Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays...

Alright, the Turkey is finished, family and friends are back home and if you have kids, they are in school. Four weeks until Christmas and only one week until Hannukah, gulp. December arrives every year and it is always seems to somehow sneak up on a person! OK, now is the time to think of all of the holiday projects on your list. Let's start with some easy projects.
Christmas Stockings. Have you pulled yours out of the storage area yet? Maybe this is the year you go all out, think of the magic you could create in just one afternoon. Mary Jo's has Velvet, Satin, Taffeta, Tapestry, Linen, and Faux Fur. As always you can create just about anything with fabric from Mary Jo's.
Today we are featuring a Sweet Stocking designed by Fabric Designer Linda Lum DeBono. She is one talented gal. You can check out her very inspired work on her blog Scroll down to her Sweet Stocking Article to download a template (PDF) for this fun and interesting Christmas stocking.
Sweet Stocking [approx. 12" x 22"]
You will need:
1/2 yard lime green for the stocking front and back exterior
1/2 yard of your choice for the lining
2 fat quarters of different stripes
batting
1/4 yard red fabric for the ruffle [NOTE: I MADE THE RUFFLE FAIRLY WIDE. THE MORE THAT I LOOK AT IT, I THINK THAT A SHORTER RUFFLE MAY LOOK JUST AS CUTE. YOUR CHOICE!]
coordinating thread
stabilizer
ribbon

Cutting:
From the lime green fabric, cut:
1 stocking front
1 stocking back [reverse the stocking template]

From the lining fabric, cut:
1 stocking front
1 stocking back [reverse the stocking template]
From the red fabric, cut:
1 ruffle, 6 1/2" x 42" - then trim in half lengthwise to yield two strips, 6 1/2" x 21"


Directions:
Fold your exterior fabric together, selvage to selvage right sides together. Cut out the stocking template. Do the same for the lining fabric.

Follow manufacturer's directions and fuse the candy canes to the front of the stocking. Stitch around the candy cane applique with a zig zag/satin or any other decorative stitch. Make sure that you have some stabilizer behind the applique when you're doing this step.

Next, layer the front of the stocking with a piece of batting on the wrong side of the fabric. Quilt the stocking as desired. Swirls, loops and circles are always fun! Repeat for the back of the stocking. Trim excess batting away.

Fold the ruffle strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press. Open up the piece and fold in at each end 1/2". Stitch the ends with a 1/4" seam allowance. Use a needle and hand-stitch with a large running stitch at the raw edge of the strip. Pull the thread and gather to form ruffles. Repeat for the other red strip.

Pin the ruffle to the top edge of the stocking with the raw edges aligned 1/4" in from each side edge. Stitch together with a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat for the back of the stocking.

With right sides facing, pin the front of the stocking to the matching lining. Repeat with the back of the stocking. Stitch across the top edge of the front of the stocking and lining. Repeat for the top edge of the back of the stocking and the lining.

Open up the stocking/lining pieces. Pin the front/lining piece with the back/lining piece with right sides facing. Stitch all around and leave a 4" opening for turning. Turn right side out and hand-sew the opening closed.

Push the lining back inside the stocking. Stitch a 1/4" across the top of the stocking body.
Hand-stitch the ribbon to the inside of the stocking. Overlap each end of the ruffle from the front and the back ruffle. Sew a small black button or just a plain stitch to hold the front ruffle to the back ruffle. Repeat for the other side of the ruffle.
There you have it! Your very own candy cane Sweet Stocking!

There you have it. Super simple and oh so sweet. Have fun and remember to surf around the internet to discover other new and different ideas to create a whole new pile of Christmas stockings this year. During this busy time of year, save yourself some time and log onto Maryjos.com. Our online store is open 24-7 and you don't have to worry about the weather or parking your car. Getting what you need could not be easier.