christmas stockings

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...

My brothers, sister, and I were born in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Back then stocking kits with a felt stocking, Christmas-shaped cut outs, sequins, and glitter were popular and that's what my mom bought to hang by the fireplace for her four little rascals. Todd's mom did the same for her kids.

In 1984, I became a mom and wanted to make a Christmas stocking for my first-born child. At that time I was really into counted cross-stitching. I found a pattern that was sewn on linen (which took cross-stitching to a new level) but I made a Christmas stocking for my son to have for his first Christmas. As the second, third, and fourth came along, I wanted to keep the same look but each child have a little different aspect to his/her stocking. 

The kids grew up and in 2018 a daughter-in-law joined the family. Of course she would get a stocking but not one that had as much cross-stitching on it. The eyesight changed over the course of 34 years. Still, I wanted a stocking that complemented the spouse's stocking. It was a combination of some cross-stitching and applique. My "rule" is that once you are married, you get a stocking. Three "in-law" stockings have been added to the bunch and one more will complete the group in 2025.  My son and his fiancee will be married in November 2025 and she will have her own stocking on Christmas day.

And now for the grandsons. Their stockings have a totally different look. The boys are young and Santa is a big deal for little people. It was so much fun to see Owen find his stocking and pull all of the goodies from it. AJ will be there in a couple years. And another stocking will be added to the line up when Little Granddaughter makes her entrance to this family in March. Ideas are brewing already!