This quilted Christmas stocking is a fun, freeform holiday sewing project. You piece fabric strips, quilt them right onto foam and lining, and add a soft vinyl cuff and hanging loop. The stocking shape is generously sized, so you can actually fit presents inside! There's no fussy lining step, because the outside, foam, and lining are quilted together as one piece.
Remember, sewing is a stress reliever and it's meant to be FUN, so don't put the perfection pressure on yourself. Perfection isn't real.
Download the free stocking shape PDF here. Print it on a home printer and tile the pages together, or draw your own stocking shape like I did!
What You'll Make
A large, quilted, lined Christmas stocking with a padded soft vinyl cuff and a hanging loop. Foam inside gives it structure, so it holds its shape and doesn't droop when it's filled with gifts. You can piece it from strips like I did or use one fabric. Quilt it lightly for a softer stocking or heavily for a stiffer one.
Skill level: Confident beginner. If you can sew straight strips together and quilt straight lines, you can make this.
Supplies
- Free stocking shape (PDF), or your own shape drawn on poster board
- Exterior: quilting cotton scraps or strips. I used a holiday fabric bundle in untraditional colors.
- Soft vinyl for the cuff and an accent strip (I used lavender)
- Lining fabric
- Sew Hippie Foam interfacing for structure. Fusible fleece also works for a slouchier stocking.
- Temporary spray adhesive (I use 505 spray) to hold the layers for quilting
- Thread (I use Gütermann)
- Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
- Clips and pattern weights
- Teflon pressing sheet (or a scrap of fabric) for pressing near the vinyl
- Pinking shears
- Optional: walking foot, nylon mallet, serger, or fray check
How to Sew a Quilted Christmas Stocking
Step 1: Cut your strips
Cut fabric strips in any widths you like. Mix wide and skinny strips; they don't have to match. Lay your stocking shape on top as you go to make sure your strips are plenty wide and long enough to cover it. I like to place the pieces before sewing so I can see where each print will land.
Step 2: Piece the strips
Sew the strips together with a 1/4" seam (I just use the edge of my presser foot) and a 3 mm stitch. No need to backstitch, since these seams get stitched over again when you quilt. Build as you go, and add a strip of soft vinyl near the bottom for a fun accent. Yes, you can pin this soft vinyl.
Step 3: Press the seams to one side
Press all the seams in the same direction, all up or all down. I prefer this to pressing seams open, because it keeps the seams stronger. Never press directly on soft vinyl. Use a Teflon sheet or a scrap of fabric on top to protect it.
Step 4: Layer with foam and lining, and rough cut
Stack your lining, foam, and pieced exterior. Place your stocking shape on top and rough cut it with lots of extra room. Quilting can shrink the layers a bit, and you'll trim to the exact shape later. Mirror the shape for the second side! Flip the pattern over so your two sides match up when you sew them right sides together. If your lining fabric is directional, check that it's facing the right way too.
Step 5: Spray baste the layers
Peel back each layer and lightly spray it with temporary adhesive. This holds everything in place so nothing puckers or shifts while you quilt. You don't have to go outside; just spray small areas and pay attention to where you're spraying.
Step 6: Quilt the panels
Turn your stitch length up to 4 mm. Start in the middle by stitching in the ditch along your strip seams, then work your way out. Quilt every line in the same direction. I pull the piece out and start again at the same edge each time, because turning and going the other way makes layers shift and pull. Watch where you're going, not the needle, and don't push or pull the fabric. A walking foot helps, but a regular foot works fine. Quilt lightly for a softer stocking, or add more lines for a stiffer one. Repeat for the second side.
Step 7: Cut out the stocking shape
Place your stocking shape back on the quilted panels and cut out the final shape. Position it so your favorite strips and the vinyl accent show where you want them.
Step 8: Make the padded cuff
Cut a soft vinyl strip 5" tall and as wide as the top of your stocking. Folded in half, it makes a cuff a little over 2" tall. To keep the cuff from flopping, spray baste a 2" strip of foam inside, flush with the fold. That keeps the foam out of the seam allowance, so even a machine that doesn't love thick layers can handle it. Fold the cuff in half.
