Stocking Iterations Over 34 Years
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| Eliza's stocking -in process |
While working on baby Eliza's stocking recently, I realized that our stockings have gone through a sort of evolution which reflects both the various crafts popular during their era and my amount of free time.
At this point in our family life we have a real mishmash of stocking types. I suppose ideally, I'd start over and make a whole new set of matching stockings for everyone in our family. And, to fit the times, I guess they should either be burlap (or maybe that's passe' by now?) or perhaps all white. But I'm not about to start all over. So here's the hodge-podge we have.
Way back in the early 1980s, I made these beauties for Tim and I for our first Christmas:
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| ca. 1981 |
Their chief asset is size. (They dwarf the little ones I've made for everyone else. Mwahahaha!) Plus they were speedy things to whip up with the prequilted fabric, important since that December I was more focused on studying for chemistry finals than making Christmas crafts.
But then our first children started arriving, and I had more spare time. At least at first. And cross stitch was all the rage, so of course that's what I used.
CHILDREN'S STOCKING #1 - mid '80s-early '90s
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But all that cross-stitching was tedious! Plus the demands on my time were ever growing. Not to mention the fact that PRAIRIE POINTS were all the rage!
So we moved on to:
CHILDREN'S STOCKINGS #2 - mid '90s -early 2000s
These stockings went together more quickly than the cross-stitched one. But the truth is, mostly I switched because I just like doing hand quilting better than I like cross-stitching.
These stockings have serviced our family pretty well. But a few years ago the grands started arriving and we needed more.
And by this time, the old prairie points look dated. So - on to a new style!
CHILDREN'S STOCKINGS #3 - 2010s
These are really fun to sew! And reasonably quick, since the only hand sewing is on the binding. I more or less use this tutorial. Some day I hope to get around to embroidering names on each one, but I don't think that's going to happen this year. ;)
And just for fun, here's the stocking MY mom made for me, 55 years ago:
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| ca. 1960 - sadly in need of some restoration |
Comments
~Sarah
We do keep the contents pretty simple with a mixture of useful and fun things. Here are some of the things we've chosen from in past years:
Girls:
hair things, hair brushes, ribbons, etc.
lip gloss
nail polish
fun pens and other small craft items (washi tape?)
Guys (harder!):
chapstick
hand warmers
tiny notebooks
small Lego kits
pocket knives
Everyone:
flashlights (But not this year, guys!)
new ornament (Also - not this year – except for the grands – sorry big kids!)
socks or tights/leggings, especially fun socks or fuzzy ones for girls
ear buds
Silly Putty
deck of cards
Post-it notes – in fun colors or shapes
bookmarks
charging cord wrappers
And candy (of course!)
We used to give those tiny Dover books ($1 or $1.50) – stickers, paper dolls, stained glass, mazes
The stocking stuffer that went over the worst – Emory boards. Nail clippers and tooth brushes haven't been all that appreciated either.
OK - TO MY KIDS - and I know you read this!
The above lists are no indication of what may or may not appear in your stockings this year!
And if you have anything to add - you can tell what were your favorites and least favorites. Just be kind. ;)
I haven't really used note books from stockings. Also, I don't really use book markers since I read so few books at a time, I always remember where I left off. -Peter
I don't use charging cord wrappers. I find that my cords move around to much to ever have a standard length that I need to wind up.
Socks, especially long ones, and flashlights are my favorites and I use them all the time.