Stocking Love

Made this stocking for a friend. This may just be The Year of the Stocking, since I've already made two (the other one is on its way around the world, so no peeking yet!).

This stocking pattern is adapted from the Quilt in a Day Stockings & Small Quilts by Judy Knoechel. I used the stocking pattern and the instructions for putting the front, back, and lining together with the cuff because I think it's the perfect stocking shape and the way it's put together turns out really nice every time. I did my own thing for the patchwork part, though.

Of course, I had to add a doo-dad up in the corner to pretty it up :-) I used sheer ribbon and three coordinating fabrics in various widths, plus the big, white button for trim.

Making the doo-dad gave me inspiration to make a matching ornie!

The other side.

It's fluffy! Note: these are not yo-yos - I used 4 1/2", 3 1/2", and 2 1/2" wide strips, cut 20", 18", and 16" long, seamed at the short ends, and then folded WST and hand-gathered tightly. Stack and use a doll needle to baste together and add the buttons.

And...a yarn angel.

I also filled it with a couple stacks of my Sinfully Soft Molasses Cookies, which she loves :-)

Sinfully Soft Molasses Cookies
1/2 cup butter (not margarine)
1/2 cup shortening (I use Butter-Flavor Crisco)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
2 1/4 teaspoons ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
Additional sugar

Cream butter, shorteneing, and sugar til light and fluffy. Add molasses and eggs. Stir or sift together flour, salt, soda, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet. The secret to good cookies is to NOT OVERMIX after the dry ingredients have been added. Roll dough into 1 1/2" balls. Roll balls in sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheet 2 1/2" apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes - do not over bake if you want them to remain soft! Store in a tightly-closing container to maintain softness. Flavor enhances over time and they freeze wonderfully. I decorated mine with Wilton Vanilla Candy Melts (melt in microwave and pipe onto cookies in a zig-zag pattern).