Day 15: Button Stocking

Today's craft comes to us from this months Better Homes and Gardens magazine. There was a super fun article called "Cute as a Button" that had the adorable felt stocking and to top it off it has instructions on how to make it!!! I have always wanted to make my own stockings but also fear it a little...don't quite know why, maybe it is because my family is still growing and I don't know how big it will grow and I want to have matching (or complimentary) stockings. Oh the crazy dilemma we create in our heads.

Flowered Felt Stocking

Add a modern twist to a yuletide with bright blooms and buttons on a felt stocking.

Materials:

• Bright red, dark red, white, aqua, and dark blue felt
• White and aqua embroidery floss
• Assorted buttons
• 1/4-inch-wide red grosgrain ribbon

Instructions:

1. Pin a stocking shape cut from bright red felt on top of a larger piece of dark red felt. Sew together by machine-stitching side and bottom edges.

2. Trim dark red felt, leaving a 1/4-inch border along stitch line. With a running stitch and white embroidery floss, go over the machine stitching for hand-sewn detailing.

3. To create the largest flower, layer white-felt petal shapes on top of aqua felt and secure with aqua embroidery floss. Cut out a 2 1/4-inch dark blue felt circle and a 1 3/4-inch red felt circle. Notch the circle edges. Layer a white-felt circle on top of the notched circles and sew the petals to the three-layer flower center. Sew a doubled-up button through the flower center. Sew flower to stocking.

4. Make smaller two-ply flower shapes. Layer felt shapes and buttons and stitch to stocking. Sew small shank buttons directly to stocking for additional detail.

Or if you don't want to make the ENTIRE stocking try embellishing a store bought stocking. BHG gives a few idea's here.

Now if you decide to make this please show your love on the Better Homes and Garden's website...because we have to give credit where credit is due.

Peace out,

Cyndi