This easy DIY Christmas stocking was made from an old pair of fleece pajamas pants. You can sew it up in less than an hour! So colorful on the mantel.
Skills Required: Beginner. This is perfect for beginner sewists because it’s simple stitching. You should have basic experience with a sewing machine, doing a straight stitch.
The Christmas season is upon us, bringing with it the delightful chaos of decorations, gift-giving, and, of course, crafting. Today, I’m excited to share a little project that combines the joy of DIY with the spirit of sustainability: turning an old pair of fleece pants into a unique (and cute) DIY Christmas stocking.
It’s a fun, straightforward project that adds a personal touch to your holiday decor, perfect for those who love a good upcycle.
If we’re all being honest, we have that one pair of pajama pants tucked away in the back of our drawer, too beloved to throw out but too worn to see the light of day. They are the perfect contender for this project.
I found my inspiration in the pajama section of my local thrift store, where a pair of bright fleece pants called out to me, begging to be given a new purpose. And what could be more fitting than transforming them into something festive for the holiday season?
This stocking isn’t just a crafting tutorial; it’s a shoutout to those who appreciate the beauty of repurposed materials. Whether you’re a thrift store fanatic like me or you’ve got just the pair of old jammies in mind, this handmade Christmas stocking is a great way to add a bit of homemade charm to your holiday setup.
Don’t worry if your pants are a bit on the thinner side; add a little interfacing to give them the strength they need to hold all the holiday goodies you can stuff into them.
And while I’ve chosen fleece for its ease and coziness, feel free to experiment with whatever materials you have on hand. The more unique, the better!
So, if you’re ready to try a bit of creative upcycling this holiday season, grab those old pajama pants and let’s get started. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to get into the festive spirit without adding more to the ever-growing holiday shopping list.
Let’s turn those favorite-but-forgotten holiday pajamas into some new holiday decor. First, here’s what you’re going to need.
Gather These Supplies
- Fleece or flannel pajamas pants
- Stocking (to use as a pattern, optional)
- Sewing machine (or you can sew by hand, too)
- Scissors
- Pins
- Pencil
- Yarn
- Scrap piece of wood or cardboard for wrapping the tassel
- Hair elastic or a rubber band
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Parchment paper (or any large format paper to make a pattern with)
Tips and Thoughts for This Project
I used a kid’s XL size pajama pant and was able to create two stockings with this size.
If your fabric is really thin and the stocking won’t hang correctly, add interfacing to the pieces. Interfacing is a material that you can iron on that adds stiffness to fabric (you can sew through it). It’s really easy to use. Learn more here.
Now you’re ready to hang it up and wait for St. Nick to pay a visit! Get the printable how to card below:
DIY Christmas Stocking
Equipment
- 1 Sewing machine (or you can sew by hand, too)
- Pins
- Pencil(s)
- Scrap piece of wood or cardboard for wrapping the tassel
Materials
- Fleece or flannel pajamas pants
- Stocking to use as a pattern, optional
- Yarn
- Hair elastic or a rubber band
- Parchment paper or any large format paper to make a pattern with
Instructions
- Use a stocking you have on hand to make a pattern, or freehand draw your own. Make sure to add about an inch around for the seams. Cut that out with a pair of scissors.
- Trace the pattern onto your fabric and cut two pieces (for the front and back of the stocking).
- Pin the pieces right sides together and sew around the stocking, leaving the top edge un-sewn.
- I used the bottom of the pajama pant to create the fold over top of the stocking. Turn it inside out, and put the top part of the stocking (still inside out) inside it, and line the raw edges up. Do not sew yet.
- Cut a strip of fabric from the remaining pant scraps. Fold one edge of the strip towards the center by half the width of the fabric strip, and do the same for the other side. Fold the two sides together and iron.
- Sew both edges to finish. Alternatively, you can use ready made bias tape or even ribbon.
- Sandwich the hanger (folded and loop facing downwards) and sandwich between the stocking body and foldover top. Pin in place.
- Sew the stocking top with a straight stitch, making sure to go slower where the hanger is so your needle does not break. Turn it right side out and you should have a finished stocking.
- Create a tassel for your stocking by wrapping yarn around a flat object such as a piece of wood or book. The more you wrap, the fuller your tassel will be. Keep in mind that more wraps will result in a thicker tassel.
- Carefully remove the wrapped yarn, and tie a piece of yarn on the top part to secure all the loops together.
- Use elastic to secure the top and create a tassel head. Wrap a piece of yarn around it and tie it to hide the elastic.
- Finally, cut the loops at the bottom of the tassel and trim the tassel ends evenly for a cleaner look.
- Attach your tassel using hot glue under the folded part of the stocking.
If you like this idea for a DIY Christmas stocking, check out this collection of DIY Christmas stockings. I’d also love for you to take a peek at these other ideas: