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Quilted, felted, hand-embellished—Christmas stocking decorating ideas have certainly evolved since the days when they were literally hosiery hung on a hearth. The centuries-old tradition of displaying socks in hopes that St. Nicholas would fill them with goodies—especially oranges, which were hard to come by in the wintertime—began in Europe. By at least 1823, the tradition had landed in the US, when the poem “A Visit From Saint Nicholas” (a.k.a. “The Night Before Christmas”) was published anonymously in a newspaper in Troy, New York. As the now famous poem goes, “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care….”
These days, stockings aren’t just hung with care, they’re crafted with expertise too. Much like the Christmas tree, holiday revelers now see these celebratory socks as a design opportunity. As such, we’ve checked in with some of our favorite crafters and gathered their unique takes on the gift-giving vessel. Here, you’ll find 21 stocking decorating ideas inspired by art, fashion, and nature—all with DIY directions so you can replicate them yourself at home.
1. Colorfully quilted stocking
An old-fashioned technique meets a modern color scheme in this vibrant quilted stocking by maker Sarah Rivero Khandjian of Sarah Hearts. As Sarah explains on her blog, this is an ideal project for anyone new to sewing, as it’s a small-scale project. Get all the DIY details on her site.
2. Elf stockings
Hang a bit of whimsy from your hearth with these stockings inspired by Santa’s helpers. The curved toes, pom-pom details, and quirky color combos may also remind some of a Dr. Seuss–style Christmas. Learn to make them on crafting and lifestyle blog Cakies.
3. Flannel stockings
Match your fireplace decor to your go-to holiday pj’s with these flannel stockings by Lia Griffith. Then take your pick of trims to complement the cozy fabric. Here, Griffith used satin, faux shearling, fringed leather, and faux fur.
4. Felted candy cane stockings
Kelly Mindell, founder of Studio DIY!, spent the better part of a holiday season attempting to make her dream stockings—hand-felted red and white striped masterpieces for her mantel. Clearly she succeeded, and she has the step-by-step tutorial on her site so that you can spend more time making merry and less time fumbling with felt.
5. Pom-pom trim stockings
Celebratory yet understated sums up these elegant stockings by Sarah Langtry, the creative force behind Interiors by Sarah Langtry. Festive embellishments abound here—everything from pom-poms to stripes to metallic threading—and, in muted gray and white, they fit in seamlessly with her existing decor.
6. Plaid stockings
Kippi O’Hern of the crafting and lifestyle site Kippi at Home has created an easy stocking pattern for the beginner sewer. Thanks to the plaid fabric she used, this design doesn’t need any more embellishment than a pair of buttons and a velvet cuff to create a Victorian-style look.
7. Striped stocking
Wherever you hang your stockings—from a fireplace, doorway, or cabinet—consider how your background hues will work with the fabric. “My number one design tip is to use complementary colors to maximize the character, personality, and pigment in each shade,” says paint and color expert Annie Sloan. “Here, I used Annie Sloan Ticking in Olive fabric, an earthy Mediterranean green that pairs perfectly with the warm mustard of Carnaby Yellow satin paint. I love how the end result is totally sophisticated yet playful,” she says.
To recreate Sloan’s stocking design, follow these instructions:
Select a fabric of your choice for your stocking. You might make a template for this from paper or use the first stocking cut out as the template for the second to ensure they’re the same size. Be sure to add seam allowance to all edges.
Stitch the two stocking pieces together, right sides facing each other, leaving the top open. Once it’s sewn, turn the stocking inside out so the stitches don’t show.
Cut a strip of fabric that is twice as long as the open edge of your stocking, plus seam allowance at each end. You will be folding the fabric lengthways, so make sure the strip you cut is twice the width that you would like the cuff to be, plus a little extra for seam allowance. Never forget your seam allowances, they are your friends!
Join the two shorter ends of your strip together, right sides facing each other, and sew together to create a loop of fabric. Fold the fabric loop in half, like you would if you were folding your sleeves up, right sides facing out, and press flat with an iron.
Insert the loop of folded fabric into the top of your stocking, pin all three raw edges together, and sew around the top. Then fold the cuff over the stocking and press in place. You may wish to iron again for best results.
Finish by hand sewing a loop of ribbon to hang your stocking from, and reuse every Christmas to dress your home and delight recipients. Sloan’s family members all have one, and as the children get older they’re encouraged to practice sewing by embroidering their own with initials, snowflakes, and Christmas stars!
8. Ornament-embellished stockings
Not just for trees, hand-crafted ornaments are a quick and easy way to dress up plain stockings. These DIY ornaments, crafted by the team at Michaels, feature dried floral pieces that add texture. Simply secure them to your stockings of choice with a bow tied from decorative ribbon.
9. Macramé stocking
Fans of macramé wall hangings will appreciate artist Isabella Strambio’s take on the Christmas tradition. She has patterns for large and mini macramé stockings available for purchase on her website. Get knotty (not naughty) by DIY’ing one and infuse your holiday decor with boho vibes.
