Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Christmas Stocking Tutorial

Tomorrow is my quilt guild's 25th anniversary Christmas party. It's potluck, so I've got to decide what to bring. I don't want to bring bread or dessert, although dessert seems to be my specialty. Too bad we can't live on chocolate chip cookies and Italian Cream Cake. I bake lots of those during the Christmas season, so we'll be living on it if there are any left overs! Instead, I think I'll flip through my Sandra Lee recipe books and she if she's got one that's quick, easy, and tastes great. I'm sure there's one that will be perfect to take to a party!

Every year at the guild Christmas party, someone comes up with a quilt block idea for every one to make. Last year it was a snowman. Years before that it was an ornament block. This year it is a stocking block. For each block you make, you get your name put in the hat. If your name is drawn you win a stack of blocks. Usually people make lots of blocks, so there are about 9 stacks of blocks given away; enough for each winner to make a full size quilt. Notice I didn't show you a stack of snowmen or ornament blocks. That's because I didn't win any. That's okay, though. They were still fun to make.

This year one of the ladies came up with the stocking block idea. Because I have been busy Christmas decorating, here I am making the blocks as always the day before. I thought you should join in on the fun, too, so I decided to do my first (I think) tutorial. I have lots to learn about tutorials, one being that I need dark backgrounds for explaining light fabric items. My flannel board worked great for showing darker items. A stool also helped because I stood on it so I could shoot better pictures. The back of a Christmas wall hanging worked great for helping to show up the light fabrics. I must have looked funny standing on a stool while shooting pictures of a flannel board on an ironing board because my husband walked in and started laughing. This tutorial stuff is technical!

Here's what you'll need:

For the body of the stocking (Christmas): 1, 5x8 rectangle, and 1 4x4 square

 


For the cuff of the stocking: 1, 3x5 rectangle in a coordinating Christmas print
 


White background: 1 4x7 rectangle, and (3) 1 3/4" squares.
 


Step 1: Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 1 3/4" square

 
Posted by Picasa


Step 2: Place two of the squares in the upper left hand and lower left hand corner of the 4" square. Place one square in the lower right hand corner of the 5x8 rectangle.


Sew on the diagonal lines.

Press the top part of the square back.


Trim the seam to 1/4 inch. It should look like this on the wrong side.


This is what it should look like on the right side.


Step 3. Sew the 4x4" square to the 4x7" background rectangle. Sew the 5x8" rectangle to the 3x5" cuff rectangle.



Step 4. Sew the cuff/boot rectangle section to the background/toe of boot sections together. Press. Block should be 8 1/2 x 10 1/2.


These would be so cute as a wall hanging or a table runner. You could embroider names on the cuffs, and embellish them to your heart's content!

As you can see, I made three of these, so my name will go in the hat three times.

It would be fun to win! Wish me luck!!

Wish me luck, too, in finding a recipe. Do you have a favorite one you like to take to parties?

Amanda

10 comments:

  1. I love those blocks!!! I struggle for recipes too sometimes. Though I have a good dip recipe - 1lb velveeta cheese cut up into cubes, 2 15oz cans of hormel chili-no beans, some onion and a small can of mild green chili's. Mix it up and bake at 350 for about an hour (or until all the cheese is melted) or, I like to put it in my crockpot (I have a 1 1/2 qt dip sized one) on low for a couple hours till all the cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, it's such a great block...I want to make a wall hanging with six of them...one for each member of my family...with names embroidered on the cuffs! Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your blocks look so cute. You did a nice job on the tutorial. Good luck--hope you win.
    How about Dirt Pudding?
    Crush oreos in the bottom of a dish. Top with 1-2 boxes of prepared chocolate pudding mixed with a tub of cool whip. Pour on top of oreos. Crush more oreos and top pudding--add gummy worms

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your stockings are adorable! I think I will make some blocks of those and mix them with some 9 patch blocks and make a small Christmas throw. Thanks for the great idea and tutorial! http://candlelitequilter.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great tutorial with wonderful step by step instructions and pictures....LOL.....As for a recipe...I'm stumped. Sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love that stocking block and the tutorial looks like it's a very good one.....easy to understand each step. As for the recipe for the pot-luck luncheon, I struggle with that all the time. You'll have to let us know what you end up making, okay? Have a fun time there, too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Amanda !! Look how cute and Christmasy your blog looks!! .... and you did a GREAT job on the stocking block tutuorial!! I give it an A+++ !! Have fun at the guild party!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oops .... I forgot to answer your recipe question ..... hmmmm ..... I usually volunteer to bring the napkins!! .... or..... my Pillsbury slice and bake cookies are just world famous (not!) I do have a yummy cranberry pie recipe that is served with cool whip or vanilla ice cream that's very festive ..... but I'm guessing that since it's now 10 PM and the party is tomorrow .... you won't be running out to the grocery store for cranberries and you're probably way more organized than me and are all finished and getting ready for bed!

    ReplyDelete
  9. cute tutorial! I think I will bookmark and save it for next year :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the cute tutorial Amanda--I love those stocking blocks!! Now I just need to quit reading blogs and go sew lol!!!

    ReplyDelete

My busy little quilting friends said...




Bloglovin

Follow on Bloglovin