Easy Christmas stocking sewing pattern

Sew Christmas stockings for your family and friends with our easy sewing pattern!

Quick and easy to make, the pattern is beginner-friendly and great for batch sewing. And it’s oh so fun to sew!

Plus you’ll be doing good for charity – we are donating 100% of the proceeds to Action for Children’s Secret Santa appeal to help vulnerable children.

So dust off the xmas tunes, crack open the mince pies, and start your festive sewing!

GET THE PATTERN

THE PATTERN DESIGN

The stocking features a simple quilted sock, with lining, fold over cuff and hanging loop. Plus you have the option of adding a cute trim - think pom poms, ricrac, or whatever you fancy!

Finished length: 44cm (17 1/4in) long

Opening: 19cm (7 1/2in) wide

FABRIC + SUPPLIES

We recommend using medium-weight “quilting” cotton for all pieces. For the cuff, you could use teddy fleece or similar.

The pattern is designed to fit on "fat quarters", so you have the option to mix and match cute prints without having to buy different fabrics by the metre or yard.

You will need:

• Outer fabric – 0.5m (5/8yd) long x 75cm (29 1/2in) wide – or 2 “fat quarters”
• Lining fabric – 0.5m (5/8yd) long x 75cm (29 1/2in) wide – or 2 “fat quarters”
• Cuff fabric – 0.4m (1/2yd) long x 50cm (5/8yd) wide – or 1 “fat quarter”
• 5-10mm (1/4-3/8in) thick batting (wadding) – 0.5m (5/8yd) long x 75cm (29 1/2in) wide
• Thread in matching and/or contrast colours to your fabrics
• Optional: 0.5m (1/2yd) pompom trim or embellishment of your choice
• Sewing machine and basic tools, incl removable marking pen

PATTERN FORMAT

The pattern is in PDF format. After checkout, you will get an automated email in an instant with a link to download your pattern. You can print it on 6 sheets of A4 / Letter paper or one sheet of A0.

As well as the pattern, you will get a full colour instruction booklet, featuring photos of each step so you can see what the project is meant to look like as you sew it. Our patterns are known and loved for being extremely beginner-friendly and great for visual learners!

GET THE PATTERN

We’d love to see your stockings! Please share with us @TillyButtons #TATBstocking

*****

Photos: Jane Looker Photography

Speedy Makes For Last Minute Pressies!

Aren't handmade Christmas pressies just the best!? They can also be a life saver to those of us who may or may not have left a large portion of their Christmas shopping until the last minute... Fear not makers! 

Below, we're sharing our favourite quick and easy sewing projects to make for Christmas presents for all the family. If you're short on time, don't worry, lots of these projects will take less than an hour and minimal fabric. Win-win!

Our FREE sewing pattern downloads are now listed in the shop (not just on the blog), for easy access. Check out our freebie sewing patterns!

Continue reading for some perfect handmade stocking-stuffer gift ideas...

Face Masks

Perhaps an unconventional Christmas pressie, but face masks have become the unexpected, but a necessary accessory of recent times and they don't have to be boring! Perfect for using up the fabric scraps you've collected this year, sew your loved ones some stylish masks to match any outfit.

You don't need to download a pattern, simply check out our face mask tutorial to see how to quickly draft your own...

HOW TO MAKE A DIY FACE MASK

Eye Masks

Whilst we're talking masks, check out our lovely FREE Fifi eye mask sewing pattern. There’s something so indulgent about slipping on an eye mask to help you get enough beauty sleep. Line it with silky satin for a touch of luxury to your gift.

GET YOUR FIFI EYE MASK PATTERN HERE!

Sew a Perfect Party Dress!

Party season is upon us, sewists! It's the perfect excuse to sew up those extra fancy, luxurious makes you've been dreaming up all year. Perhaps you've been lusting after designer velvet dresses or swishy sequin skirts, this blog post will get you in the mood for whatever your festive party feel.

SHOP THE 'PARTY DRESS SEWING PATTERN EDIT'

However... we're advocates of wearing your fanciest dresses whenever you want. So don't pack your make away after one wear. Love it, wear it and restyle it to give it the love it deserves!

