The Christmas Stocking

Back in September my sister in law had her first baby – a little boy called Jacob.  I was very excited about being an aunt.  Whilst trying to decide what to make for my next White Tree Fabrics project, I came across the embroidery and sewing kits they sell, and thought it would be nice to make Jacob a Christmas stocking.  I felt very smug because it was only September and already I was planning a Christmas project.  The older and wiser me looks back at the younger, smug, more foolish me and laughs scornfully.

If you know me, or have read my blog for a while, you will know that this is not my usual kind of project.  I’m not a fan of hand sewing, really.  But still, I thought it would be nice to try something different, and I thought that it would be pretty easy.  I mean, it’s a kit, right?  You just, like, sew on some bits here and there and a few sequins and you’re done, right?  I envisaged setting aside one (child-free) day, and just sitting down with the radio and a pot of tea and making a lovely stocking.

Dimensions Felt Applique Christmas Stocking – Sequinned Santa

Under this misconception, I decided it was too early to start making this when it arrived in October.  Instead I made a start on the family Christmas pyjamas, and by November I had made three childrens’ pyjama sets and two pairs of adult pyjama bottoms.  SO SMUG.  Then I made the dinosaur dress for my friend’s wedding at the end of November.  Then I did some boring sewing I had been asked to do but was putting off.  And then it was December.  Eek.

A child-free December day arrived – Monday 7th – and I got out the kit, made a brew and put the radio on.  I had six hours before I had to collect my daughter from school.  Plenty of time.  Six hours later, I had this:

Six hours

Hmmm.  Maybe this was going to take longer than I thought.  The following Monday – 14th December – I had another child-free day.  I spent another six hours and got this far:

Twelve hours

I started to get very worried that I wasn’t going to finish this in time.  I started to prioritise it and try to do as much as I could here and there.  By December 19th I hit the 18 hour mark, and was still only on step 9 of 20.

Eighteen hours – ignore leaflet from Jehovah’s Witnesses who called round to ask me ‘Will Suffering Ever End?’…spreading the joy, there!!

Suddenly I was thinking of everything I had to do before Christmas (I won’t bore you with a list – but be assured it was long).  I was going to have to really knuckle down to this and just get it finished so I could do all the other things in time.  It took a further ten and half hours to finish – so twenty eight and a half hours in total to complete.

Twenty-eight and a half hours

Looking at it, I still can’t believe it took that long.  This kind of craft is so deceptive!  Having said that, I want to state, just for the record, that I did actually really enjoy the process.  It was a very absorbing activity and I listened to a lot of radio whilst doing it, so it felt relaxing in one way – I just wish I’d started it earlier so that I wasn’t worrying about all the other things I had to do.  I don’t love hand sewing, but that’s usually because I prefer to use a machine.  But this project wouldn’t be possible to make by machine – so it’s a totally different kind of hand sewing.  I have never done embroidery before and I’m pleased with how it turned out even though the embroidery is mainly just very simple stem stitch.

As for reviewing the kit itself – well I thought it was very good.  The instructions were excellent and the quality of the materials was top notch.  The only criticism I have is that you are supposed to stuff some of the applique pieces to give a more prominent, 3D, quilted effect, but the stuffing was not provided.  Everything else was provided – right down to the needles – so why they couldn’t also provide stuffing is a mystery to me.  Having never done a project like this, I have no idea what sort of stuffing I need, and frankly I didn’t have time to traipse around a craft shop guessing.  So, the stocking is not stuffed, and I think it looks fine, although I think a bit of stuffing would have made it look even better.

I’m very happy to have finished the project, and have already informed my own poor children that I will not be making one each for them: they can make do with the mass-produced £1 stockings from the Card Factory.  As for Jacob, I’m going to get him to sign an agreement to use this every Christmas Eve until he is at least 21 😉

Merry Christmas one and all!