Free Easy Christmas Stocking Sewing Pattern and Tutorial

This year, hang up handmade Christmas stockings by using this free sewing pattern!

Below you will find a free sewing pattern and tutorial for how to sew a homemade Christmas stocking!

You only need a beginner’s skill level for this sewing project. In this blog post, I’ll show you just how to make your very own stocking!

This sweet stocking features a pocket — perfect for tucking a special treat into!

Print your Christmas stocking pattern at the bottom of the page, or draw up your own pattern and follow along my tutorial!

Handmade stockings are so special to bring out year after year, and this easy Christmas stocking pattern makes it so easy to make new Christmas stockings for your whole family! It’s so sweet to see handmade Christmas stockings on Christmas morning!

A homemade stocking makes a great Christmas gift — make a stocking and fill it with goodies to give away as a Christmas present!

Print your free pattern at the bottom of the page, then follow along with my step-by-step instructions below!

Happy Sewing!

Fabric Choice:

It’s fun to use different fabrics for this project!

Different fabrics for the lining fabric and the outside fabric will provide a fun contrast for your stocking!

Different fabrics are also a great way to easily identify which stocking belongs to each family member.

My kids had fun picking out their own themed fabric for the lining fabric of their stockings. I then kept the outside fabric the same for each stocking to keep a somewhat cohesive look to the stockings.

Remember that the lining fabric will also serve as the piece of cuff fabric on the stocking.

I used the lining fabric to make a matching pocket on each of these stockings, too!

For the exterior fabric, I used a medium weight fabric. The lining fabric is a lightweight fabric.

Flannel fabric would have been another great choice for the lining of the fabric! It would add a nice touch of softness to these handmade Christmas stockings!

Step 1: Get your Pattern Pieces Ready

Print your pattern. Then, use the bell peppers as a puzzle to line up the pieces and tape them together so you have one stocking template.

It will look like the picture below.

The pocket template prints out as one piece — no need for tape!

With your stocking template, cut out two stocking shapes in your main fabric, and two stocking shapes in your lining fabric.

With your pocket template, cut two pocket shapes with your lining fabric.

Step 2: Sew your lining pieces

Get out your sewing machine!

First, we’ll sew our lining pieces, right sides together.

Before sewing your lining pieces, take a piece of ribbon and fold it in half. This ribbon will serve as your hanging loop on your stocking.

Place the folded ribbon between your lining pieces, using the paper template as a guide as to where to place your ribbon.

Where you place your ribbon will determine how big your cuff piece is. Where the bottom of your ribbon ends is where the bottom of your cuff will be. So — a thicker piece of ribbon will make for a larger cuff.

The ribbon loop should be sandwiched on the inside of your two pieces of lining. Pin or hold it in place, and start sewing around your lining leaving a 3/8″ seam allowance.

Sew all the way down to the bottom of the lining, turn around the “toe,” and begin sewing up the other side of your lining piece before stopping.

Leave a few inches open in the middle of the second of your side seams. You can see this marked in the picture below.

This is where you will turn your stocking right side out later on in this project.

Make sure the gap is in the MIDDLE of your side seam. You don’t want it at the very end or your stocking will not look as neat.

Lastly, make sure you leave the top of the stocking open!

Step 3: The Pocket

Next, we’ll sew the pocket.

You can skip this part if you don’t want an outer pocket on your stocking.

I like to cut my pocket pieces with the same fabric I used for the lining because it gives a nice contrast to the stocking, and helps the cuff stand out more on the stocking.

Place your two pocket pieces right sides together.

Sew around your two pocket pieces, leaving the top edge open. Use a 3/8″ seam allowance. (see photo above)

Turn your pocket right side out. It’s helpful to iron it flat at this part.

Fold the top of the pocket inside your two layers of fabric to hide the raw edges. Top stitch all the way around your pocket, using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Make sure you sew across your top edge to close your pocket up!

Step 4: Sew your Outside Fabric pieces

Next we’ll sew the outside fabric pieces.

First, we will attach the pocket to one of your exterior fabric pieces.

Lay the pocket on top of your outer stocking piece, the right side showing.

You’ll want to line up the top of the pocket against the line on your paper pattern.

Sew your pocket into place, leaving the top edge of the pocket open.

Again, make sure you have placed your pocket on what will be seen on the outside of the stocking!

Then, put your exterior fabric pieces right sides together.

Sew all the way around with a 3/8″ seam allowance, leaving the top edge open.

Step 5: Assemble your stocking

Now we will attach the lining to the exterior fabric of the stocking.

First, you’ll want to snip around any curved edges within the seam allowance of both your lining piece and your exterior piece of your stocking. This will give your stocking a nice shape when turning it out, otherwise your curved edges may appear slightly lumpy.