Simple Chic

Indigo is one of our all-time best-selling sewing patterns. Just check out the super inspiring #SewingIndigo hashtag on Instagram (with over 4000 posts!) to see what the online sewing community makes of it. 

Recently re-released in our UK 16-34 size band AND with a trendy puff sleeve add-on update, now is the best time to get your copy and join the Indigo bandwagon! 

With a whopping possible 60 combinations to make with our Indigo Add-on bundle, you'll be whipping up simple smock dresses left, right and centre! So if you want to make your own party dress this season but are short on time, our simple Indigo pattern is the perfect place to start.

Need some fabric inspo for Indigo? GO HERE

Want to know how to sew a smooth dart? GO HERE

SHOP THE INDIGO PATTERN BUNDLE

Team Buttons’ Secret Santa Christmas Jumpers

Is it just us, or has Christmas started early this year? Here at Tilly Towers, one of our favourite festive events is our annual staff Secret Santa gift swap, but this year (in true 2020 style) we decided to do things a little differently.

To celebrate the launch of our latest sewing pattern, the Billie sweatshirt and sweater dress, we decided to make Christmas sweatshirts for each other using the Billie pattern.

The rules were simple – each of us was randomly allocated another member of the team for whom we made a Billie sweatshirt featuring a personalised, festive design. We also submitted a wish list, which included our size, favourite colours and Christmas styles, to give our Secret Santa some clues to help her out.

Now we all know fabric shopping is one of the best bits of a project, but fabric shopping for someone else can be a whole different ball game! Luckily, Minerva came to our rescue and supplied us with all the fabrics we needed. From snuggly fleece-back sweatshirting to smart French terry and glittery ribbing – Minerva had it all, so a huge thank you to them!

Almost all of us used Happy Fabric’s iron-on vinyls to decorate our Billie sweatshirts too. They come in a huge range of colours and finishes, they’re super easy to use and produce such amazing results!

As most of the team are working from home at the moment, once the sweatshirts were finished Santa’s elves sent them by express delivery to their lucky recipients and we organised a Billie sweatshirt swap over video call. It was so fun to get together (if only virtually) and open our gifts with one another. And of course, we filmed it all so you could join in on the fun too!

Sew a Xmas Sweater Contest - and the Winner is...

Boy, you guys have had fun with our Sew a Xmas Sweater Contest! We are simply blown away with the creative entries that have had us smiling from ear-to-ear every time they hit our inbox.

The entries are in, the judges have cast their votes, and we are VERY happy to announce our prize winners! Drumroll please...

Team Buttons DIY Christmas Jumpers

Here at Tilly Towers we've been so inspired by all of your entries for our Sew A Xmas Sweater contest that we decided to join in the fun and make our own. As you'll be able to tell from the pictures, we definitely enjoyed ourselves :)

From pom poms and glitter to sparkly vinyls, once we began there was no holding us back. It was the first time for all of us using iron-on vinyls, gifted to us from Happy Fabric, who also supplied the grand prize for the contest. Now we want to embellish ALL the clothes to make them dazzle!

Sew a Xmas Sweater Contest

We are so excited announce announce a very festive Tilly and the Buttons contest! Everyone is invited to join us in stitching and embellishing a Tilly and the Buttons' sewing pattern to wear for the holiday season. We are using the term 'xmas sweater' loosely - it could be a Christmas sweater, Hanukah hoodie or Diwali turtleneck... as long as it's festive a snuggly it will fit the bill!

Creativity is key here – we are not going to be checking seams, hemlines or fastenings, we want you to have fun and be free to add the wow factor to your project. We suggest using Coco, Stella, Nora, and Freya – as they’re all pretty speedy to make and cosy to wear. Embellish, embroider and applique to your hearts content. Here is a little inspo to give you some ideas for what you could do : )

Clockwise L-R: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Team Buttons Christmas Party Outfits - and a Discount Code!

With Christmas just around the corner, Joanne and Katie of Team Buttons have been stitching up their festive party outfits ready to strut them on the dancefloor!

