DIY Felted Wool Sweater Stocking Pattern with Embroidery

Leggi questo post in: Italiano

Where I live in Italy, Santa doesn’t leave gifts in a stocking on Christmas Eve, but a friendly old witch does during the night before Epiphany (January 6). So I decided to create a pattern for a general winter-themed stocking, instead of a Christmas one. And so I created a felted wool sweater stocking pattern with simple, yet pretty and elegant, snowflake embroidery.

Sew this DIY felted wool sweater stocking pattern with embroidered snowflakes. These beautiful handmade stockings can be sewn by hand or machine! #diystocking #stockingpattern

One of my very favorite sewing and crafting materials is the gorgeously thick and textured cooked wool that you get from felting wool sweaters in the washing machine. I collect old wool sweaters from anyone who has them, and buy them for next to nothing in thrift shops.

Click to save this Cucicucicoo.com project on Pinterest!

I find that embroidery really stands out well against solid-colored felted wool. I designed a free pattern with three simple snowflakes that even beginners can embroider. The spaces between them are accented with little silver stars. So pretty!

Sew this DIY felted wool sweater stocking pattern with embroidered snowflakes. These beautiful handmade stockings can be sewn by hand or machine! #diystocking #stockingpattern

Who wouldn’t love to find a beautiful, handmade wool stocking like this, filled with goodies on Christmas morning?! I know I would! (Even better if the gifts are wrapped with furoshiki, too!)

(Speaking of which, do you struggle to think of non-junky things to put in your kids’ stockings each year? Then don’t miss my collection of the 42 best stocking stuffers for crafty kids!)

Have you got a red sweater and you’re ready to turn it into something amazing? Watch the video below or continue reading!

Materials

Materials to sew and embroider a Christmas stocking from a felted wool sweater.

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Print out these instructions!
Scroll down to the end of this post and click “Print”.

Prepare the felted wool sweater stocking pattern

This tutorial has two free downloads. (See the link and information under “Materials”.)

Free sewing pattern to sew a Christmas stocking from felted wool sweaters with snowflake embroidery. www.cucicucicoo.com

The first is the actual stocking pattern. Trim off the right margin from the first page and tape the pages together, matching up the triangles to form diamonds. Then cut along the stocking shape.

Free embroidery template for the Christmas stocking from felted wool sweaters. www.cucicucicoo.com

The second download is an embroidery template. Print it onto a sheet of Stick ‘n Stitch*, then cut out along the lines of the stocking. The very top and bottom of the stocking are cut off, so just leave those edges as they are.

Free sewing pattern to sew a Christmas stocking from felted wool sweaters with snowflake embroidery. www.cucicucicoo.com

This is what the stocking pattern and embroidery template look like once they are printed, assembled and cut out.

Stick ‘n Stitch* makes it a lot easier to embroider the snowflakes and stars, but isn’t totally necessary. If you prefer tracing or transferring the embroidery design in another way, do so from the pattern file and ignore the embroidery template file.

Embroider the felted wool sweater

1. Before starting, felt the wool sweater and let it dry completely. Then cut along the side, sleeve and shoulder seams to separate the front and the back.

Add Stick n Stitch to a felted wool sweater to embroider snowflakes, then sew a Christmas stocking.

2. Position the stocking pattern on the sweater front (with right side up) to make sure that it fits on. You need a little extra (at least 1 cm) around all the edges. (A)

3. Peel the front off of the Stick n’ Stitch and hold it above the pattern so that the edges more or less match up. (B)

4. While holding the Stick n’ Stitch above, slip the pattern out from under it. (C)

5. Press the Stick n’ Stitch firmly onto the felted sweater. (D)

Embroider snowflakes with a free embroidery pattern.

6. Embroider the snowflakes with white embroidery floss*. I used all 6 strands of floss. This post on how to embroider snowflakes walks you through how to embroider each one of these three snowflake designs. Or watch the video below to learn how.

Embroider snowflakes with a free embroidery pattern.

7. Embroider the stars with silver embroidery floss*. Here I used only 3 strands of the floss for a more delicate look. First embroider four stitches in the shape of a cross, meeting in the same hole in the center (black arrows). Then embroider the four diagonal stitches, again meeting in the center (red arrows).

Embroider snowflakes with a free embroidery pattern.

8. One star is partially cut off from the template (the arrow to the right above), and another is totally cut off (the arrow to the left above). Just embroider them on yourself, referring to the stocking pattern to get an idea of the positioning.

Remove the Stick n’ Stitch

Cut off excess Stick n Stitch from the embroidered wool.

