Last year I was pretty proud of myself. I made almost $300 selling crafts I had made. Of course, that money didn't last long, but it helped me pay for Christmas gifts. I have always been a hobby crafter, I've made things for myself, for family and friends, but I had never sold anything I had made.
I took part in a small craft fair where I didn't sell anything, but I took a couple of special orders. Then I started making Christmas stockings.
It started when I made Christmas stockings for my niece and nephew who were coming to visit from Illinois. I was so proud of them that I took pictures and posted them on Facebook. A coworker saw them and asked me to make 7 stockings for her. Yup, 7.
She was hosting Christmas that year and need stockings for everyone who was coming (including a Jewish friend).
It's a good thing I love fabric. I spent hours scouring websites and giving her options until I got an idea of just what she was looking for. Then I took the pattern I had found to make my niece and nephew's stockings and hunkered down to sew.
I was very proud of how those stockings turned out and, again, I posted pictures on Facebook. One of my cousins (I have several...hundred. Not really, but it feels like it) saw the stockings and asked if I could make some for his kids. Of course I could. So this year, I made four more stockings.
Sounds like a lot of work? Not really.
Like I said, I love fabric and I love shopping for it. My favorite, relatively local, place I go is Hayloft Fabrics. I don't go there often since it's about an hour drive away, but when I do, I stock up. It's on the second floor of a grocery store, has an amazing selection, and the prices can't be beat.
I also shop at Hancock Fabrics and Jo-Ann. They're both much closer.
Online I like perusing The Fat Quarter Shop and Hancock's of Paducah. So, when I am asked to make something from fabric, I spend way too much time looking at and buying fabric. It's like an addiction.
Now, let's talk pattern. Have I ever told you about Moda Bake Shop? No? Well, sit back and allow me to explain. Moda is a wonderful brand of beautiful fabric. They sell pre-cut fabric for quilting that is named after baked goods (ie: Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, Honey Buns, etc...) and so these wonderful people at Moda created a website for patterns that use their pre-cut fabric and called it "Moda Bake Shop".
I have gotten so many wonderful ideas and patterns from Moda Bake Shop. They are constantly updating it and I just have fun reading through the patterns.
Last year, I came across the His and Her Scrappy Christmas Stockings. They were perfect for what I wanted. Just simple, old fashioned stockings. And easy to make.
I only made one stocking using a Jelly Roll and following all the directions. Otherwise, I just followed the steps from #5 on.
I made it even simpler by using this stocking template. The pattern on Moda Bake Shop called for taking their template to a copy shop and blowing it up. I just didn't have the time for that. The great thing about this template is that you print it on four different pieces of paper and tape it together for the perfectly sized stocking.
My cousin asked me to pick fabrics that could grow with his kids.
I laid the fabric out to measure and cut and was immediately assisted by my four-legged assistant.
Then, using the stocking template, I cut out the front and back of the stockings, as well as the lining.
Again, with help I didn't need or ask for.
Using the measurements in the pattern on Moda's website, I cutout the fabric for the cuff and loop to hang the stocking.
Since cutting and measuring is the most time consuming part of the project, piecing and sewing the stockings together are very quick and easy. The best part is that they're big enough to hold plenty of loot from Santa!
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