A Gift Quilt Project - Christmas Stockings

Quick Little Stockings for Many Purposes

These are not those take-forever-to-make, heirloom, prize-winning Christmas stockings. If that’s what you’re looking for, you definitely have the wrong teacher!

These are simple stocking to stuff with little things or small treasures. One of my favorite things to do is fill with nuts - candied or spicy or raw - and use at each place setting or hang them on chairs. At the end of this treatise on making the stockings, I’ll include my recipes.

You can make these stocking of anything you wish; mine are Christmas cottons I’ve probably had around for years.

Using freezer paper, I measured and cut out an 8-inch by 11-inch piece. On one short side, make a mark about 5 inches from the left edge. On the side to the right of that one, put a mark on the right edge about 3 1/2 inches up from the bottom, and from there, about 3 1/2 inches toward the center, make another mark.

It’s kind of like connect the dots, except we’re just connecting the marks so we make a stocking. Curve the toe and heel a little bit when you cut out the pattern. It will look something like this.

TIP: Starching your fabric will make it easier to work with.

Now double enough fabric to put your pattern on. We’re going to cut the whole thing in one piece. Place the left edge of the pattern on the fold. Watch for directional fabric to be sure your Santas or reindeer aren’t upside down!

Iron down the freezer pattern (or pin whatever paper pattern you’re using).

I pin the fabric in a few places, outside the pattern, to be sure it doesn’t shift while I’m cutting. This is always a good idea when using a freezer paper pattern on two pieces of fabric. I use a rotary cutter for this, but of course scissors will work, too.

Once your stocking is cut out, it will look like this.

Peel off the freezer paper and open up the stocking to one layer.

Now we’re going to press the top over a couple of times, to the wrong side, about 1/4 inch each time. Topstitch this. If you wish to put some decoration on, like fringe, yarn or whatever, now’s the time. (This is when I sewed the eyelash yarn on; right side, of course!)

With right sides together, sew around the outside of stocking, tapering your stitches into the fold. Press. Clip curves and turn right side out. Use fingers, knitting needle or tool to smooth out seams, press, and all that’s left is to make a hanger.

The mostly green stocking has a hanger made from fabric. The mostly red one is … guess what? … a hair elastic! I find these wonderful for all kinds of closures and hangers.

Now for the recipes.

Mexican Chili Pecans (hot!)

• 2 egg whites, slightly beaten
• 1 1/2 t. ground cayenne pepper
• 1 T. chili powder
• 2 t. ground cumin
• 2 t. salt
• 4 c. Pecan halves and/or pieces

Coat a large, shallow baking pan with non-stick vegetable spray. Mix egg whites with spices. Stir in nuts and coat thoroughly. Spread in prepared pan. Bake in a 350-degree oven 15 to 18 minutes, until dry and crisp. Cool completely. Makes 4 cups.

Candied Pecans

• 1 egg white
• 4 c. pecan halves
• 3/4 c. white sugar
• 1/4 c. light brown sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 T. butter (softened)

Coat a large, shallow baking pan with the softened butter. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Beat egg whites until foamy and mix in the pecan halves. Stir the sugars and cinnamon together and add to the pecan and egg whites and stir. Spread the pecan mixture in an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until crisp, turning occasionally, 45 to 60 minutes.

When I did these for family, I knew who liked which and hung the stockings on the chairs accordingly. Put a small amount of nuts in a sandwich bag before placing in the stocking.

I hope you enjoy making the stockings and the pecans and have a glorious Christmas!

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