Make your own Christmas stockings this year with my free Christmas stocking pattern! This beginner-friendly sewing tutorial includes printable pattern pieces, step-by-step instructions, optional quilting, and a classic cuff that creates a timeless heirloom stocking you'll use for years to come.
You might also like our easy sock gnomes, bottle brush Christmas wreath, or simmer pot potpourri!
Handmade Christmas stockings are one of my favorite holiday traditions. I made this matching set several years ago, and they're still one of my favorite decorations to unpack each Christmas. My hope is to eventually make stockings for my children's families too—it's such a practical gift that becomes part of a family's holiday memories.
Why You'll Love This Christmas Stocking Pattern
- Free printable pattern. Simply print the pattern on five sheets of paper, tape them together, and start sewing.
- Beginner friendly. Even if you're new to sewing, this project comes together with basic sewing techniques and clear step-by-step instructions.
- Optional quilting. Add batting and simple straight-line quilting for extra texture, or skip it for a lighter stocking.
- Easy to customize. Personalize each stocking with embroidery, trim, pom-poms, lace, or your favorite holiday fabrics.
- A keepsake you'll use every Christmas. Handmade stockings become treasured family heirlooms to enjoy year after year.
What Makes This Christmas Stocking Pattern Different?
This stocking has a classic shape that never goes out of style. Unlike many quick stocking tutorials, this version includes a separate cuff, full lining, optional quilting, and a hanging loop for a polished, professionally finished look.
The finished stocking is sturdy enough to hold Christmas morning surprises while still being simple enough for confident beginners to sew in about an hour.
What Others Are Saying
Thank you Brandy I made 3 stockings based on your brilliant tutorial. Have a wonderful Christmas. ---Elyse
Love this pattern so much! I'm new to sewing and this beautiful, simple pattern seems like a great beginners craft. ---Kyrie
I am a novice when it comes to sewing but this pattern and your detailed instructions were super easy to follow! This is the first time I’ve made anything like this and the first time I’ve ever embroidered but I wanted to make a Christmas stocking for my son’s first Christmas that he can cherish forever. My mother made me a personalized stocking when I was little and I really wanted to carry on the tradition. Thank you! I’m so happy with how this turned out.---Morgan
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Christmas Stocking Pattern
- What Makes This Christmas Stocking Pattern Different?
- What Others Are Saying
- Tips for Sewing Christmas Stockings
- Supplies
- Finished Stocking Size
- How To Make Cuffed Stockings
- Ways to Personalize Your Christmas Stockings
- Stocking Pattern FAQs
- More Holiday Sewing Projects
- Christmas Stocking Pattern
Tips for Sewing Christmas Stockings
- Choose quilting cotton. Cotton quilting fabric is my favorite because it's easy to sew, quilts beautifully, and comes in endless holiday prints.
- Cut trim slightly longer than needed. It's much easier to trim away extra fabric than to discover your trim is too short.
- Use batting for a quilted look. Batting gives the stocking extra body and creates beautiful texture, but you can skip it if you prefer a lighter stocking.
- Press as you sew. Pressing seams throughout the project helps everything fit together neatly and gives the finished stocking a professional appearance.
- No mantel? No problem. Hang stockings from a quilt ladder instead. We use ours every Christmas, and it's one of my favorite decorating hacks.
Supplies
- Free printable stocking pattern: Prints on five pages that are taped together. The cuff pattern is separate.
- Outer Fabric: About ½ yard of quilting cotton.
- Lining Fabric: About ½ yard.
- Batting: Optional for quilting.
- Cuff Fabric: One 5½" × 19½" rectangle.
- Trim: Bias tape, lace, pom-poms, ribbon, or folded fabric.
- Loop Fabric: One 2" × 6" strip.
- Thread
- Scissors
- Pins or Clips
- Sewing Machine
- Iron
Finished Stocking Size
The finished stocking is generously sized for filling with small gifts, candy, and stocking stuffers while still fitting beautifully on a mantel or stocking ladder.
How To Make Cuffed Stockings
Step 1: Print out the pattern and tape it together.
You'll need 2 out of the outer fabric, 2 out of the lining fabric, and 2 pieces of batting. You will also need a cuff piece, trim (optional), and a loop piece.
Step 2: Quilt the outer fabric. Pin batting to the back of the outer fabric pieces and quilt in straight lines across the fabric horizontally. Do this for both outer pieces. For a post with more photos of straight-line quilting for pillows and stockings, check out my quilted heart pillow tutorial.
Step 3: Sew the outer stocking. Place the outer stocking pieces together with the right sides together. Sew around the edges of the quilted fabric, leaving the top open. Clip the curves close to the hem. Turn right side out. (see photo above)
Place lining pieces together with the right sides of the fabric facing each other. Sew around the edges, leaving the top open. Leave the lining inside out.
