Elegant or cute and whimsical, the choice is yours! These in-the-hoop mini stockings take only small bits of fabric and are quick to make. They’re perfect for your holiday table or for mini treat bags.
This set includes 9 stockings that can be completed in the hoop with just one hooping. Each stocking is fully lined with no exposed seams. The cuff is free at the bottom, the way a cuff on a sock would be.
Four additional designs are included for adding text to the cuff. These must be stitched separately and before the main stocking. Matt down stitching is included for stitching on textured fabric. Skip this color change if not needed.
The stockings can be completed in a 130 x 180mm ( “5x7”) sewing field hoop. The personalized cuffs will work in a 100 x 100mm (“4x4”) sewing field hoop.
Skill Level
While this project is simple, it has a lot of steps and you’ll need to pay close attention to what goes where and when.
Some of the stockings include appliqué. If you aren’t familiar with this technique, you might want to watch this video: How to do Machine Embroidered Applique.
Please read through all instructions before starting your project! This project, while complex, is not really difficult because the embroidery takes care of all the construction. Cut and place carefully and you’ll have a successful result!
Resizing is not recommended
Fabric Choices
I used a mixture of quilt weight cottons and polar fleece. For most of the stockings, I applied a thin cotton batting behind the front. Stockings that didn’t include batting were interfaced.
The cutting list included in the design worksheet calls for folding the cuff wrong sides together before stitching to the front of the stocking. If you use polar fleece, this will add a lot of bulk and it will be harder to get the stocking front smooth and flat.
Since this type of fleece doesn’t ravel, you can use just a single layer. With this method, you could cut the free (bottom) edge of the cuff with a decorative edge, as shown below
The key when choosing and preparing your fabrics is to keep in mind that the stitched project needs to be turned inside out twice so be aware of how thick and how stiff your fabrics are. For example, on the Santa because I used polar fleece for the beard so I omitted the batting and just interfaced the fabric.
Threads
I used mostly polyester embroidery thread. The holly design would look gorgeous in metallic. I did use gold metallic on Santa’s glasses.
About the Appliques
Applique patterns are included for the stocking shape as well as other elements for some of the designs. I did not precut the stocking shape. For the other pieces, I precut if I was using quilt cottons and applied fusible web to the back
Fusible web cannot be used on polar fleece so for Santa’s beard, I chose to use the trim-inplace method
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About the Designs
Each design has a worksheet with a color sequence, actual size appliqué patterns, plus sewing and cutting instructions. Once you’re familiar with these more complete instructions, you should be able to follow the worksheet notes.
The stocking steps are the same for each design. The decorative parts all start with color 4. Assembling and finishing the stocking are the last 3 colors. I recommend you try making the Plain Stocking first so that you understand the in-the-hoop steps.
There are 9 stocking designs and 4 cuff designs. If you want an embroidered cuff, you need to sew that separately and before the stocking. The cuff design assumes you will be folding the fabric. Use this design as a placement guide if you wish to personalize cuffs with names
What You’ll Need
- Suitable fabrics, pre-washed and pressed. I used quilt-weight cottons and polar fleece. Tip: If fabrics are especially soft, starching can reduce distortion when stitching if you aren’t applying interfacing.
- Rotary cutter, quilting ruler and mat
- Stabilizer: I used Sulky Soft ‘n Sheer for knits (polar fleece) and wash-away tearaway for wovens.
- Batting: I used Warm and Natural (batting is optional)
- Fusible interfacing: I used Pellon ShirTailor
- Steam-a-Seam 2 for appliqué
- Steam-a-Seam 2: 1/4’ wide hem tape
- Scissors used:
- For trimming batting
- Thread snips
- Heavy scissors for final trim
- Suitable embroidery threads
- Optional: ribbons or decorative cord for hanging loops
- Tape (Scotch invisible, painter’s tape, or similar)
Getting Started
You’ll need to some prep work before starting the embroidery:
- Cut, press, and prepare all your fabrics
- If you’re making self fabric loops, make these ahead. (Instructions not included.)
- Stitch any personalized cuffs before stitching the main stocking design.
Stocking Cutting Requirements
- Stocking front: cut 2 4.75” x 5.75” of fabric & 1 of batting*.
- Plain Cuff: Cut one 3.75” wide by 3” tall folded wrong side together to 3.75” x 1.5”.
