not a quilt, but I made stockings for the family :)

[clhdabb]

I am still just so very in love with my new machine, and took the chance to make Christmas stockings for my family. I've long wanted nice, matching/coordinated stockings that were not of the dollar store variety!

My dad gifted me with fabric & a pattern for a Christmas tree skirt a few years ago, so I made that as well, and then used scraps from it + leftovers of the gorgeous backing fabric and made the stockings. Each stocking is made according to the boy's wishes -- they each chose which fabric for the body, what design they wanted me to applique to the front (those are all drawn by me and cut out, etc.), and my middle son even specified that he wanted a "red and green candy cane striped cuff" which I put together from HST scraps that were left from cutting pieces for the tree skirt. Then for hubby and myself I did Mr. & Mrs. Snowman on opposite color fabrics (his is blue, mine red, and we both have the same cuff fabric).

I didn't use a pattern, and probably should have tracked down instructions on getting the cuffs on properly as it took me several attempts to get sorted and so none of them are fantastic. The stockings aren't lined or quilted, but they should hold up just the same. So glad I have that removable bottom so I could do the cuffs on the free arm thingy! That was helpful.

Just thought you all might like to see these The tree skirt is done but waiting for me to prepare the binding so I can put that on (and cut the center hole at that time).


L to R these are my husband's, oldest son, middle son, youngest son, and mine. The gorgeous backing fabric is on my cuff and hubby's cuff and the body of my middle son's stocking; isn't that just too pretty to only ever see the floor??? I have enough left to do a table runner or placemats or something, too!


Close up of the boys' stockings --- kitty cat coming out of a wrapped present (my 12 yr old's); cross (my 15 yr old's); Santa (my 7 yr old's)


this was before I quilted it; I haven't taken a pic of it quilted yet. I just did diagonal line quilting at the edges of the blocks; there's no batting in it, as I wanted it more tree-skirty and less quilty (and didn't want to use precious batting on a tree skirt, LOL!) so it didn't need tons of quilting. I'll post a pic later on when I get it bound and all

[Renata]

Heather, you are so prolific and creative and looks like you've got Christmas in the bag! That was so great that you let the children pick out their fabrics and what went on their stockings--what a great memory-maker for when they are older! So nice to see you totally enjoying your new machine!

[Renata]

Heather, you are so prolific and creative and looks like you've got Christmas in the bag! That was so great that you let the children pick out their fabrics and what went on their stockings--what a great memory-maker for when they are older! So nice to see you totally enjoying your new machine!

aww, thanks Renata! I have a lot of fun. I have so many ideas in my head of what I want to do, and the machine is just finally letting me actually do them! I hope to finish my oldest son's quilt this Christmas break; it's about 2/3rds of the way done so far. Now that the Christmas sewing is more or less over with, I can focus on that, and then on to other projects!

[MontanaGramma]

Love your stockings and they are extra special because you let each boy have their say - these will all be cherished forever!

[MontanaGramma]

Those are really great looking stockings, and really special too.

For another time when you are sewing in a tube, like the cuffs on stockings or shortening jeans, I find it is easier to sew it from the inside like this.

[MontanaGramma]

Those are really great looking stockings, and really special too.

For another time when you are sewing in a tube, like the cuffs on stockings or shortening jeans, I find it is easier to sew it from the inside like this.

I'll have to try that! I turned them inside out and fitted around the free arm and sewed that way, just moving around the arm. When I put the hanger loop on though I did it as you show. The hard part was that I did not make the cuffs extra long, so I had to figure how to make them fold over at the right point; first one kept folding over and having raw edges sticking out the top, LOL! It was a lesson for sure!

[MontanaGramma]

Fitting around the free arm ( also know as the sleeve arm) is great, but sometimes the tube isn't big enough. For hems, turn it in, then turn it in a second time, that way your raw edges are hidden. Or if you only want/are able to turn in the fabric once, use one of the fancy wide stitchs to cover the raw edge and distract the eye :wink: I'm sure you have a number of fancy stitches as well as just straight stitch on your new machine

[Renata]

Or if you only want/are able to turn in the fabric once, use one of the fancy wide stitches to cover the raw edge and distract the eye :wink: I'm sure you have a number of fancy stitches as well as just straight stitch on your new machine

Like your idea of distracting the eye from the raw edge, Rosemary; I'll keep that in mind when in a pinch!

[Margo]

Heather, you have certainly made some treasures for your family!

Rosemary's photo reminded me that when hemming jeans you might want to use a Hump Jumper. It's a handy gadget to use anytime you need to sew over a bulky area!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahzIr9xRUn4

[Margo]

Fitting around the free arm ( also know as the sleeve arm) is great, but sometimes the tube isn't big enough. For hems, turn it in, then turn it in a second time, that way your raw edges are hidden. Or if you only want/are able to turn in the fabric once, use one of the fancy wide stitchs to cover the raw edge and distract the eye :wink: I'm sure you have a number of fancy stitches as well as just straight stitch on your new machine

Oh! that would have been brilliant!! Definitely filing that away for the future....

