Embroider, patchwork or appliqué a collection of handmade stockings by Carolyn Letten

What you need...

• Fabric: red, green, printed
  Embroidery hoop, small
  Bias binding, gingham
  Ribbon, assorted
  Buttons, assorted
  Thread, matching
  Glue: glitter, acid-free

instructions

1. Appliqué Stocking - 1 Using the templates provided, cut one from green material and one from backing fabric. Remember to turn the template over for the second side. Cut one heel and toe piece from printed cloth, then stick them in place on the right side of the green front.
   
   2 Cut a border for the stocking top from print fabric, and three hearts. Glue the hearts in place and the border 5mm from the top, then leave to dry. Sew across the bottom edge of the border, around the inside edge of the sock toe and heel, and around the hearts.
   
   3 Place the front and back of the stocking right sides facing. Sew together with a 5mm seam, leaving the top open. Trim excess fabric close to the stitch line with pinking shears. Turn right sides out and press.
   
   4 Starting at the back, sew a length of bias binding around the top raw edge. Finish so that the two ends overlap. Make a small ribbon loop, attach it to the back at the right hand seam, then cover the raw end with a button and fabric glitter glue.
   

2. Embroidered Stocking - 1 Cut one stocking front in red and one back in your chosen fabric. Cut out the toe and heel pieces from print fabric, then stick them in place on the stocking front. Sew across the inner curve of the heel and toe, iron, then stitch again with a deocrative or zigzag stitch.
   
   2 Cut a strip of material for the stocking top, 3cm deep. Sew across the top and bottom, just inside the raw edges, then stitch a length of ribbon across the middle. Using the template, trace the hearts onto tissue paper, then pin them on the stocking front.
   
   3 In turn, place each heart into an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut, and machine stitch the heart design. Iron the reverse, then pin the front and back stocking shapes together, right sides facing. Sew together with a 5mm seam, leaving the top open.
   
   4 Trim excess fabric with pinking shears, or use shears to clip the corners. Turn right sides out and press. Add bias binding, a ribbon loop and button as before.

3. Patchwork Stocking - 1 Cut the five template shapes from assorted fabric. Number each piece and mark the top and bottom edges. The templates include a seam allowance of 5mm.
   
   2 Sew shape one, right sides together, with the dashed edge at the top of shape two. Continue until all five pieces are stitched together, then iron the seams flat on the reverse.
   
   3 Trim any overhanging material. Place the front and back right sides together and pin. Sew together with a 5mm seam, leaving the top open. Add bias binding, a ribbon loop and button as before.