We partnered with Spoonflower for their Holiday Blog Hop for this post and they kindly sent us the beautiful fabric we used. Let’s hear from Joanne and Katie about their gorgeous new Christmas dresses!



Joanne here! My go to for a festive party dress is something that sparkles, so this was where I started my search on Spoonflower. I picked the Gold Glitter Palm Leaf print in the Celosia Velvet. The design doesn’t state that actual glitter will be printed, but the imitation of the golden leaves gives a stunning appearance of a twinkling glow.

Super happy with my choice, the velvet has a good weight and is super soft – ideal for whipping up an elegant Cleo dungaree dress.

2017 Christmas gift guide!

Hello Sailor Heavy Interlock fabric from Tilly and the Buttons from £8.50

Pink Dressmaker Shears 8" from Ernest Wright and Son £40

Christmas is fast approaching which means it's time for mince pies, decorations, and presents! Do you know what you're getting for your crafty friends? Browse our top selection of gorgeous gifts and stocking fillers for your nearest and dearest. Don't forget to treat yourself too :)

17-Month Agenda - No Bad Days from Ban.do $28

Etta Dress Kit from Tilly and the Buttons from £45

Our Christmas Gift Guide!

Everyday Essentials Sewing Pattern Bundle from Tilly and the Buttons £30.00

Set of 10 Handmade Macaron Sewing Weights from Oh Sew Quaint £19.99

The time of goodwill and cheer (not to mention mince pies and the almighty chocolate selection box) is fast approaching. Do you know what you're getting for your nearest and dearest? Here's our roundup of some of the best goodies for the crafty folk in your life - and perhaps a little something for you, too!

Janome DKS100 Special Edition Sewing Machine from Amazon £529

Cleo Dungaree Dress Kit from Tilly and the Buttons £39.00

Learn to Sew Jersey Tops Online Workshop from Tilly and the Buttons £45 *

Luca Pom Hat Knitting Kit in Teal and Ivory from Stitch and Story £35

Christmas Shopping and New Year Workshops

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Nope, me neither - every year I say I'm going to make all the gifts, but it never quite works out that way... so I should really start shopping!

In case you're not a member of our email list, I wanted to let you know about some offers on gift ideas in our shop that may help you with your own Christmas shopping, plus some fun sewing workshops we've got coming up in 2016 at our South London studio...



If you're looking for a gift for a fellow craft lover - or are dropping hints to Santa for what you'd like to receive - we've introduced sewing pattern bundles just for Christmas. For £30 you get a set of three beautiful printed sewing patterns, which include a gorgeous step-by-step instruction booklet with colour photos. Buying a bundle saves you 20% on the full price! The bundles are Easy Peasy Patterns (speedy projects with no fiddly bits), 9 to 5 Classics (for turning heads in the office), and Tilly's Favourites (the ones I can't live without!).



Thinking of gifting our book, Love at First Stitch? I'm happy to write a personal message in it - just email Lexy with up to 20 words that you'd like written in the inside front cover. Best to email her within 30 minutes of placing your order (to catch her before she hits the post office), and please include your order number in the email so I make sure I write it in the right book :)

Ooh and speaking of bundles and books, we're doing a book bundle for Christmas too! For £25 you get a signed book, DIY Dressmaker tote bag (it's great quality, Fair Trade and massive) plus two badges saying "DIY Dressmaker" and "Sewing is Good For You". A really nice gift for crafters (and yes, buying a gift for yourself is totally allowed).

Plus of course we do gift vouchers if you want to let the recipient choose something themselves, whether that's a pattern, book or workshop.

And did you know we also sell sewing patterns on Amazon UK? So you can put them on your wish list to let your friends and family know what to get you ;)

UPDATE: We no longer run workshops at Tilly and the Buttons HQ.  You can now enjoy Tilly teaching you to sew in the comfort of your own home by signing up to one of our online workshops.