I did use a zig-zag instead of straight edge, and could definitely do a really close zig-zag as needed next time. Not sure what all else I have, mostly garment-y stitches. I'm still playing with all of that.... But double folding the fabric, genius. Sometimes it amazes me how much I don't know.....so glad I have all of you! :mrgreen:

[Margo]

Heather, you have certainly made some treasures for your family!

Rosemary's photo reminded me that when hemming jeans you might want to use a Hump Jumper. It's a handy gadget to use anytime you need to sew over a bulky area!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahzIr9xRUn4

that looks like a great gadget, Margo! I did have trouble where I lined up seams already; my poor needle would want to get stuck and my foot would not want to keep moving the fabric. I was able to manage it with raising the needle, lifting the presser foot, move the fabric a wee smidge, and start again but that Hump Jumper looks like the perfect tool (or do the same thing with cardboard, etc....) for that! Brilliant!! And another one of those times I'm amazed what I don't know....

[rehak]

Those are really great looking stockings, and really special too.

For another time when you are sewing in a tube, like the cuffs on stockings or shortening jeans, I find it is easier to sew it from the inside like this.

I'll have to try that! I turned them inside out and fitted around the free arm and sewed that way, just moving around the arm. When I put the hanger loop on though I did it as you show. The hard part was that I did not make the cuffs extra long, so I had to figure how to make them fold over at the right point; first one kept folding over and having raw edges sticking out the top, LOL! It was a lesson for sure!

If I understand what you're saying, you could also have sewed the cuff on the other way so that the raw edge is between the cuff and the stocking when the cuff is in its final position. Then there are no worries about that raw edge. But they look great to me the way they are!

Nancy

[rehak]

Those are really great looking stockings, and really special too.

For another time when you are sewing in a tube, like the cuffs on stockings or shortening jeans, I find it is easier to sew it from the inside like this.

I'll have to try that! I turned them inside out and fitted around the free arm and sewed that way, just moving around the arm. When I put the hanger loop on though I did it as you show. The hard part was that I did not make the cuffs extra long, so I had to figure how to make them fold over at the right point; first one kept folding over and having raw edges sticking out the top, LOL! It was a lesson for sure!

If I understand what you're saying, you could also have sewed the cuff on the other way so that the raw edge is between the cuff and the stocking when the cuff is in its final position. Then there are no worries about that raw edge. But they look great to me the way they are!

Nancy

thanks, Nancy!

What I took *forever* to figure out was that I needed to fold the cuff into the inside of the stocking and then sew through all 3 layers, not just sew the raw edges together at the top and then fold over, because then the raw edges stick up out of the top. hard to explain without seeing it, sorry 'bout that, but it took me about 3 stockings to get it just right. The others all have extra "decorative" zig zags in various places where I had to fix what I'd tried to do. Luckily the boys are easy to please

[lorra]

Heather, I really like the stockings you made. They will always be special to the boys. Keep learning. You are doing great. If you every decide to do clothing, try to find an older pattern. The instructions in the older patterns are so much better. The new patterns think you know everything already.
I have been busy making table runners. The ones out of striped fabric with the 60 degree pieces on the ends to make them pointy. I have 5 quilted, waiting for binding. I also made 5 candle mats out of the leftover cuts of fabric. I have a couple more to do yet, then bind them all.

A couple of years ago, I started wrapping my daughters gifts in Christmas fabric. I thought they would eventually make a quilt out of them. One daughter is into quilting, but the other two aren't yet. They are just too busy right now. The one that pasted away this year was into quilting too. I sure miss her. It still does not seem possible she is gone. Christmas will be very hard for all of us. Sorry, I didn't mean to bring anyone down. Betsy was very fond of Christmas and she would want everyone to be joyful. That said, we are leaving for Branson tomorrow to see all the Christmas lights. Her two babies will love that!!!

[lorra]

Heather, I really like the stockings you made. They will always be special to the boys. Keep learning. You are doing great. If you every decide to do clothing, try to find an older pattern. The instructions in the older patterns are so much better. The new patterns think you know everything already.
I have been busy making table runners. The ones out of striped fabric with the 60 degree pieces on the ends to make them pointy. I have 5 quilted, waiting for binding. I also made 5 candle mats out of the leftover cuts of fabric. I have a couple more to do yet, then bind them all.

A couple of years ago, I started wrapping my daughters gifts in Christmas fabric. I thought they would eventually make a quilt out of them. One daughter is into quilting, but the other two aren't yet. They are just too busy right now. The one that pasted away this year was into quilting too. I sure miss her. It still does not seem possible she is gone. Christmas will be very hard for all of us. Sorry, I didn't mean to bring anyone down. Betsy was very fond of Christmas and she would want everyone to be joyful. That said, we are leaving for Branson tomorrow to see all the Christmas lights. Her two babies will love that!!!

Oh, (((Cathy))), I am so sorry for the heartache this Christmas without your daughter. I can only imagine how hard that must be! Of course you miss her! I'll keep you and your family in my prayers this season.

your table runners and candle mats sound lovely! I hope you'll post a picture sometime. And thank you for the tip about seeking out old patterns if I ever branch into clothing. I don't plan to, but one never knows....I never planned to sew or quilt at all, and look what's happened!

Enjoy the Christmas lights with your grandbabies, as best you can. (((hugs))))