Learn how to make a stocking with this simple sewing tutorial. It’s a lot easier than you might think to make your own stockings. You can use vintage grain sacks, old sweaters, maybe even repurpose an old blanket that has a few too many holes.

This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.

Homemade Stockings are Easy to Make

Making your own Christmas stockings is a super simple project. I love that I can use any beautiful fabric I come across, like that vintage eyelet from the thrift shop, old sheets, worn ticking and an old grain sack. For today’s project, I am using a reproduction grain sack fabric to make stockings for the whole family!

How to Make a Stocking for Christmas Materials

1/4 yard grain sack fabric
1/4 yard drop cloth
1 package extra wide double fold bias tape

How to Make a Stocking for Christmas Tutorial

The pattern pieces:

2 “J shaped” fabric pieces from the main fabric (Use an existing stocking as a pattern. See step 2 below.)

2 “J shaped” fabric pieces from drop cloth

2-9″ long pieces of drop cloth for the top band (The width of the band will be determined by the width of your stocking main stocking piece. See step 3 below.)

1-6″ piece of ribbon or bias tape

1. Cut out the J pieces

Take an old stocking and, using it as a guide, make an outline on the fabric for the outside piece. When cutting around the fabric, leave a half inch all the way around for seam allowance. Cut out 2 “J shaped” grain sack fabric pieces for the outside and 2 “J shaped” drop cloth fabric pieces for the inside. I like to use 100% cotton drop cloth because it can be bleached and I also use it for other projects in my house such as making slipcovers for my couch and chairs.

2. Cut out the 2 drop cloth fabric pieces for the top band

To cut the top band part, measure a piece of coordinating fabric. Cut out 2 pieces of a 9 inch long side x the width of the top of your main stocking piece.

3. Sew the main pieces together

With a 1/2″ seam and right sides together, sew around the long sides and “J” of your main stocking pieces. Leave the top open.

Note: If your outside bottom pieces has stripes, line those up before you sew them together and pin them in place. The grain sack fabric I am using has stripes on both sides, so it doesn’t matter about the inside out thing. If your fabric is a solid pattern on both sides, you don’t need to worry about lining up the pattern.

4. Sew the lining pieces together

With a 1/2″ seam and wrong sides together, sew around the long sides and “J” of your main stocking pieces. Leave the top open.

5. Prepare the bias tape

Sew down the open side of the 6″ piece of bias tape you cut in step 1.

6. Sew the top band together

Fold the finished bias tape in half. Fold one of the band pieces in half to find the middle of the 9 inch side. Pin the bias tape or other ribbon in the center of the fabric top and pin in place. Place the other fabric top piece on top and sew down both 9 inch sides with a 1/2″ seam

Fold the band piece in half, so the raw edges are hidden inside.

7. Put the stocking lining inside the main stocking piece.

The raw edges from the seam of the lining should be facing the raw edges from the seam of the main piece.

8. Sew the band to the main stocking

Line the bottom of the band up with the top of the stocking and sew together with a 1/2″ seam. Mke sure to catch the layers from the main stocking piece, lining and band.

9. Serge around the seam or do a tight zig-zag stitch to finish it off.

How to Make a Stocking for Christmas Video Tutorial

Shop the supplies I used for this tutorial

grain sack fabric

drop cloth

extra wide double fold bias tape

Pin it for later

How to Make a Stocking for Christmas

Yield: 1 Stocking

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Active Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Estimated Cost: $5

Materials

1/4 yard grain sack fabric
1/4 yard drop cloth
1 package extra wide double fold bias tape

Tools

Sewing machine
Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut the pattern pieces:

2 "J shaped" fabric pieces from the main fabric (Use an existing stocking as a pattern. See step 2 below.)

2 "J shaped" fabric pieces from drop cloth

2-9″ long pieces of drop cloth for the top band (The width of the band will be determined by the width of your stocking main stocking piece. See step 3 below.)

1-6" piece of ribbon or bias tape

2. Cut out the J pieces

Take an old stocking and, using it as a guide, make an outline on the fabric for the outside piece. When cutting around the fabric, leave a half inch all the way around for seam allowance. Cut out 2 "J shaped" grain sack fabric pieces for the outside and 2 "J shaped" drop cloth fabric pieces for the inside. I like to use 100% cotton drop cloth because it can be bleached and I also use it for other projects in my house such as making slipcovers for my couch and chairs.

3. Cut out the 2 drop cloth fabric pieces for the top band.

To cut the top band part, measure a piece of coordinating fabric. Cut out 2 pieces of a 9 inch long side x the width of the top of your main stocking piece.

4. Sew the main pieces together

With a 1/2" seam and right sides together, sew around the long sides and "J" of your main stocking pieces. Leave the top open.

5. Sew the lining pieces together

With a 1/2" seam and wrong sides together, sew around the long sides and "J" of your main stocking pieces. Leave the top open.

6. Prepare the bias tape

Sew down the open side of the 6" piece of bias tape you cut in step 1.

7. Sew the top band together