Stockings for Kids Tutorial Tuesday: Herringbone Stocking

Hey guys! Crazy to think that November is almost over and with it the Stockings for Kids drive! I am so appreciative of everyone who has participated and I have got a lot of stockings so far. You still have plenty of time to make some stockings and send them my way -- don't forget all stockings need to be mailed by December 1 to give me enough time to stuff them and send them out to the kids before Christmas.

Also, here's a friendly reminder about the awesome giveaway from our sponsors that you should go check out. It ends at midnight on December 2nd.

Without further ado here's Katie's awesome tutorial which is perfect for a teenager and is seriously one of my favorite designs right now because I LOVE working with solids. And most people know how much I am obsessed with gray at the moment. In fact I think I am going to go make one of these stockings right now!

Herringbone Stocking Tutorial 

My name is Katie Blakesley, and I blog at Swim, Bike, Quilt.  I am happy to be sharing a stocking tutorial at Purple Panda Quilts today. I think Lyanna's Stocking for Kids drive is brilliant, and I will be sending her two stockings in the next few days. Knowing that you only have a week to make and send her a stocking before the deadline, and guessing that there are a lot of stockings made for the 5 and under set, I am sharing my simple Fit for a Teen Stocking Tutorial today.

Supplies: 
Favorite stocking (optional, for tracing) 1/3 yard solid fabric (Kona charcoal) assorted solid fabrics: gray, blue, and teal charm squares or scraps small strips of feature print 1/3 yard lining fabric (Kona white) 1/3 yard fusible fleece 2 strips of paper, 3 1/2'' x 11'' washable glue stick

Tracing Your Stocking
1. Trace your favorite stocking onto a large sheet of paper, or use Lyanna's template here. If tracing a stocking, add 1/4'' seam allowance around the entire stocking and cut out the paper template.

2. Fold the fabric for the outside of the stocking in half. Place the template on top of two layers of fabric, and pin. Using a rotary cutter (and ruler, where applicable) cut out 2 stocking pieces. 3. Fold fabric for stocking lining in half. Place template on top of two layers of fabric, and pin. Using a rotary cutter (and ruler, where applicable) cut out 2 stocking pieces. Set aside.

 Making the Herringbone Blocks 
The herringbone blocks are made from skinny string blocks. I cut strips no smaller than 1'' and no bigger than 2 1/4''.  You can cut them as small as 1'' x 5'', but need to pay attention when stitching them to paper. I recommend strips at least 6'' long. 
1. Reduce your stitch length--I reduce my stitch length from 2 to just over 1.  Choose a strip, and use the washable glue stick to glue it in the middle of one of the 3 1/2'' x 11'' pieces of paper.
2. Place a 2nd strip face down on the right side of the 1st strip, sew 1/4'' seam allowance along the edge. Open, press, and repeat, until you have covered half of the piece of paper.

3. Place a strip face down on the left side of the 1st strip, sew 1/4'' seam allowance along the edge. Open, press, and repeat, until you have covered the rest of the paper. 

4. Place paper face down on cutting mat, and trim around the edges. Remove paper from back of block.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 with 2nd piece of paper. Make sure to place the 2nd strip angled differently as shown below, otherwise you will have diagonal stripes instead of a herringbone pattern.

6. Cut the herringbone strips into 3 1/2'' squares. Choose three squares, and sew them together, end to end. 7. Place the herringbone strip over the stocking. When you are happy with placement, cut out a 3 1/2'' strip from the stocking. Sew the herringbone strip in it's place, and stitch.

Quilting the Stocking
I kept the quilting on this one simple, just a few sets of straight lines. I tried to picture the 12 and 14 year old boys that I know, and didn't think they would like anything too fussy.  
1. Fold the fusible fleece in half. Trace your original stocking onto the fusible fleece, and cut out. Note: This will be 1/4'' smaller than your stocking. This is correct, that way the fleece isn't in the seam allowance.
 2. Fuse the fleece to your 2 outer stocking pieces according to manufacturer's instructions.
 3. Quilt the front and back as desired.

Assembling the Stocking
1. Place the outer stocking pieces right sides together. Using a 1/4'' seam allowance, stitch around the sides, leaving just the top open.  Press seams.  Clip the curves and turn the stocking inside out.
2. Using one of the strips, make a fabric tab (I took a 2 1/2'' x 5 strip, placed right sides together, and stitched a 1/4'' seam allowance along the side. I turned it right side out, folded it in half, and stitched along the sides and through the center). Line up the raw edge of the fabric tab with the top of the stocking, stitch 1/4'' seam allowance, back stitching several times.

3. Place the lining pieces right sides together. Using a 1/4'' seam allowance, stitch around the sides, leaving just the top open. Clip curves and keep lining inside out.  Press seams.
4. Place the outside of the stocking inside the lining, right sides together. Stitch 1/2'' around the top of the stocking, leaving a 4 inch hole on the back. This is where you will turn the stocking right side out.

5. Turn the stocking right side out.  Press top seam well. Either hand stitch the opening closed, or iron well and top stitch around the top of the stocking.

Congratulations! Your stocking is finished! 

Admire it for a moment, tell your friends, and send it off to Lyanna!!!