam open. Repeat for back side.

Now match front and back pieced units right sides together with outside fabrics matched up and lining fabrics matched up. Center seams should match up too. Pin to hold two sides together. Leaving a space in the lining fabric for turning right side out, sew all the way around the outside edge of the stocking pieces (-where gray line is drawn.) Click on picture to see closer view.

I sewed a 1/4″ seam allowance around the outside [polka-dot fabric] and 3/8″ seam allowance around the green lining fabric, except the space left open for turning. This will help remove some of the bulk of the lining fabric. But if that’s too confusing, just sew 1/4″ for all.

Before you turn everything right-side out, cut notches in the curves – especially the toe. This will help the toe look nicer when finished.  Be careful not to clip through the seam.

On the liner side, clip the fabric close to the seam.

This will also help remove some bulk on the lining.

Now pull everything right-side out.  Carefully shape the outside part until the curves look good and press. Tuck the open ends into the stocking and topstitch the opening closed.

Now carefully tuck the lining inside the stocking.

Optional: Top stitch around the top edge for a more finished look.

Fold cuff down and carefully shape stocking.

Optional: add decorative trim if you want.

I just used Elmer’s Craft glue to put on some ric rac.

These mini handmade stockings are perfect for use as a small gift bag or festive gift card holder. (Fabric for these stocking includes Riley Blake Designs Wild at Heart collection, RBD Buffalo check flannel , Santa Claus Lane flannel candy canes, and Yuletide red plaid.

Make a Loop for Hanging the Stocking

Here is a simple technique for making a hanging loop for your stockings.

For the large size stocking, cut a strip 1 1/2″ x 9″ (for the smaller version 1 1/2″ x 6″ is plenty).

Fold strip in half length-wise and press. Open up and fold two sides in to the center fold. Press. 

Then fold strip in half again. You should now have 4 equal widths stacked on top of each other and no raw edges.

Top stitch next to the two outside folded edges.

Fold loop in half and pin in place about 1″ down from the top of the stocking (after you’ve folded the contrasting cuff over to the desired width.

Unfold cuff again and take pinned loop to your sewing machine to stitch back and forth multiple times over the ends of the loop to secure them in place. Use a thread that matches the outside fabric of the stocking. (Although, once the cuff is refolded into place, it will most likely hide the stitching.

And you’re done with your Christmas stocking!

I suggest making a practice stocking just to see how it comes together and I guarantee each stocking you make after that will get faster and easier. This pattern is super beginner-friendly, and if you’re already confident with a sewing machine, you could easily make a bunch in one afternoon.

If you’re looking for other Handmade Stocking Tutorials and Ideas, check out this post for a wide variety of styles and ideas.

Do you have any handmade stocking traditions? Or is this your first? I’d love to hear about them! Comment below.