Christmas Bow-tique Stocking Add a stunning bow to your Christmas stockings for a lovely, elegant look. The bold bow is a fabulous way to customize a stocking for your loved ones. Use red and green for a classic Christmas color combination, or try a neutral or contemporary color scheme for an even more fashionable appeal. Project Needs & Notes - 1/2 yard twill or denim (for front and back) - 1/2 yard quilted cotton fabric (for inner lining) - 1/3 yard twill (for bow) - Tear-away stabilizer - Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer - Air-erase pen for marking - 18" of 1/2" - 1" wide ribbon - Needle and thread for some hand sewing - Scotch tape Designs used in this project include L7276, Christmas Cheer Wreath. Browse through the Christmas department to find something that matches your preference and decor. Finished size: 15 1/2" from cuff to heel 12 1/2" from heel to toe 9" opening. To get started, print the PDF of the pattern pieces. There are four pattern pieces that will print on four pieces of 8 1/2" x 11" paper.
Cut out the pattern pieces and tape them together, following the instructions on the pattern pieces. Pin the pattern piece onto the twill and trace the shape. A template, or printout of a design, is an excellent tool to help with placement. Print a template of the design from your embroidery software. If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is a free program to use. Position the template inside the shape, leaving at least 1" of space between the outer edges of the design and the side edges of the shape. Also, leave about 8" between the top edge of the design and the top edge of the shape.
Mark the center point and horizontal and vertical axis points. Remove the template. Draw lines connecting the marks. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design. When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.
Cut out the shape. Next, prepare the back of the bow. Cut two pieces of twill to 14 1/2" x 9 1/2". Align them together, right sides together, and pin in place. Sew a 1/2" seam along the top and bottom long edges only -- leave the short ends open. Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams with an iron. Top stitch a 1/8" seam along the top and bottom edges. Next, gather the fabric together in the center and with needle and thread tack the fabric in place.
Create two pleats on both sides of the bow and pin in place. Place the bow at the top of the embroidered front piece. Center the bow on the fabric and allow about 3/4" between the top edge of the bow and the top edge of the fabric. Pin the bow in place. Turn the fabric over to the wrong side and trim the excess bow leaving about 1/4" behind. Tack the bow in place by sewing a 1/4" seam along the side edges of the fabric. Lay the pattern piece on top of a piece of twill with the back side of the pattern piece facing up. Trace and cut out the shape. Lay the embroidered piece right side up and align the back piece on top, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the side and bottom edges only -- leave the top edges open for turning.
Cut slits in the seam allowance about every 1/2" around the curved edges. Turn the outer shell right side out and press the seams. Cut two pieces of the quilted cotton fabric using the pattern piece. Align the fabric pieces together, right sides together and pin in place. Sew a 1/2" seam along the side and bottom edges -- leave the top edge open. Then carefully trim the seam allowance leaving 1/8" behind. Insert the outer shell inside the inner lining, right sides together. Align the top raw edges and side seams together; pin in place. Sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge leaving about 4" open at the back. Turn the fabric right side out and insert the inner lining inside the outer shell. Turn the opening in 1/2" and press. Pin in place and top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire top edge of the stocking.
To make the knot of the bow, cut two pieces of fabric to 2 1/2" x 4". Align the pieces together, right sides together, and pin in place. Sew a 1/2" seam along the long edges only -- leave the short ends open. Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams. Top stitch a 1/8" seam along the long edges. Then wrap the knot fabric around the center of the back of the bow with the raw edges of the knot facing in. Hand-stitch the knot in place onto the fabric. To prepare the tails of the bow, cut two pieces of fabric to 2 1/2" x 12" long. Align the fabric pieces together, right sides together, and pin in place. Trim each short end diagonally as shown. Sew a 1/2" seam along each long edge. Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams. Trim each end point and turn the fabric of the ends in 1/2" and press. Pin in place and top stitch a 1/8" seam along the entire outer edges of the fabric. Pinch and fold the fabric in the center and insert it through the bottom of the knot. Lay the tails flat against the fabric and hand stitch them in place.
To prepare the hanger, cut an 18" length of 1/2" - 1" wide ribbon and tie the raw ends into a knot. Hand-stitch the knot at the top back of the stocking. The big, beautiful bow on this Christmas stocking gives it a unique, elegant appeal. Questions or comments? Let us know! Send an email to us; the address is stitch@emblibrary.com.