DIY: Quilt-as-you-go Christmas stocking tutorial

My patchwork group got together recently to make up some quilt-as-you-go Christmas stockings. I've been wanting to try quilt-as-you-go for ages and now that I've tried it, I'm going to be doing much more of it. It's so quick an easy and is a great use of scraps!

Here are some quick instructions for you to make your own quilt-as-you-go Christmas stocking. If you've never tried this technique, even if you've never made a quilt before or even if you're new to sewing, this tutorial will be easy to follow.

DIY Quilt-As-You-Go Christmas Stocking

All seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

You will need:

• Stocking pattern (use any pattern you like or draw your own - this is one instance where size doesn't matter)
• Batting slightly bigger than your stocking pattern
• Strips of fabric wide enough to extend past the edges of your pattern
• Coordinating fabric for back and lining which is tall enough to fit the length of two stocking and wide enough to fit two stockings side by side.
• Thread and the usual arsenal of sewing equipment for a basic sewing project

Making the front of the stocking:

Using your pattern piece, cut one stocking shape from the quilt batting. I used one of our family stockings as my pattern.

Dry fit your strips by laying them out as a test before sewing. Make sure they're going to cover the batting entirely.

Beginning at the bottom of your batting stocking, place the first strip right side up so the edges of the fabric extend well past the edges of the batting.

Lay a second strip on top of the first with right sides together and the top edges aligned.

Sew along the aligned edge (going through both fabrics and the batting).

Fold the second fabric up to lay flat on the batting. Press.

Repeat steps 3-5 until the entire stocking is covered.

Turn the stocking over so the batting is facing up.

Trim away excess fabric following the contours of the batting.

Cutting the back lining and backing of the stocking:

Fold a piece of your coordinating fabric in half so that the fold runs along the top edge of your fabric.

Lay your stocking front on the coordinating fabric with the top edge approximately 1/4" past the folded edge of your fabric.

Cut one stocking piece on the fold.

You'll wind up with what looks like two boots joined at the top...like this:

Making the front lining:

Lay your stocking front on a single layer of your coordinating fabric with the toe pointing the opposite way as your stocking (i.e. place right sides together). Cut out one stocking piece.

Place your stocking front and front lining pieces right sides together. Stitch along the top edge and turn the piece right side out. Press the top edge.

Open up the newly assembled stocking front and lining and lay it right side up.

Making the loop:

From your coordinating fabric, cut a piece 2.5" x 6". Fold the piece in half lengthwise with right sides together and stitch along the long edge opposite the fold. Turn the piece right side out and press with the seam centred down the middle.

Assembling the stocking:

Fold the loop in half with the seam on the inside and position it at what will be the top back of the stocking (i.e. where it makes sense to hang the stocking from).

Open up the stocking back/lining piece and lay it right sides together on top of the stocking front/lining.

Pin the edges.

Stitch all the way around leaving a 3" opening on the sole of the foot on the half without batting.

Clip the curves.

Turn the piece right side out and sew the opening you left in the sole closed by hand.

Carefully push the lining into place and press.

You're done.

Here's the one I made with my patchwork group. I didn't use a sewing machine at all on this one. That's 100% handmade, baby.