This time of year always reminds us to be thankful. Fall always has that kind of thoughtful quality to it. well at least for me it does.
I have a great many things to be thankful for in this world, I owe a part of that thanks to all of you who come here and offer your kind words and support.
It makes me feel so nice and comforted. I thank you tremendously for that.
So in a small way I would like to give something back to you, to say thank you for all you do. a little something I stumbled upon today while messing around in my studio in full-on A.D.D. mode.
Needless to say, I have about 500 projects on deck, or swirling around in my mind
look at these for example....
a variety of projects stopped and started......waiting to be finished.....eventually.
so I need a new project like a need a hole in the head.....
but todays discovery was a good one, because it's simple, quick and easy, and for someone who NEVER creates anything simple fast and easy, this was a freaking break through!
now I want to share it with you!
So today while I was cutting up some of my recycled sweaters, a light bulb went off in my head.
Sweater sleeves make GREAT Christmas Stockings!
now maybe this has already been done before, I have no clue, because I live under a rock and don't know these things, but it is new to me! whoo-hoo!
So here is my little tutorial for you on how to make a simple christmas stocking out of a sweater sleeve. because yes, the HOlidays are fast approaching us, and it's good to think and make ahead. plus, this is a very economical project to do, and that is always a good thing, especially now that the government is taking all of our money, ahem.
SO!
Start with a sweater you find at a thrift shop, or in your closet, you know, the one that accidently got tossed in the washer and is now small enough for your cat to wear.
make sure that it's a wool sweater, those are the best kinds.
I also look for very fun patterns.
the top of the sleeve has a natural diagonal cut to it which is great!
Cut on the seam like shown.
turn the sweater inside out and stitch up the opening in the shape of a foot kind of simply following the curve.
(note, that was drawn on, for effect... I stitched it closed with a sewing machine)
it should look like this when you turn it right side out.
next make a loop out of a scrap piece of sweater
pin the strip and sew up the edges
it will look like this.
next attach the loop to the top edge of the stocking. I folded over the sleeve and pinned the loop to the inside of the seamed edge
sew a box shaped pattern to secure
attach a big ole button to cover your loop stitch area.
you could stop here, and you would be done, but if you're me, you will want to add embellishments. maybe a little flower, or more buttons to the edge, or felt balls, whatever, have fun!
you will finally end up with a sweet little stocking that was made in a ridiculously short amount of time, maybe even just 15 minutes, yes, I just said that.
crazy fast! and cute too!
hope you like my little thank you gift ,
just my small way of saying thanks for being so kind to me.
XOXOXOXO
super cute as always…still trying to make it over for a class or studio time.
Posted by: Danee Kaplan | November 04, 2011 at 03:59 PM
Catherine, I can just picture a row of about 24 of these hanging over a long dining room table from a long, taught wire. Wouldn't these stockings make a great, quirky advent calender??? Made out of sleeves from baby sweaters??? xoxoxo
Posted by: danielle.korneliussen@hotmail.com | November 05, 2011 at 05:33 AM
AAACK!!!!! Adorable! Brilliant! I've been saving sweaters for 'who-knows-what' and THIS is WHAT! In my stash, I actually have these 2 preciously wonderful Christmas-y type sweaters of mine and my sister's from when we were like 8 and 9 that I have lugged around for 40 years. I just couldn't bear to part with them but what the heck good are they as sweaters? Well, now the sleeves will be stockings and the body will be a pillow. I just need to see the 'fabric' on them to be happy. Don't need the sweater as a sweater! Thank you for the inspiration today! :-D
Enjoy your creative A*D*D-ness ~ it can be loads of fun! ;-)
Posted by: Karen | November 07, 2011 at 11:08 AM
you are sweetly killing me, Thurs!
the most adorable thing I have seen in a long time, chic!
xxoo-from you-know-where...
coastal nest <3
Posted by: lisa | November 07, 2011 at 09:16 PM
That is SO adorable! I love it! Thank you!
Posted by: Kathy Welsh | November 08, 2011 at 04:31 PM
You have the very best taste in music....thats why I come here besides the fact you are so darn creative! Im just sayin!
Posted by: Pansy Cottage Girl | November 27, 2011 at 12:10 PM
wow...cute cute cute!!
Posted by: its Lisa! | November 28, 2011 at 09:24 AM
Love the idea.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas.
Posted by: michelle | December 27, 2011 at 11:00 AM