There's nothing quite as enjoyable as sitting by the fireplace with your family at Christmas time and unpacking cute stocking surprises. In fact, a great place to begin with holiday decorating is by adorning your mantel with handmade Christmas stockings.

Make your own Christmas stockings
To get you started, we've gathered the best sewing and knitting patterns for beautiful Christmas stockings. Don't miss our step-by-step guide to sewing pretty plaid stockings for your parents, family and friends.

If you prefer to knit stockings for each family member, take a look at our personalized knitting patterns -- your loved ones will delight in seeing their own names hanging on the mantel.


5 fabulous knitted and hand-sewn stockings to make this holiday:
Last-minute holiday stockings to sew
Two fabulous fabrics, one simple shape and a glimmer of ribbon create these elegant, easy-sew stockings.





 Elegant Victorian stockings
Looking to create something more polished and elegant? Sew up a pair of these chic, patchwork stockings to decorate your mantel.


Knitted Christmas stockings
Knit and personalize stockings for each member of your family and hang them for that jolly old elf to fill with goodies.





 Photo gallery: Pretty plaid Christmas stockings to sew
Make your own holiday stockings this year -- we show you how! Follow along with our easy step-by-step guide to make a family heirloom to treasure for years to come.


Knitted stockings
Learn how to make soft homemade stockings. Start with an easy solid-colour stocking, then tackle a striped one. Or, for more of a challenge, make the homey Fair Isle version. And -- to help out Santa -- backstitch or duplicate-stitch a name across each.