Step 9: Attach and quilt the cuff
Set your stitch back to 3 mm. Sew the cuff to the top of each stocking side with the raw edges together. Fold the cuff up, press the seam flat (finger press or use a mallet), and stitch it down so nothing pokes out. Then switch back to 4 mm and quilt the cuff to match the stocking. You can also do zigzags, diamonds, free-motion quilting, appliqué, or embroidery. Soft vinyl embroiders beautifully! Trim the edges even.
Step 10: Make the hanging loop
Cut a fabric strip 3" wide and 7" long (you can make it longer). Fold it like binding: fold both long edges to the middle, then fold in half again. Topstitch both long edges. Fold the loop in half and clip it to the top back corner of one stocking side, where it meets the cuff. Stagger the ends a little so the layers aren't all stacked on top of each other, then baste it in place.
Step 11: Sew the two sides together
Place the two stocking sides right sides together (exterior to exterior) and clip all the way around. Match the cuff seams first; everything else has some wiggle room. Check both sides to make sure no fabric has curled back. Sew around with a 3 mm stitch, backstitching at the top edges a few times for strength. If one side is a little skinnier, just take a bigger seam allowance there. Little puckers in the seam allowance won't show.
Step 12: Finish the seams and turn
Trim around the curves with pinking shears. It's my cheater method for making curves pop without notching. You can pink, serge, or fray check the rest of the edges if you like. Stockings rarely get washed, so the edges won't fray much. Turn the stocking right side out and push out the seams with your thumb. Done!
Jump to a Step in the Video
- 0:19 The stocking shape and project overview
- 6:29 Cutting strips
- 9:53 Piecing the strips
- 12:39 Adding a soft vinyl strip
- 14:22 Pressing the seams
- 15:58 Lining and foam
- 17:55 Mirroring and rough cutting the shape
- 20:11 Spray basting
- 22:36 Quilting the panels
- 27:22 Cutting the final shape
- 29:00 Making the padded cuff
- 32:55 Attaching and quilting the cuff
- 35:39 Making the hanging loop
- 38:43 Clipping and sewing the sides together
- 42:32 French seams and foam alternatives
- 43:54 Pinking the edges
- 48:07 Turning and the finished stocking
Christmas Stocking FAQ
What can I use instead of Soft & Stable foam?
Sew Hippie Foam works great, and headliner foam works too. Fusible fleece is another option. Your stocking will just be slouchier and less structured. For help choosing, see my Interfacing Guide for Bag Making.
Why does the stocking need foam?
Foam gives it support, so when you fill it with presents it keeps its stocking shape instead of drooping.
Do I need a walking foot to quilt the stocking?
No. I quilted mine with a regular foot. Spray basting the layers and quilting every line in the same direction keeps them from shifting. A walking foot just makes it easier.
Can I use French seams on a stocking?
Yes! Keep the foam out of the seam allowance, and add extra seam allowance to your stocking shape so it doesn't end up smaller than you expect. A French seam is sewn wrong sides together first, then turned and sewn right sides together to enclose the raw edges.
Do I have to finish the inside seams?
Not really. Stockings are rarely washed, so the edges won't fray much. Pink the curves so they lie smooth, and serge or fray check the rest if you want to.
Can I iron soft vinyl?
Yes, but never directly. Press from the wrong side or put a Teflon sheet or a scrap of fabric on top.
More Holiday Projects You'll Love
- Christmas Tree Napkins Sewing Tutorial
- Easy DIY Felt Ornaments and Gift Toppers
- Scrappy Holiday Card DIY Tutorial
- Franken-Foam: Joining Foam Scraps
Shop soft vinyl, premium quilting cotton, interfacing and foam, and tools and notions in the Sew Hungry Hippie shop.
Thanks for sewing along! If this helped, please like and subscribe on YouTube, and join our email list for new tutorials and free patterns.
Peace, Love, Sewing,
-Natalie
