Snow Day Craftiness

So what do you do when it randomly snows two feet overnight? I decided to make Christmas stockings. Actually, I was already planning on making the stockings that day, but not being able to go anywhere definitely reinforced the plan. You see, a few weeks ago I decided that I would make a Christmas tree skirt, so I bought a whole bunch of fabric only to realize later that we actually bought a tree skirt last year. Oops. Good thing that I also had it on my list to make stockings as well.

Last year, Justin's mom gave us his stocking that he'd used growing up, so I decided to make one for me and Colton to match. (Warning: Those who are not so interested in craft projects, should probably just scroll to the bottom at this point and look at the finished product.) I started by cutting 2 1/2 inch strips of 5 different fabrics, sewing them together and then ironing them flat.

Then I realized, I should probably have some kind of pattern, so I traced Justin's stocking onto newspaper. This is good because I ended upcutting out two front quilted pieces, two back pieces, four pieces of muslin and four pieces of fusable fleece. I guess I should point out right now that this project took me all day.

Once the front piece was cut out, I had to sew on the toe and heel and embroider around them. (Justin's mom used lace, but it turns out that I don't actually have any lace on hand. Justin thought maybe I could cut up a lacy shirt, but it also turns out that I don't own any lacy shirts...)

Once the front was entirely done, then I just had to attach it to the fleece and muslin and quilt down the front. Then I attached it to the back. I included the picture to show that I actually used pins. Sometimes the quality of my sewing workmanship is seriously hampered by the fact that I am too lazy to put in pins. It just seems like so much effort to pin stuff just to unpin it again. I guess the efficiency of not pinning is undermined by the ineffeciency of having to unpick things and redo them. Anyway, all that was then left to do was sew on the top, and voila! Two of the cutest darn Christmas stockings you have ever seen!!

And what was Justin doing all this time? Well, he was taking care of Colton and finding us the perfect mortgage...because while I was sewing, the offer we put on a house was approved!