Stick ‘n Stitch* is water soluble, but it’s best to first remove as much as possible.

9. Gently pull up the edges of the Stick ‘n Stitch and trim off the excess with regular scissors (to avoid gunking up your good fabric ones). Be careful not to cut into the fabric or embroidery!

Felted wool sweater with embroidered snowflakes before Stick n Stitch is washed off.

This is what the fabric looks like at this point.

Rinsing off the Sulky Stick n Stitch from a felted wool sweater after emroidering on it. The sweater will become a Christmas stocking.

10. Rinse off the Stick ‘n Stitch under running warm water. Gently rub the stitches with your thumbs to work it all off. It first gets slimy, and then dissolves completely.

11. Lay the sweater fabric out flat to dry, then press it with a hot, steam iron. Use an ironing cloth to protect your embroidery. (I love this sheer pressing cloth*.)

Click to save this Cucicucicoo.com project on Pinterest!

Sew the felted wool sweater stocking

Cutting out the two layers of felted wool sweater to sew an embroidered Christmas stocking.

12. Position the stocking pattern over the embroidered sweater and trace around it with the powdered chalk roller*. (A)

13. Cut AROUND (not on) the traced line, leaving at least 1 cm extra outside the line. (B)

14. Position the embroidered piece on the back piece of the sweater, wrong sides facing. Make sure that the top edges are lined up perfectly and pin the layers together. (C)

15. Cut the bottom layer of fabric, following the cut shape of the top layer. (D)

Cut a strip of felted wool sweater for the Christmas stocking's hanging loop.

16. Fold a scrap piece of felted wool in half and cut a strip about 1 cm wide. This will be the stocking’s hanging loop.

Insert the hanging loop into the seam allowance of the Christmas stocking and pin in place.

17. Unpin the top corner of the stocking and insert the ends of the hanging loop so that they go INSIDE the traced chalk line (marked by the arrows). Then pin the side up again, this time with the loop in place.

Sew around the edges of the felted wool sweater Christmas stocking, then trim the edges with fabric shears.

18. Sew ALONG the traced chalk lines. Sew a few times back and forth at the top, especially on the side with the hanging loop.

19. Trim the excess fabric so as to leave a small seam allowance.

Trim the seam allowances of the felted wool sweater Christmas stocking around the hanging loop.

Be VERY careful when you get to the hanging loop. Trim the front layer first, then the back, making sure to trim enough without cutting into the loop.

Use fabric scissors to shave fuzz off of the surface of the felted wool sweater.

20. If your sweater fabric has gotten excessively fuzzy during the felting and rinsing processes, lay it flat and put a pair of sharp fabric scissors against the surface. Open and close the scissors without cutting into the fabric or embroidery. This will “shave” off extra fuzziness.

Sew this DIY felted wool sweater stocking pattern with embroidered snowflakes. These beautiful handmade stockings can be sewn by hand or machine! #diystocking #stockingpattern

And you are DONE! Now all you need to do is hang up the stocking and fill it with goodies!

(Check out my list of my 40+ favorite stocking stuffers for creative kids! Wrap them in furoshiki for an extra colorful look!)

Isn’t that poinsettia in the picture above pretty? Click here to find out how to use the scraps from your felted red sweater to make a no sew felt poinsettia to decorate your home or hang from the Christmas tree!

Felt your old wool sweaters in the washing machine and turn them into a no sew felt poinsettia! All it takes are scissors and a glue gun for this easy and festive holiday decoration! #feltedsweaters #diypoinsettia

Make sure you check out my list of the 40 BEST stocking stuffer ideas to stimulate your children’s creativity! I have been filling my kids’ stockings with these creative supplies for years!

Skip the junk food and toys this year with this list of the best stocking stuffers for crafty kids to stimulate their creativity and manual skills. #stockingstuffers #christmasstocking

Oh! And if you loooove making your own stockings, check out this great roundup of 12 DIY Christmas stocking sewing tutorials!

Show some homemade holiday cheer this year with these 12 DIY Christmas stocking sewing tutorials! There are stockings to hang and fill, and smaller ones to decorate your home! #diystocking #stockingtutorial

Do you want all the new sewing techniques and cool modern sewing projects, as well as the FREE sewing and embroidery patterns for this handmade sweater stocking? Then sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter here for access to dozens of free printables! 

Click to save this Cucicucicoo.com project on Pinterest!

Click here to save this holiday tutorial on Pinterest!

