Showing posts with label stockings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stockings. Show all posts

Sunday, March 1, 2026

A Clever Idea for Christmas Stockings (and Other Things)

Mary found custom buttons on Amazon.  They read "Handmade with Love By GrandMary."  You'll find them by searching for Personalized Wooden or Personalized Leather Buttons.  There are a lot of various styles, too.

She puts them on her Christmas stockings but they'll work for many things, so Mary won the Smart Cookie Award in January 2026!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 6, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, December 21, 2025

The BBC Discovers Needlepoint

The BBC has discovered that needlepoint is popular.

If you are curious about Hunt and Hope or just want to browse their already stitched pillows, luggage tags and stockings, here's their website.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 9, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

A Clever Christmas Stocking Idea

The Wool and the Floss just posted a very clever idea that a customer had--use a scissors fob to make a name tag for a Christmas stocking!

Scissor fobs are tiny, so this will be a quick stitch to add personalization to a stocking.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 5, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, July 14, 2025

Stitch Faster with Quality plus Stocking Tips

Needlepoint.com just posted five tips to make your stitching go faster without sacrificing quality. These tips are a way of pushing their products, of course, but you will find yourself stitching faster if you have your threads organized and use tools to make the stitching easier.  Stitch guides are useful because they stretch your stitching muscles without your having to spend a lot of time researching Just The Right Stitch.  

KC Needlepoint has also posted tips for stitching big projects like Christmas stockings.  I personally hate scroll bars but they sure make stitching large stockings easier.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Stockings from Kaitlyn Marie Designs UPDATED

Brenda has started a stocking by a designer I'd never heard of--Kaitlyn Marie Designs.    The deep green and color colors are lovely.  This is called Emerald and Gold Stocking

It's finished already but it's a small stocking.  Lovely.

Brenda decided the stocking needed a little something more.  What she chose to do is perfect.

Now she's started on the second Kaitlyn Marie Designs stotcking.  This one is called Patches of Snow and is almost entirely beaded.




I found a third Kaitlyn Marie Designs stocking on eBay.  This one is called "Fancy That:  Pearls and Gold Mini Stocking."  I grabbed a photo so you could see it.

Looks like Brenda is working Pearls and Gold, too. It's very pretty.

UPDATE:  Looks like Brenda found the full kit for Crimson and Gold in the Fancy That stocking series so she bought and stitched it.

Brenda has two more of these Fancy That stockings to stitch.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 21, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

New Stitch Monday and the Susan Roberts Stockings

The new project for Ridgewood Needlepoint's New Stitch Monday is a Susan Roberts stocking called "Forest Friends" that Adrianne is stitching.  There's a good Santa coat stitch and great fur stitch diagrammed here.

Next she worked on the leaves in the background.

The final section on the stitch was the background snow.

Now Adrianne starts work on the second Susan Roberts stocking--"Snowman."  First up the snowman has a lovely sky.

There are two sets of trees to stitch next plus some ornaments.

Now the snowman's body and face are stitched and it has a hat and scarf.

Finally the snow is stitched and the second stocking complete.

The third Susan Roberts stocking Adrianne worked is "Lantern Walking," a classic Santa design with some nice clothing stitches.

I never would have thought to use Double Woven Variation for bushes but it works!

The snow stitch is interesting and turned out well.

Next is the sky.

Now the final touches.  Lots of French knots!

We've started on a fourth Susan Roberts stocking.  This posting is about the background sky and the moon.

The snow is done with a mixture of Stardust and Neon Rays Plus.  Stardust is a mix of silk and wool with a bit of polyester sparkle.  It's made by Brown Paper Packages.

This one has the reindeer, tree and garland all stitched.  It's really charming.

And now for the sky behind Mr. Reindeer.

This stocking has mountains down below at the toe of the stocking.  Here is the stitch for the first set of mountains.  

And here is the stitch chosen for the second set of mountains.

The reindeer on this stocking is flying over snow and a lake, so we have stitches for both.

The last part on the reindeer stocking are the two big evergreens at the bottom.

The last section is Mr. Reindeer and his harness.  And the reindeer stocking is done!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 15, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, January 19, 2025

NJNA Talks Christmas Decoration Storage

NJNA's latest chapter newsletter is full of ANG news, new clubs, some cute magnets and some important tips for storing your needlepoint holiday decorations from Diversions Needlepoint.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 29, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

How to Manage Larger Projects

The Pointing It Out Podcast talks ways to manage bigger projects.  If you are traveling with a bigger project, working a Christmas stocking, or just need ideas about how to manage a bigger project you are thinking you might buy, this is a must read.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 11, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

A Clever Name Tag For a Christmas Stocking

Hope posted her finished Christmas stocking on Needlepoint Nation.  It has a unique finishing idea--she's attached a photo charm of the recipient to the stocking.  

You can find miniature photo frame charms online, particularly Etsy.  Print your favorite photo, cut to fit, and pop into the frame, then sew to the stocking top.  Hope has a name and a photo charm on her stocking but this is an easy way to hand down heirloom stockings in your family.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 21, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Norden Crafts' Stocking Ornaments

Melita has posted about the mini sock ornaments her mother stitched, but then she didn't know the designer.