- Embroidered Cuff: Cut one 4” x 4”
- Back: Cut one: 4.75” x 11.5, folded wrong side together to 4.75” x 5.75” TIP: Applying a strip of fusible web at the fold line (on the inside) will reinforce the folded edge.
- Optional Loop: Cut twice as long as desired length + 1”
* Batting is optional and can make the project more difficult to turn and appear more puckered on the front
QUICK CUTTING TIP: If you’re using the same fabric for the front, back, and front lining, cut 2 pieces of fabric 5” x 12” wide. If your fabric is folded, this is just one cut. Cut the front fabric into 2 pieces
Optional: Embroidering the Cuff
The cuff design includes matt down stitches in case you are stitching on a textured fabric.
These should be sewn in the same color as your fabric. If you don’t need them, skip color 3
1. Hoop appropriate stabilizer and sew color 1 for placement
2. Place fabric. Sew color 2
3. Color 3 is a matt down stitch to flatten any texture. If you don’t need it, skip it.
4. Color 4 is the lettering
Remove from hoop. Mark center top. Cut out along tack down line. Remove stabilizer.
Fold in half horizontally, wrong side together. The lettering is positioned to align along the folded edge.
Embroidering the Stocking
1. Hoop appropriate stabilizer and sew color 1 for placement. This placement line allows for 1/4” seam. All fabrics should cover this line
2. Place batting (if using) and sew color 2. If not using batting, skip this color change.
3. Trim back batting to tack down stitching to minimize bulk in the seam allowances
4. Place top fabric right side up. Sew color 3.
This color will secure the stocking front to the stabilizer and stitch some additional placement guides:
- Top center is the center cuff guide
- Top horizontal guides are for placing the back fabric (top fold will match here).
- Bottom horizontal guides are for aligning the bottom fold of the cuff
Using a pen or pencil and rulle, extend these lines onto the stabilizer so they are visible later
Any decorative elements are sewn here. Refer to your individual design color sequences if not sewing the Plain Stocking
5. Place the cuff, aligning folded edge (or bottom edge, if you’re using one layer of fabric) with horizontal bottom placement guides and top center with top center guide. The cuff should be placed right side up
If you’re adding a loop hanger, position that at this time also. Place the loop with the raw edges toward the raw edges of the stocking fabrics and right side down. Extend it about 1/2” beyond the seam line.
Secure with tape in a such a way that the presser foot won’t “trip” or catch on any raised areas.
Sew color 4
.6. Place the folded back piece over the design aligning folded edge to the top horizontal placement guide. Sew color 5 to attach lining
7. Place front lining right side down over the design. Sew color 6
Finishing
Trim seam allowances leaving an extension at the turn opening. If you’ve included a hanger, leave it about 3/8” - 1/2” long to avoid raveling. (See photo later.)
Press back the seam allowances. Fuse a small strip of hem tape leaving the protective paper in place
Turn right side out through opening push out all corners and curves. Peel of tape on fusible web and fuse close.
Turn right side out and press.
Note: Polar fleece is damaged by heat so pay attention to what your fabrics can tolerate.
Variations
For the Holly and Snowman stockings, sew the decorative parts of the design after color 4 following the color sequence information included with the designs
For the designs with appliqués, pre-cutting the appliqués and using a fusible web is recommended for smooth, normal weight fabrics.
This method doesn’t always work well with polar fleece so you may wish to use the trim in place method. If you choose this option, you must trim right up to the stitching line! Only the snowflake stocking and Santa designs have been set up for trim in place.
For the Santa, the base stocking front fabric should be whatever color you want for Santa’s face.
On the stocking, I’ve set the toe and heel areas as separate placements to make it easier to use 2 different fabrics. The sample shows them in the same color
Getting Creative
You can add your own designs to the plain stocking or replace the text on the cuff. The small size of the stocking limits the amount of text you can include but many names could fit here.
On the Snowflake stocking, you can omit either or both of the additional appliqués (heel and toe) or keep the appliqués and omit the snowflake.
Experiment with different fabrics and threads.
Summary
As you can see by these samples, you can make your stockings in any color combination. Also, if you are experienced with software, you can add a monogram, name, other embellishment, or a design from your stash to the plain bag or the cuff. Any cuff personalizations need to be brief and kept to about 2.5” wide.
Please note: Bobbin work requires some testing and adjusting of your machine tensions. Please refer to your machine manual or consult your sewing machine dealer for specific help with your machine.