Sew this DIY felted wool sweater stocking pattern with embroidered snowflakes. These beautiful handmade stockings can be sewn by hand or machine! #diystocking #stockingpattern

*All starred links are affiliate links which help fund this blog. When you click, you will not spend anything extra, but I earn a small percentage. I cannot see what you clicked nor which products you have seen. Please read my affiliate link disclosure for more information.

Sew this DIY felted wool sweater stocking pattern with embroidered snowflakes. These beautiful handmade stockings can be sewn by hand or machine! #diystocking #stockingpattern

DIY Felted Wool Sweater Stocking Pattern with Embroidery

Active Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Drying Time: 1 day
Total Time: 1 day 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Sew this DIY felted wool sweater stocking pattern with embroidered snowflakes. These beautiful handmade stockings can be sewn by hand or machine!

Instructions

First, download the free Christmas stocking sewing pattern and embroidery pattern: https://www.cucicucicoo.com/2019/11/diy-felted-wool-sweater-stocking-pattern-embroidery/

Before starting, felt the wool sweater (https://www.cucicucicoo.com/2019/11/diy-felted-wool-sweater-stocking-pattern-embroidery/) and let it dry completely. Then cut along the side, sleeve and shoulder seams to separate the front and the back.

Add Stick n Stitch to a felted wool sweater to embroider snowflakes, then sew a Christmas stocking.

  1. Position the stocking pattern on the sweater front (with right side up) to make sure that it fits on. You need a little extra (at least 1 cm) around all the edges. (A) Peel the backing off of the Stick n' Stitch and hold it above the pattern so that the edges more or less match up. (B) While holding the Stick n' Stitch above, slip the pattern out from under it. (C) Press the Stick n' Stitch firmly onto the felted sweater. (D)
  2. Embroider the snowflakes with white embroidery floss. This post on how to embroider snowflakes walks you through how to embroider each one of these three snowflake designs.
  3. Embroider the stars with silver embroidery floss. First embroider four stitches in the shape of a cross, meeting in the same hole in the center. Then embroider the four diagonal stitches, again meeting in the center.
  4. Gently pull up the edges of the Stick 'n Stitch and trim off the excess with regular scissors (to avoid gunking up your good fabric ones). Be careful not to cut into the fabric or embroidery!
  5. Rinse off the Stick 'n Stitch under running warm water. Gently rub the stitches with your thumbs to work it all off.
  6. Lay the sweater fabric out flat to dry, then press it with a hot, steam iron. Use an ironing cloth to protect your embroidery. (I love this sheer pressing cloth*.)
  7. Position the stocking pattern over the embroidered sweater and trace around it with the powdered chalk roller. Cut AROUND (not on) the traced line, leaving at least 1 cm extra outside the line. Position the embroidered piece on the back piece of the sweater, wrong sides facing. Make sure that the top edges are lined up perfectly and pin the layers together. Cut the bottom layer of fabric, following the cut shape of the top layer.
  8. Fold a scrap piece of felted wool in half and cut a strip about 1 cm wide. This will be the stocking's hanging loop.
  9. Unpin the top corner of the stocking and insert the ends of the hanging loop so that they go INSIDE the traced chalk line. Then pin the side up again, this time with the loop in place.
  10. Sew ALONG the traced chalk lines. Sew a few times back and forth at the top, especially on the side with the hanging loop.
  11. Trim the excess fabric so as to leave a small seam allowance. Be VERY careful when you get to the hanging loop. Trim the front layer first, then the back, making sure to trim enough without cutting into the loop.
  12. If your sweater fabric has gotten excessively fuzzy during the felting and rinsing processes, lay it flat and put a pair of sharp fabric scissors against the surface. Open and close the scissors without cutting into the fabric or embroidery. This will "shave" off extra fuzziness.

Sew this DIY felted wool sweater stocking pattern with embroidered snowflakes. These beautiful handmade stockings can be sewn by hand or machine! #diystocking #stockingpattern

And you are DONE! Now all you need to do is hang up the stocking and fill it with goodies!

10 thoughts on “DIY Felted Wool Sweater Stocking Pattern with Embroidery”

  1. I seriously wish for a red sweater to felt! This is cute enough for me to purchase red felting wool so I can have my own personal felted snowflake stocking. Thank you for the time and energy you put into your marvellous blog. All the best of creativity to you!

    Reply
    • Aww, that’s so sweet, thank you, Zuzanna! See if you local thrift shop has a wool sweater. I have a bunch of them that I’ve bought second hand for next to nothing. If you can’t find one, you could always purchase red wool fabric by the yard and felt that, though that would be considerably more expensive!

      Reply

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