Burlap Stocking Tutorial - Just For You

As promised by a binding pinky swear, here is a tutorial for my version of a burlap stocking:

Burlap Stocking Tutorial

Make a template for your stocking. I freehanded mine on a piece of Bristol board and it ended up being about 7” (and a bit) wide and 12” (and a bit) long.

Trace 2 outlines of your stocking pattern onto burlap. Cut around your outlines leaving a 3/4 inch seam allowance (that you can trim later).

Trace 2 more outlines of your stocking pattern onto the wrong side of your white fabric. (I used a white, canvas twill for my white fabric.) These two pieces will make your stocking liner and cuff. Make sure that your two sides match when placed together and the wrong sides are both facing out.

Measure and mark an extra 4” to the top of the stocking. (This will fold over to become the cuff later on.) (See previous picture.) Then cut around your outlines leaving a 1/2" seam allowance.

Fold over the top edges your burlap pieces and press. 

 Sew a straight seam across the top of both pieces of burlap.

Pin both pieces of burlap together with the wrong sides facing out. Stitch around the sides and bottom of the stocking using a straight stitch. Make sure to leave the top of the stocking open. Trim off any excess seam allowance. (I left a ½ inch since the burlap frays quite a bit.)

Press the seam allowances open with your iron.

Use scissors to clip tiny notches in the seam allowance all around the rounded part of the stocking so it won’t bunch when you flip it inside out.

Flip the burlap stocking inside out and press with your iron until your stocking lays somewhat flat.

Cut 2 long strips of white fabric, about 2” wide. My strips were 2”x30”.

Fold over one of the long edges of your strip of fabric a ½ an inch and press.

Sew a straight seam (close to the fold) all along the strip of fabric.

Mark a small dash every ½ inch along the sewn seam.

This will help you create evenly spaced, ½ inch pleats.

Starting from the left hand side of your fabric strip, use your pencil marks and begin to fold your fabric behind itself in an S shape.

For each pleat, I used a piece of tape to hold it in place.

I also pressed each pleat with an iron.

Continue to fold, tape, and iron your pleats until you have enough pleats to run along the top edge of your stocking liner.

Tape the other side of your pleats to keep them in place while you sew them.

You will need to make two sets of ruffled pleats, one to sew to each side of the stocking liner (see above picture).

Fold the top edges of your white stocking liners over ½ inch and press.

Pin the good side of the stocking liner directly onto the good side of the ruffled pleats. I pinned them so that 1” of the pleats would be showing. Sew the two pieces of fabric together using a straight stitch. (I forgot a picture of this part. Whoops.)

Once the ruffles have been sewn onto each side of the stocking liner, pin both sides of the liner together with the wrong sides facing outward. Sew them together using a straight stitch. Remember to leave the top of the stocking liner (with the ruffles) open.

Press the seam allowances of your stocking liner open. Then slide the liner into the burlap stocking. You’ll have to wiggle and squish.

Fold over the top 4” of the liner to create a cuff.

Use your original pencil line to help you figure out how much to fold over.

Pin the top of the stocking liner to the burlap stocking making sure it is even all the way around. Make sure that your pins are catching both the liner and the burlap.

Sew the liner to the burlap using a straight stitch all around the top of the stocking. You may have to take off the front piece of your sewing machine to fit the stocking on your machine.

Press everything so it is nice and smooth and flat. Embellish your stocking with flowers, buttons, or tags.

Braid some jute twine, fold it over and knot to create a loop to hang the stocking by. Sew the loop into the stocking by hand or pin to the inside with a safety pin. I chose to pin mine in case I want adjust the length of the loop or in case I decide to hang them over our staircase railing.

Admire your craftiness and try to forget that it took you the whole day to do. :)

Note 1: On my original stocking I made a burlap rosette. I'll do a quick tutorial tomorrow and post it for you if you are interested.

Note 2: If I forgot to explain any steps or if anything is unclear, send me a note and I'll fix it up.

Note 3: If any of this seems @$$-backwards to you, I'm sorry. I am a self-taught sewer and I just kind of made up how to make this. :S

Note 4: If you try one, I'd love to hear how it turns out!

Note 5: To see the first one I made, click here.

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