Step 4: Assemble stocking. Place the inner/lining stocking inside the outer stocking, with the wrong sides facing each other and lining up side seams. (see photo above)
Fold the hanging loop (stocking hanger) piece in half (1″ wide) with the wrong side of the fabric facing out. Stitch the side seam. Turn right side out. Iron flat.
Step 5: Make a loop for hanging. Fold the loop in half and pin it inside the stocking on the side seam and line up the raw edges.
Step 6: Sew trim to the cuff. If you'd like to add a trim to the cuff of the stocking, you can do that right now. I used a piece of fabric that I folded in half and pressed. I lined up the raw edges to the bottom edge of the cuff and stitched it together. (see photo above)
Step 7: Finish trim. Then fold it over (to enclose the raw edge — see photo above) and topstitch it into place. You can also add lace, pom pom trim, or any other trimming to the edge!
If you don't want to add trim, just fold the bottom edge over ¼", press with an iron, then fold over once more and stitch in place to create a hem.
Step 8: Sew cuff. Fold the cuff in half with the wrong side of the fabric facing out (see photo above). Stitch the side seam. Turn right side out.
Step 9: Embroider names. If you'd like to add names to your stockings, do this now, then proceed to tuck the cuff inside the stocking using the directions below. I used a photo of Christmas stockings that I found on Etsy as inspiration, then freehanded the lettering using a pencil before stitching with embroidery thread.
Step 10: Top stitch. Tuck the cuff inside the stocking with the right side of the fabric facing the lining fabric. The top of the cuff lining up with the raw edge of the stocking, and the side seam lining up with one of the stocking side seams. The loop (stocking hanger) will be between the lining fabric and the cuff. Pin in place.
Stitch around the entire top edge. Stitch over the stocking loop a few times, going forward and in reverse, to reinforce the seam.
Step 11: Finish the stocking. Pull the cuff out of the stocking and fold over the stocking.
Ways to Personalize Your Christmas Stockings
- One of my favorite things about sewing stockings is how easy they are to customize. Here are a few ideas:
- Hand embroider family names.
- Add pom-pom trim.
- Use velvet, flannel, or linen instead of quilting cotton.
- Add ric-rac or lace.
- Quilt diagonal lines instead of straight lines.
- Sew patchwork fabric together before cutting the pattern.
- Add decorative embroidery.
- Use coordinating fabrics for every member of the family.
Stocking Pattern FAQs
No. Simply print the free pattern included with this tutorial, tape the pages together, and cut out the pieces.
Cotton quilting fabric is my favorite to work with for stockings. It's easy to quilt, easy to cut out, and washes up beautifully. You can also use flannel or lightweight denim.
These stockings wash beautifully since they are made from cotton. You can wash the fabric before sewing if you'd like, but you don't have to. The quilting gets more defined and crinkly if you don't wash the fabric before sewing.
Yes. This is one of my favorite beginner sewing projects because it uses basic sewing techniques while producing a beautiful finished stocking.
Absolutely. The batting and quilting are completely optional.
Yes! Embroider names, add trim, or choose different fabrics to make each stocking unique.
Most sewists can complete one stocking in approximately one hour, depending on whether they choose to quilt the fabric or add embellishments.
More Holiday Sewing Projects
Love holiday sewing projects? Browse my collection of Christmas sewing tutorials featuring handmade gifts, home décor, and festive projects for every skill level.
MADE THIS CRAFT AND LOVED IT? 💛 Please leave a STAR rating and COMMENT below! Post it to Facebook or Pinterest to easily share with friends!
Christmas Stocking Pattern
Equipment
- sewing machine
- iron and ironing board
Materials
- ½ yard fabric for stocking
- ½ yard fabric for lining
- ½ yard batting
- 1 5.5"x19.5" piece of fabric for cuff
- 1 19.5" piece of trim (bias tape, fabric, lace, etc.) My trim was 2.5"x19.5"
- 1 2"x6" piece of fabric for loop (stocking hanger)
- thread
- scissors
- pins
Instructions
- Print out the pattern and tape it together.
- You'll need 2 out of the outer fabric, 2 out of the lining fabric, and 2 pieces of batting. You will also need a cuff piece, trim (optional), and a loop piece.Note: I always cut the trim a few inches longer than what is actually needed to leave a little wiggle room, then trim to size after I sew it on.
- Pin batting to the back of the outer pieces of fabric and quilt in straight lines across, horizontally. Do this for both outer pieces.
- Place outer stocking pieces together with the right sides together. Sew around the edges of the quilted fabric, leaving the top open. Clip the curves close to the hem. Turn right side out. (see photo above)
- Place lining pieces together with the right sides of the fabric facing each other. Sew around the edges, leaving the top open. Leave the lining inside out.
