Sweater Stocking

holidays-recycled

sweater-stocking

Well, maybe I can make all of our holiday decorations from two thrifted sweaters.  Here’s a quick tutorial for a felted sweater stocking.  I never can seem to find any good striped sweaters at the thrift store, so I thought I’d make my own.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Betz White has visited every thrift store in the land and is hoarding all the cool sweaters in her closet.

This makes a 12″ long stocking, but you could increase or decrease the pattern to suit your needs.  Print the template here.

  1. First, you’ll need 100% wool sweaters, washed and dried.
  2. I cut my sweaters into 1 1/2″ strips (the width of my yard stick).  I used about 15 strips in all.  I sewed them with a straight stitch right sides together until I had a somewhat rectangular striped piece.
  3. I then cut the pattern front from this piece, adding 1/2″ around the outside for the seam allowance.  I cut the back from a solid color (with a band at the top).  Be sure to cut the front and back in mirror image.  I then inserted a quick loop and sewed it all together.

sweater-stocking-tutorial

kiki-the-cat

This wouldn’t be a sewing blog without a picture of a cat, would it?  Here’s the the best cat in the world with her new stocking.  Seriously, this cat comes when you call her and she would meow at my door when the girls were babies and cried at night.  She was the only family member who didn’t have a stocking yet.  I will not be making one for the fish.

23 Replies to “Sweater Stocking”

  1. Hmmn, I’ve had that same thought about the lack of great wool sweaters at the thrift stores…
    I love this sweet little stocking. I made some of my own stripes this weekend too, but of the cotton variety, when I realized we would really need some red and white aprons soon. Happy Holiday Crafting!

  2. Adorable! And how did you know my crafting list includes “make a stocking for the cat!” (Our fish, purchased in late September, didn’t even make it to Halloween). And I have red and tan sweaters that would be perfect. (purr-fect?)

  3. oh my gosh, i totally suspect Betz of the same thing. Every time I see her bright colored projects, I wonder where she found those sweaters!
    BTW, this stocking is adorable.

  4. omg i am new at sewing and i cant sew with recycled wool. it turns out all lumpy. what kind of needle do you use?

  5. Thank you so much for letting us know who took the thrifted sweaters! I’ve noticed that they were missing from the thrift stores and had wondered. ;-P

    Look the stockings and have put them on my list for my kidlets & their cousins.

  6. I just use my basic 75/11 needle and a straight stitch. Sewing with an overcasting stitch makes the edges wavy. Be sure to press it before you sew.

  7. aaaaw! Poor fish! lol! This was a very cute project! Thank you…. but I still feel the fish should get one too!

  8. This is similar to what I sell in my Etsy shop! I love making stockings from wool sweaters. The possibilities are endless! Great Blog!

  9. Wow, that stocking is cute. I am not good in sewing but I will definitely try this one. Christmas is fast approaching and I am sure my son will love this stocking.

  10. i agree that this cat is the best ever. she gives back massages. . . 🙂
    what a great stocking!!

  11. So simple and cool… I think the two different textures makes it look ultra chic! It inspires me to go try find old German sweaters… happy creations from tj

  12. I am a venezuelan fan of your blog; excuse my english but I need to tell you that I like it very much and I like your cat too… it is true: a blog without a cat is not a crafter blog.
    I would like to know her name because I have an article about crafters and cats and I would like to include her in it. I invite you to visit it at http://liladas.blogspot.com/search/label/Manualistas%20y%20gatos

    Also I have a cat´s blog named gatosconsentidos.blogspot.com it is written in spanish but you can enjoy the images.
    Very glad to meet you.
    Lily.

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