Better Than New Stockings

For the last couple of years I have wanted new stockings.  Our old ones were almost twenty years old, grungy, and I was tired of looking at them.  I have looked for stockings before and after Christmas while they were on sale but there weren't many I liked, or we just didn't agree on what we wanted.  So we kept using what we had.  I had thought of sewing burlap stockings but then I wasn't sure of sewing burlap.  I was afraid the fuzz would clog by machine.  I did contemplate glue but our wood stove is always running and i was afraid they would come apart with the weight of the goodies that would fill them.  Besides, hubby is not a big fan of burlap.  So I kept thinking and waiting and wondering what I should do.  I found some stockings I liked but they were almost $30 each and I knew I would never spend that.
Well, while looking through Pinterest I found these, from this great blog.  They are burlap but I thought I could use a different fabric I already had in my stash.  They only trouble was there wasn't a pattern or tutorial for them.  I would have to try this all on my own.

Here is the mantel before with the old stockings. Once again, instead of artwork or a lovely mirror a giant tv sits a top my mantel.  But I try to make the best of it.

Using the old stockings as templates I cut out shapes from osnaburg fabric which I purchased on clearance when Walmart was clearing out all of their fabric (which I can't understand because they brought it all back). I also cut some muslin for the top of the stockings.  Then I went to the sewing machine and sewed them together.  They are far from perfect and there are a few changes I would make if I tried it again but I am happy with them.

To me this small change has made a dramatic difference in the look of the fireplace.  It makes me happy each time I walk by. For the boys' stockings I sewed a straight ribbon around the bottom of the muslin and for the girls I ruffled it just a little.

Then dear hubby found these initials at Walmart.  I was thrilled that they had them all.  We almost couldn't find a V, but he finally found one.  I simply attached them to the loops of the stocking with the hooks in their packages.

Not bad for someone who has never sewn anything without a pattern.  Now just don't peek inside my raw edges are a bit scary and the seams may not even be straight but they look pretty.  I don't think my family will care what my raw edges look like once I fill them with goodies.

So glad I finally just did it.  The difference is amazing.  In keeping with my stash busting, the only thing I purchased were the initials.  Everything else I already had here.  I am quite thrilled to create something so beautiful without spending much.  Thrilled to have found that fabric on clearance and swooping it up for less then 50% of the original price.

Linking to these great parties.