How to make a Christmas stocking from an old sweater. This is a super easy way to make DIY stockings for the whole family!
So, I noticed that all of our Christmas stockings are starting to look old and worn. Yes, they have been well loved for years but it was time for some new stockings.
I have been wanting to sew some stockings for a while now and it occurred to me that maybe you would like to know how to make them as well.
By the way, this method for making a stocking also works great with any kind of fabric … not just recycled, old sweaters. You can use the same technique with fabric from an old shirt, flannel or blue jeans and fat quarters quilting fabric.
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What is a sweater stocking?
Simply put, it is a Christmas stocking that is made out of sweater material. This does not have to be an old sweater, necessarily. The big retailers all have their version of a sweater stocking made with new knit fabric.
If you decide to purchase your fabric, just make sure it is heavier and able to hold the stocking stuffers!
According to Diary Of a Quilter: “Fabric requirements need to be enough fabric to cut two stocking shapes from two different fabrics.”
Why would you make your own stockings?
Let’s be honest, we live in a throw away society. Fast fashion, fast furniture .. most things are used a short time and tossed away in the garbage. But you know what? There is no away!
These days, upcycling, repurposing and thrifting are more important than ever and they are super important to me as I try to make my life as close to zero waste as possible.
This craft is a perfect way to reuse not just your old sweaters but sweatshirts, pillowcases and other fabrics. And don’t let the ‘sewing’ part of it scare you. Even beginner sewers can handle this project.
Plus, the best thing is that your handmade Christmas stockings will be completely unique! Nobody else will have that exact same stocking.
And if that is not enough incentive, these stockings are also a great handmade gift idea for all of your loved ones. You can customize each one to the person’s favorite color, team mascot or hobby.
Tools and Materials
- Old Sweaters or Heavy Fabric
- Fabric Scissors or Rotary Cutter and Cutting Mat
- Sewing Machine or Needle & Thread
- Straight Pins
- Basic Christmas Stocking (to use as a template)
Making the sweater stocking:
The first thing you want to do is decide if you want your stocking to have a cuff or not. If you do, then decide if you want to use the same sweater for both the body of the stocking and the cuff.
For this project, I used two different sweaters; a maroon color for the body and a buff or tan colored sweater for the cuff of my stocking. This is completely up to you.
1. Make the stocking body
To make the body part of your stocking, you first want to pin together the bottom edges of the sweater. This will keep them from moving around while you make your cut.
Once it’s securely pinned, lay your template or basic stocking on top of the sweater you wish to use for the body lining up the back line with the sewn edge of the sweater. Place the toe part about 1″ from the bottom to allow for the seam.
2. Cut and sew the body
Now, using your fabric scissors or rotary cutter, you will cut about 1″ from the edge of the stocking all around the unsewn part of the sweater and straight across the top where the cuff will begin.
You need to decide where you want the cuff to go. How long do you want your Christmas stocking to be?
I made my sweater stocking the same size as the stocking template but you can make yours longer or shorter, it’s completely up to you.
Turn your stocking base inside-out so that the right sides of the fabric are together.
Next, pin together the cut edges, leaving the top or cuff part open. Then, with your sewing machine or needle and thread, sew along the pinned edge.
Now, turn your stocking right side out again.
3. Make the cuff
First, you will cut the fabric for the cuff part from your chosen sweater fabric. Remember, this can be the same sweater or a different one. In my case, I used the tan colored sweater.
Honestly, I didn’t do any fancy measuring for my cuff. I simply made it 2 times as wide as the stocking and 2 times as high as I wanted my final cuff to be.
Also, since I wanted the cuff to be a little bulkier than the rest of the stocking, I doubled the height so that it could be folded over.
In other words, my cuff material measured about 12″ wide by 10″ high (this gives a final cuff of appr. 6″ x 5″ when folded in half horizontally and stitched around the top of the stocking. That’s super confusion, isn’t it?)
