Knitted wool stockings make a beautiful, nostalgic addition to mantelpieces during the holidays. However, their price tag is anything but sentimental. Why spend big bucks when you can create a similar one from an old thrift store sweater? The end result is a stunning knitted stocking you can easily make in under an hour without knitting a single purl.
Supplies:
- Knit sweater
- Coordinating thread
- Scissors
- Sewing pins
- Marker
- Kraft or tracing paper
- Sewing machine
- 2 x 3-inch plastic card (such as a credit card) for pom-pom
Directions:
For the stocking:
Step 1: To create the template, hand draw a stocking shape roughly 16-1/2 inches tall x 10-1/2 inches wide on Kraft paper. Cut out stocking template.
Step 2: Turn sweater inside out and pin template to the sweater, so that the top edge of the stocking template lines up with the band at the bottom of the sweater.
Step 3: Trace the outline of the template with a permanent marker.
Step 4: Remove template and pin both layers of the sweater together.
Step 5: Cut out both layers of the stocking along marker lines.
Step 6: Thread sewing machine with coordinating thread, and stitch sides and bottom (don’t sew the top opening) with 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out and form into stocking shape. Next add the loop and pom-poms made out of the leftover sweater scraps.
For the loop and pom-poms:
Step 1: Using the leftover scraps of the sweater, cut a 12-inch (or as wide as possible) x 4-inch rectangle sweater patch from the back of the sweater.
Step 2: Ravel the sweater by horizontally pulling out roughly 20 yarns.
Step 3: For the loop that you’ll hang the sweater from, braid 6 yarns (3 sets of 2 yarns) together to create a 7-inch cord, and knot the braid at each end. For the pom-pom strings, braid 3 yarns together to create 2 9-inch cords, and knot the braids at each end. Set aside.
Step 4: Wrap 4, 12-inch yarns around the credit card, one at a time. Slide the wrapped yarns off the card and secure the midpoint of the yarns with a shorter yarn tied in a double knot.
Step 5: Double knot one of the pom-pom strings around the midpoint of the yarns.
Step 6: Cut the loops on each end of the “pom.” Fluff the yarns into a sphere shape. Repeat steps 4 to 6 for the second pom-pom.
Step 7: Use your sewing machine to attach the stocking loop and both pom-pom strings just behind the left seam at the opening of the stocking. Hang at the fireplace so it’s ready for Santa’s arrival!
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