10. Pop Art stocking
Brittni Mehlhoff, the founding editor and art director behind DIY site Paper & Stitch, used Andy Warhol–style Pop art as inspiration for this stocking and its pastel-hued gifts inside. The furry texture of the blooms, reminiscent of Warhol’s Flowers series, also drove her design. “For me, the winter months (and the holidays) are all about cozy textiles,” Mehlhoff says. “The tactile quality of this fabric was too good to resist.” Find the project itself irresistible? Get the DIY directions on Paper & Stitch.
11. Upcycled tea towel stockings
Also on Paper & Stitch, you’ll find instructions for these stockings made from repurposed tea towels, another creation by Mehlhoff. “I often reuse items I already have in my home for DIY projects,” she says. “So when it came time to make some new stockings for the fireplace, it felt natural to use tea towels. They’re the perfect size for stockings and often come in amazing patterns and prints that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to find.”
12. Woodland creatures stocking
Give your mantel a dose of Scandi design with this neutral stocking decorated with woodland creatures. The whimsical flora and fauna used for this project are made from felt and iron-ons. Get the full scoop from Lia Griffith.
13. Scalloped punch needle stocking
“When designing this punch needle stocking, I knew I wanted a soft geometric that would complement a more modern Christmas look,” says artist Katie Stackhouse. “And most importantly, I wanted makers to be able to use up their leftover odds and ends of yarn rather than have to purchase anything new. It’s a great stash buster!” Snag a digital download of this punch needle pattern on Stackhouse’s Etsy shop, MidnightCreative.
14. Gold leather and fur stockings
Here’s a Christmas decoration that’d fit right in at Studio 54. Disco-fy your holiday decor by crafting stockings from luxe gold leather (real or faux) and fluffy white fur. You’ll find the full project on A Beautiful Mess, along with instructions on creating personalized cutouts with your name or word of choice.
15. Shibori-dyed stocking
For the non-traditionalist, forgo red and green in favor of indigos. Rit Dye crafted these shibori stockings (as in the Japanese dying technique) and they provide the full project instructions on their site. Even more convenient, they sell a Shibori Tie-Dye Kit that includes color and rubber bands for creating resistance patterns. Once your stockings are complete, place any leftover dyed scraps in small embroidery hoops to create shibori ornaments.
16. Vintage silhouette stockings
Alix Good’s Instagram account (@myfairalix) is a treasure trove of retro fashion and interiors, so it makes sense that her DIY stockings have a vintage vibe too. These silhouetted stunners are a fun way to create personalized stockings for the whole family…and four-legged family members too.
To make a silhouette stocking, follow this step-by-step tutorial.
Start by taking a picture of your subject in profile against a light-colored wall. Consider various hairstyles (a ponytail or bun) as well as including signature accessories (like a baseball cap), and keep in mind that your finished silhouette will be a mirror image of the direction your subject is facing in the picture. Resize the digital image to dimensions that will fit when attached to a plain stocking.
Print the image on regular paper and trace the outline with a pencil to help define exactly where you’ll cut. Use extra-sharp scissors to cut the outline of your subject’s head, capturing as many details as you can. This paper cutout is now the template you’ll use for cutting the same shape into black felt. Glue the cutout onto a piece of black felt, holding it in place, and cut the same shape again. Voilà! You have your silhouette.
Use a hot glue gun to attach the silhouette to a plain stocking of your choice, paper side down. Repeat for the whole family.
17. Leather tassel stockings
Take a cue from crafter Rebecca Lopez and mix materials and textures. “Create easy faux leather tassels in minutes using a craft cutting machine like a Cricut or Silhouette,” she says. Make extra and you can use them as ornaments for your tree or in place of a bow on top of a gift. Find all the directions on her website, the Crafted Sparrow.
18. Heart-shaped stockings
Technically, Kirstin and Jordan of Kojodesigns crafted these heart-shaped stockings to hold Valentine’s Day treats. But they’re equally stuffable at Christmas time and their unexpected shape makes them a showstopper for your mantel. Go ahead and think outside the sock.
19. Wooden stocking tag
For the non-sewing crowd, this monogrammed tag with coordinating wooden beads is a fun way to personalize store-bought stockings. Crafter Michelle James has all the DIY details on her website Our Crafty Mom. She says, “I was inspired to create a wood bead stocking tag for my daughter’s cozy knit stocking. It adds a farmhouse touch that I love to include in my holiday decor.”
20. Coffee sack stocking
As crafter Renee Hanlon points out, making a stocking from a repurposed coffee sack means you’ll have eye-catching graphics and typography plus rustic texture built into your design. Bonus if you’re able to find a burlap bag that incorporates red and green, as she’s done here. Learn to turn your coffee keeper into a Christmas keepsake on her website Rustic Crafts & Chic Decor.
21. Floral print stocking
Reminiscent of Liberty’s iconic floral print, the miniature flowers on this stocking, created by Makyla Ata, conjure up a country Christmas in England. Or let them transport you to Liberty’s legendary department store in London and picture yourself perusing the hundreds of ornaments on display with a hot cocoa in hand. Find this stocking’s simple sewing tutorial on Makyla Creates.