So, fold your fabric in half lengthwise (horizontally), right sides together. Then, pin and sew the short edges together.
Sew the cuff to the body
Line up the cuff and body pieces
Honestly, I had a little trouble remembering how to sew the cuff onto my sweater stocking. Specifically, which way each piece has to be turned in order for the cuff and the stocking to be right side out when it’s finished.
The more I thought about it, the more confused I became! If you have ever made a Christmas Stocking, you will understand lol.
So, I did a little search and found this sewing tutorial for a stocking with a cuff on Décor Adventures.
Here is the trick to sewing the cuff correctly …. the boot part has to be right sides out (wrong sides together) and the cuff part has to be wrong out (right sides together).
Then, you will place the cuff part inside the stocking, lining up the seams and also lining up the bottom edge of the cuff with the top edge of the boot. Confusing, right??
To attach the cuff, pin together the outside edges of the boot and cuff fabrics. (My cuff is double so I have 3 layers total).
Sew all around the edge of the boot. Since the fabric is a cut knit sweater and prone to ravel, you may want to be generous with the seam. I think I made my seam about 3/4 ” wide. That’s it! All you have to do now is pull the cuff out of the boot and fold it to the outside.
Add a ribbon
Finally, add a simple hanger and you’re done! This can be a pretty ribbon, rope or even a piece of the old sweater.
Now that you know how to make an easy sweater Christmas stocking, you can sew up a bunch of fun and unique stockings for everybody in the family.
Believe me, you’ll never look at an old sweater the same way again. And remember, you can also make a DIY Wine Bottle Sleeve and some fun DIY Boot Toppers using the leftover arms of your old sweater.
For more ideas and inspiration for making your own stockings, you may enjoy this article on Easy Handmade Christmas Stockings by BHG.
As you may know, I have made several fun things out of old sweaters in the past. For instance, this post shows you how to make a DIY Wine Bottle Sweater Bag (great for a Christmas party Hostess Gift).
And, here is my tutorial on how to make DIY Boot Toppers or Boot Cuffs from a sweater. Fun boot cuffs are also a great DIY Gift Idea for girls of any age who love to wear boots.
What size is a Christmas Stocking?
Again, this is relative. Christmas stockings come in all sizes! A ‘standard’ size Christmas stocking is appr. 10″ W x 16″ H.
However, we have all seen the little 6″ stockings, right? These are perfect for a small gift or a candy cane.
I also have a huge quilted stocking that my Mom made for me as a Christmas wallhanging decoration. It measures almost 3 feet in height.
How much fabric do you need to make a Christmas Stocking?
Obviously, how much fabric you use for your sweater stocking depends on how big or small you wish to make it.
My DIY sweater stocking is based on an average size Christmas stocking that they sell in the stores which took about 1/2 yard of fabric total.
So, figure on about 1/4 – 1/3 yards for the outer stocking and 1/4 – 1/3 for the lining.
Easy Sweater Christmas Stocking (No Knitting required!)
Materials
- Old Sweaters
- Basic Christmas Stocking for a Template
Tools
- Rotary Cutter & Cutting Mat or Fabric Scissors
- Sewing Machine or Needle and Thread
- Straight Pins
Instructions
- Pin together bottom edges of your sweater. Place the basic stocking on the sweater and line up the back line with the sewn edge of the sweater. Place the toe part about 1″ from the bottom to allow for the seam.
- Cut about 1″ from the edge of the stocking all around the unsewn part of the sweater and straight across the top where the cuff will begin.
- Turn your stocking base inside-out so that the right sides of the fabric are together and pin together the cut edges, leaving the top or cuff part open. Sew along the pinned edge and turn your stocking right side out.
- Cut the fabric for your cuff and fold it in half lengthwise (horizontally), right sides together. Pin and sew the short edges together.
- Turn the cuff inside out and the boot right side out. Tuck the cuff into the boot. pin together the outside edges of the boot and cuff fabrics. Then sew around the edges.
- Turn the boot right side out and attach a hanger.
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