FREESTYLE MACHINE EMBROIDERY

Saturday 16 January 2016

We've got some exciting workshops coming up in 2016, including this brand new one! Sophia Palmer of Jessalli Handmade will show you how to mix free-motion machine embroidery - basically drawing with thread at an exciting high speed machine pace! - with appliqué to embellish your sewing projects or create a custom piece of textile art. I've already reserved a place for myself, it sounds so much fun!

SEWING KNITS: MAKE A COCO

Sunday 7 February 2016

Learn tips and tricks to cut, stabilise and sew low-stretch knit fabrics on your normal sewing machine, while making the popular Coco top or dress pattern. Once you've sewn your first of these comfy garments, you'll never look back!

MAKE FRIENDS WITH A SEWING MACHINE

Saturday 9 January 2016

Saturday 12 March 2016

Get to grips with threading a sewing machine and learn to sew a simple scarf to tie around your head, neck or bag. Perfect for absolute beginners or those looking for a refresher.

LEARN TO SEW: MAKE PYJAMAS!

Sunday 29 November 2015

Sunday 17 January 2016

Sunday 13 March 2016

If you can use a sewing machine for basic stitching and want to start making your own clothes, this workshop offers the perfect introduction. You'll learn how to make the easy-peasy pyjama bottoms project using the Margot sewing pattern, and get a copy of our book, Love at First Stitch, to take away with you.

LEARN TO SEW WEEKENDER

Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 March 2016

Save £15 by booking both Make Friends with a Sewing Machine and Make Pyjamas workshops on the same weekend. This is a great way of plunging head first into the wonderful world of sewing. Come along on Saturday with no experience, and by Sunday night you'll be wearing pyjamas that you've made yourself!

COPY YOUR CLOTHES

Sunday 31 January 2016

Saturday 26 March 2016

Do you own a favourite dress or perfect fitting jeans that you just wish you’d bought three of? Then this class is for you! We'll show you how to clone your favourite clothes and create a pattern that you can use to sew them again and again… and make them immortal!

All workshops are at our studio near West Norwood and West Dulwich stations.

Hope to see you there!

Have a Merry One!

This Christmas I will be mostly chillaxercising... including with my knitting!

When I asked you for advice on how I should start knitting, I knew you'd be helpful, but I didn't expect quite so many amazing tips and generous offers of free lessons! I would have loved to visit more of you, but in the end I went to Stepney for a lesson at the home of Aneeta Patel, author of the bestselling book Knitty Gritty which many of you recommended, along with the follow up book Knitty Gritty: The Next Steps. Aneeta was a fantastic teacher - clear, patient and down-to-earth. If you're looking to take a knitting class in London, I would definitely recommend paying her a visit.

I've also just booked into the Knit Lab online video class on Craftsy, which looks great as you can see the teacher's knitting in action close-up while learning the essentials from the comfort of your own sofa. The class is on sale at the moment, along with loads of other classes in sewing, pattern making, knitting, photography etc if you fancy learning something new this Christmas or new year.

I'll also be curled up on the sofa sipping amaretto sours (classy), eating lebkuchen (mmm... I am getting through an average of 12 a day at the moment, yikes!) and reading the new issue of Crafty magazine. Ooh look, there's my column! This month I share some tips for beginners for diagnosing common causes of sewing machine strops.

Well, I'm exhausted, so off to recline with my knitting. How will you be chillaxercising this Christmas? Wishing you a very merry one!

[Soundtrack: 'Presents for Christmas' by Solomon Burke]

Wishing You a Merry Stitchmas!

Just a little note to wish y'all a wonderful time over the festive season. May your days be merry and bright... and may Santa bring you that sewing pattern you've been coveting.

I shall be chillaxing to the max. Since finishing work on Friday, all the muscles in my body seem to have collapsed into an exhausted heap from what has been a rather intense year. Just typing this is a struggle! But I soldier on, fuelled by hot spiced apple juice and a box of lebkuchen biscuits (mmm...). I'm silencing the workaholic in me and for the next few days will be mostly sitting on the sofa, eating cheese and... err... that's probably about it!

One thing I have managed to do is make a start on tidying up my sewing shelves. If my body wakes up, I may even crack open a new project, who knows...

Have a good one, y'all!