Now Melita has discovered that these are called Elfin Stockings and they were designed by Norden Crafts for Better Homes and Garden magazine in 

Melita says Nordic Crafts has an Etsy store but I couldn't find it.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 4, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Finishing a Holiday Mini Stocking: The Movie

Abigail Cecile has posted a video on her Instagram page about finishing a small holiday stocking.

The finished examples Abigail shows at the start of the video are her two mini stocking kits.  The fabric for the backing can be added to the kit if you don't have a source nearby to pick your own.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 4, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Lands End Christmas Stockings

Lands End is selling basic tent stitched needlepoint stockings again.

You can't beat the price but compare the Lands End stockings to something like these--

There's no comparison.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 2, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Ideas for Letters on Needlepoint Canvas

Needlepoint.com's latest newsletter describes ways to stitch lettering on stockings, small ornaments and cursive sayings.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 19, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, May 5, 2023

Stocking Versus Topper

Needlepoint.com points out the advantages of stitching a full needlepoint stocking versus the stocking topper.

In case you've never seen one, stocking toppers, also called stocking cuffs, are finished like this.

You could also look for mini socks, which are small scale stockings that can be finished either open like a full-sided stocking, or closed to be used as an ornament.  Kathy Schenkel designs lots of cute mini socks, many of which come with a felt animal to be tucked in the top of the sock.

There are lots of options.  I'd advise you to figure out the finishing deadline at your favorite shop before you decide, however.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 15, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, May 2, 2022

The Pat Mazu Mini Sock

Brenda's been working on a Pat Mazu charted mini sock.  The basis of the design is a Florentine pattern.  Brenda choose colors that made her think Mardi Gras.  (Pat's original is at the bottom of the posting.)

If you are tempted to try one of these, Pat's little stocking designs are often in Needlepoint Now and Needlepointers.  ANG has posted one online.

You can also pick up her charts here as well as her book about finishing your own needlepoint projects.

And of course Pat recently posted three free charts here on Blog.




Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 6, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, December 26, 2021

A Clever Idea for Christmas Stockings

It's too late for Christmas 2021 but Sarah Marie has come up with a genius way to use ornaments on top of plain stockings so that you can change the decoration as children grow and their interests change.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 22, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

True Confessions of a Stocking Stitcher UPDATED

If you are nervously contemplating stitching your first needlepoint Christmas stocking, Maureen Guiffre's new book is for you.   It's called True Confessions of a Stocking Stitcher and it is full of tips to make the stocking easier to work based on the eighteen stockings Maureen has stitched.  Maureen says it is a 8 1/2 x 11 paperback with 178 pages and lots and lots of pictures.  It looks like it is especially useful for realistic canvases of any type.

This shop has a nice brief description of what's inside the book plus photos of the contents.

This link lists the table of contents.

You can pick up a copy at your favorite shop, at Maureen's website, or you can email her at maureengiuffre@gmail.com.  Note that she does stocking consultations and custom stockings as well.

UPDATE:  Maureen's second book is estimated to be available Summer 2026.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, June 4, 2021

A Beginners Guide to Needlepoint: Outlines in Continental



I promised to talk about how I plan to stitch the darker red outlines of my torch ginger petals today.  Short version:  I'm using continental stitch for the darker red outlines and then filing in the lighter pink of the petals with basketweave.  Above is a close up of the unstitched stocking where you can see each petal is outlined in a darker color.  

Long version:  Remember when I said there are three types of tent stitch?  They are basketweave, continental and half cross.  They all look the same on the front--rows of even ///// stitches.  But on the back they are very different because of how that / stitch is formed. 

You can see photos that show all three stitches, front and back here.  (Click on the photo to see a larger version.)

Basketweave uses the most thread and half cross the least, so save half cross for when you are running low on thread but avoid it if you need something that will take hard wear like a footstool or glasses case.  Half cross will also distort the canvas badly.  

Basketweave does not distort the canvas so use it when you don't plan to block a finished design.  I've done pillows in continental that were parallelograms when done that had to be blocked four times to get them square again!  Basketweave uses a lot of thread so it's very hard wearing, perfect for items that will get wear.  Just make sure you buy enough thread so you don't run out.  

Continental is perfect for canvases with lots of outlines.  That's what I plan to use for the red outlines on the petals since it's easy to work both horizontally or vertically.  Here is how continental is done, whether you are right-handed or a leftie.





Now I need to get busy and finish the stitching!  Above is my progress to date.

Now that this series has all published, I put the other links here:







Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 29, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Name Charting for Stockings

Some shops will paint a name on your stocking for you, but if you don't have a shop offering this, Needlepoint by Sharese now offers to chart a name out for you.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 1, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, January 8, 2021

How to Finish Mini Stockings: The Two Part Movie

Kelly Starke Maichele of Starke Art Designs has posted a two part video about finishing mini stockings using hand sewing on YouTube.  She says this is a rough take on it without editing but I found it interesting and informative.  Note that the hot glue she uses is in the middle of the design, not touching the needlepoint or backing fabric on the outsides.  Of course you can stitch all this but it will easily double the amount of time you will need to finish a mini sock.


Thanks for trying to help us learn finishing, Kelly!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 5, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.