How to Make a Christmas Stocking

Our family has grown, which meant finding new matching stockings. Since the stores have such limited options, we resorted to making our own...and I LOVE THEM!!!

Materials Required:
1/3 yd. Christmas Fabric (body of stocking and backing)
1/4 yd. Complimentary Fabric (trim and toe)
2 1/2 in. Ribbon (loop for hanging stocking)

Step 1: Take a trip to your local quilt store, and find some adorable Christmas fabric. You'll need two complimentary fabrics for the stocking. It should only take about 1/3 a yard of your main fabric, and 1/4 a yard for the trim and toe. (You may need more fabric if it is directional like the tree fabric I selected.)

Step 2: Create your pattern. We just traced the stockings we originally had because we still liked their shape and direction. Remember, there is no right or wrong to creativity! Make the stocking any size, shape, or direction you want!

Step 3: Cut out your fabric. Remember to add your 1/4 inch seam allowance. Also, notice that the back of the stocking is cut in the opposite direction of the front. (***Be careful if you are using a directional fabric. These trees would look funny if I cut them horizontally.) Another tip is to add about 1 1/2 inches to the top of the backing and the front trim piece. This will allow you to fold the excess down and give the stocking a finished look.

Step 4: Sew the trim and the toe to the body of the front.

Step 5: Pin the pieced front to the backing with the right sides of the fabric together. However, do not pin the trim portion to the backing yet.

Step 6: Fold down the excess from the trim and iron it down. Then, flip the pinned stocking over to do the same to the backing. Make sure that they are level. 

Step 7: Cut a 2 1/2 inch piece of ribbon. I used a 5/8 size ribbon, and I cut the ends at an angle. Fold the ribbon in half, and place it between the front and backing of the stocking. Now, you may finish pinning the front to the back.

Step 8: Sew the stocking together with the 1/4 inch seam allowance. Then, turn it right side out.

Step 9: Hang it up for Santa to fill!

***Another option is to write the names on the trim of each stocking. You could simply use a fine point permanent pen.***

Just Bee Cuz

There is something so addicting about quilting blogs. I know my Mom is intrigued by them, so when she stumbled upon this post from "Make it Do," she heartily encouraged me to make the quilt described. Incidentally, we ended up over at the quilt store, where I saw this bumble bee fabric from Timeless Treasures.

Naturally, I had seen it before, but I never had a project in mind for it. My Mom was with me and, since my birthday was coming up, she promised to buy the fabric as my gift. So, there I am staring down those bees, straining my mind (which really hurts by the way), and trying to envision something great with these funny little bugs that are just buzzing to be bought. This is about the time that my Mom suggests using it for the "half squares on point" quilt.

Needless to say, it is entirely out of the norm for me (I usually go for deep, rich colors and more complicated patterns), but I am hopelessly in love with this quilt!

Of course, the back proved to be absolutely adorable too, and I'm now creating a pattern to use the bee block for the front of another quilt.

So...thank you Calli for posting the pattern and the tutorial...thank you Gail Cadden for designing those charming little bumble bees...and most especially, thank you Mom for finding the pattern and providing the fabric!

Homemade or Store Bought?

Check it out! I finally got over to my sister's place to take a picture of the first blanket I EVER quilted!

Isn't it beautiful? It was a jelly roll project, and it looks nothing like my other projects. However, for some bizarre reason I liked it and thought my sister might too. Of course, she didn't realize that I had made it until months after I gifted it. She thought it was store bought! I didn't know whether to be flattered or offended...the optimist in me eventually won out though, and I'm still thoroughly flattered! (If you look carefully at the picture, then you may be able to find the butterfly that finally convinced my sister that I made the quilt.)