- Place the inner/lining stocking inside the outer stocking, with the wrong sides facing each other and lining up the side seams.
- Fold the hanging loop (stocking hanger) piece in half (1″ wide) with the wrong side of the fabric facing out. Stitch the side seam. Turn right side out. Iron flat.
- Fold the loop in half and pin it inside the stocking on the side seam and line up the raw edges.
- If you'd like to add a trim to the cuff of the stocking, you can do that right now. I used a piece of fabric that I folded in half and pressed. I lined up the raw edges to the bottom edge of the cuff and stitched it together.
- Then I folded it over (to enclose the raw edge--see photo above) and topstitched it into place. You can also add lace, pom pom trim, or any other trimming to the edge!If you don't want to add trim, just fold the bottom edge over ¼", press with an iron, then fold over once more and stitch in place to create a hem.
- Fold the cuff in half with the wrong side of the fabric facing out (see photo above). Stitch the side seam. Turn right side out.
- If you'd like to add names to your stockings, do this now, then proceed to tuck the cuff inside the stocking using the directions below. I used a photo of Christmas stockings that I found on Etsy as inspiration, then freehanded the lettering using a pencil before stitching with embroidery thread.
- Tuck the cuff inside the stocking with the right side of the fabric facing the lining fabric. The top of the cuff lining up with the raw edge of the stocking, and the side seam lining up with one of the stocking side seams. The loop (stocking hanger) will be between the lining fabric and the cuff. Pin in place.Stitch around the entire top edge. Stitch over the stocking loop a few times, going forward and in reverse, to reinforce the seam.
- Pull the cuff out of the stocking and fold it over.
Brandy says
Our stockings are 7 years old and still look beautiful!
Teryl says
Can you tell me what the approximate dimensions are for your finished stockings using your pattern please?
Brandy says
Hi Teryl! From the hanger to the toe it measures 19”.
Elyce Treacy says
Thank you Brandy I made 3 stockings based on your brilliant tutorial. Have a wonderful Christmas from Elyce in Ireland.
Brandy says
I’m so glad to hear that! Merry Christmas!
Emily Muir says
I'm having a hard time finding the video link for this tutorial.
Brandy says
Hi Emily! The videos plays directly under the first image of the post. Do you have an ad or pop up blocker on?
Mary says
Great pattern fairly easy. It did take me longer than 1 hour! Closer to 2. And had a bit of trouble matching cuff edges- found cuff to be a hit too big. But will make again!
Brandy says
Glad to hear!
Kyrie says
Love this pattern so much! I'm new to sewing and this beautiful, simple pattern seems like a great beginners craft. Question though, did you use just a regular foot for the quilting part or a walking foot? I'm probably overthinking it.
Brandy says
You can use either one! I used a regular foot since it wasn’t very thick.
Dee says
Thank you for the pattern, Brandy! Quick question...where is the link to the step by step video? I see the words, "Watch our step by step video!" but I'm not able to find a link.
Brandy says
Hi Dee! The video plays right under the first image in the post. Do you have a pop up blocker on your browser by chance?
Morgan Fobare says
I am a novice when it comes to sewing but this pattern and your detailed instructions were super easy to follow! This is the first time I’ve made anything like this and the first time I’ve ever embroidered but I wanted to make a Christmas stocking for my son’s first Christmas that he can cherish forever. My mother made me a personalized stocking when I was little and I really wanted to carry on the tradition. Thank you! I’m so happy with how this turned out
Brandy says
Morgan, this made my day! What a keepsake that will be!
Gail says
Please describe exactly how to tape the stocking together A, B, C, & D. I understand cuff is cut separately. Had a terrible time printing instructions and would really like to make these soon.
Brandy says
A attaches to B. C attaches to D. Then attach the AB piece to CD piece.
Alex says
Just made one last night! How fun. Sewed together a bunch of scraps from mask projects from the last year. My first quilting project, so things are a little catawampus. Everything was in the stash, and it was really satisfying to whip this up in a few hours.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXjwUhZPdR6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Brandy says
Beautiful!!
Alex says
Also appreciate that you can make the outside out of a quarter yard of fabric. Woohoo!
Nancy says
Hi, I'm trying to download your pattern, but I can not get it to download. I'm clicking on everything I think should be the link, but nothing is taking me anyplace except the ads! My first thought was the stocking that says FREE PDF, but when I click there it does nothing. Any suggestions on how I can get the pattern?
Brandy says
Hi Nancy! That’s odd! I’ll go ahead and email it to you since it isn’t opening correctly. Could just be a pop up blocker or something.