Ruffin's Reversible Stocking Tutorial

Just after Ruffin was born I decided to make stockings for our family. I looked all over for a stocking pattern that I liked, but I couldn't find one. So I made one myself! I figured that if I had to make a lining for the stocking, why not make it reversible? So Ruffin's Reversible Stocking was born. I had so much fun making it that I wrote up a tutorial. And never posted it. Probably because I just haven't posted a whole lot since Ruffin was born, but more likely because I was too nervous to post it. Here are our stockings from then:

  Now that I have sweet Josephine, she needs a stocking too! What a perfect time to revisit the tutorial - and finally share it! I went through the tutorial myself to make Jo's stocking (just to check myself).  

It was raining outside when I made it (and still is) or I would have a better picture.

Drum roll, please.....

Ruffin's Reversible Stocking Tutorial

Materials needed:

Stocking pattern

Exterior fabric – ¾ yard

Liner fabric – ¾ yard

·      The exterior and liner fabrics will be interchangeable when you are finished (because its reversible!), but you will want to pick one to stand for each for the construction process. For (most of) this tutorial, the thicker, vertically stiped fabric is my exterior and the thiner, horizontally stipred fabric is my liner.

·      You may need more fabric if you have to match up a one-directional pattern.

·      I used quilting cotton, but other fabrics would work. If you use a thicker or heavier fabric, you may want to eliminate the fusible fleece interfacing.

Fusible Fleece – ¾ yard -  I used Pellon 987F

Coordinating thread

Disappearing fabric marker or fabric chalk

All seams are ¼ inch unless stated otherwise.

Print, tape together and cut out the stocking pattern piece, Make sure you print at 100% (no page scaling). Trace the stocking directly onto the fabric, then flip the pattern over and trace a mirror image onto the fabric. Cut 2 stocking pieces like this out of each fabric and fusible fleece. Make sure the right/fusible sides are mirror images of each other like this: 

Cut one (1) 6” long x 18” wide pieces out of each fabric and fusible fleece for the cuff. If you are using directional fabric, you will want to cut it to match wide ways.

Cut one (1) 6” long x 2” wide piece out of each fabric for the hanging loop. If you are using directional fabric, you will want to cut it to match long ways, like this:

Press the 2”x6” exterior piece in half, matching the wrong sides along the long edge. Open and fold the long edges in toward the center crease so that they meet in the middle and press. Fold in half and press again (like double-fold bias tape). Stitch along the open edge to form the hanging loop. Repeat this process for the 2”x6” lining piece.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, fuse the fleece onto the wrong side of the 2 exterior stocking pieces and the 6”x18” exterior piece.

Match right sides of the exterior stocking together and pin. Stitch around the sides and bottom. Do the same for the lining stocking, but leave a 5 inch opening on the back side above the heel for turning, backstitching at both ends of the opening.

Cut notches in the heel and toe seam allowance, being careful not to clip the stitching:

Turn both stockings right-side out and press. Make sure to press the opening in the lining to match the seam.

Fold the exterior hanging loop in half and pin to the heel side seam of the exterior stocking, matching edges. The seam allowance of the stocking should be pressed to one side from previous step. Sew across edge with a zig-zag stitch and backstitch back across. Repeat with lining pieces.

Fold the exterior cuff piece in half with right sides together, matching short sides and stitch. Press seam open. Repeat for lining cuff.

With right sides together, slide the exterior cuff over the top edge of the exterior stocking. If you have a one-directional fabric, make sure the design on the cuff piece is right side up here (same direction as the stocking). Line up top edges and match the cuff seam with the heel side seam. Pin, making sure the hanging loop is lying flat in between the cuff and stocking, and sew. Turn entire piece wrong-side out and press the new seam flat. Repeat with lining.

Leave the lining wrong-side out and turn exterior right-side out. Slide the exterior stocking into the lining - right sides should be together. (You’re not crazy – this is a picture of a different stocking - the green is my liner, red is the exterior)

Match the cuff seams and line up top edges. Pin and sew all the way around.

 

Turn through the opening in the lining. Hand-sew the opening closed. Push the liner into the exterior stocking. Press around the top cuff edges before turning down. After turning down cuff, press stocking completely. Reverse when the urge arrives!

I hope that all made sense. Sorry some of the pictures were not all of the same stocking. I will have to re-do the pictures next time I make a stocking. Please let me know if you have any questions or something doesn't make sense!! Happy Stocking Making!