A (Few Thousand) Stitch(es) in Time...

Once upon a time, many years ago, I started something that has become a tradition. Every time a new baby is born or a child is added by marriage into our family circle, I make the child a personalized Christmas stocking. I'm not sure exactly how many I've made over the years (it's at least 16 so far), but the first ones I made were for Ben and me when we got married, and it's kind of turned into a habit (I especially enjoyed 2005 when we had three new babies in one year!). At any rate, the kits come with 3 (not-so)simple steps, kind of like this: Step 1, stocking front; Step 2, stocking assembly; Step 3, finishing touches. Sounds easy, right? But each "step" has within it several of what I'll call "sub-steps," and each sub-step has within it what I'll call "baby steps." It can be quite maddening at times.

For example, here's the instruction sheet for the stocking I've just completed for Bridger Hobbs. Note that I'm highlighting the lines in Step 1 as I complete them; otherwise, I would lose my place each time I look away from the sheet.



Within each sub-step, the baby steps might be described as, "embroider, sequin, stuff, and applique piece 35." In the case of the drummer boy's face, "embroider" meant using five different colors of thread and three different stitches. Of course, each step begins with the threading of a needle---and you'd better be sure you've got the one with the insanely narrow eye that fits through the little beads if you're planning to sequin with it! The thread comes as a 6-strand segment; separating out the 1 or 2 strands needed can easily result in a tangled mess of thread, so it's a bit of an acquired skill to learn how to do it without tangling. "Stuffing" means adding some polyfill material under the felt piece to give it added dimension. I keep a bag of polyfill around, never knowing when it might come in handy, but assuming that I haven't yet made my last stocking! And "applique" means to sew the piece into place, not actually going up and down all the way through the base fabric, but just catching enough of it to secure the thread.

Here's how it looked partially finished:



You can see how each little bit has to go on in just the right order, or a donkey might end up with clothes or hair or something weird....

Now, normally I'm pretty good about playing by the rules, but this stocking kit had one instruction that I just couldn't, in good conscience, follow. Look at the picture that came with the kit, compare it with the actual stocking I stitched, and see if you can tell what I changed (other than the name):



I'm happy to say that I did complete the stocking, and I mailed it yesterday, so Bridger will be receiving it soon. And Jack might be happy to know that I've started on his stocking, and I plan to have it done by the end of this month! Here's the little drummer boy, all done and ready to hang on the mantel.