37 Creative DIY Christmas Stocking Ideas

No mantel? No real sewing skills? No problem! These unique handmade Christmas stockings will inspire you to think outside the sock.

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By: Maria Conti

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Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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DIY Stocking Decorating Ideas: Easy + Personal

Santa's on his way! Prep your holiday mantel for the Big Man's arrival with our ideas for DIY Christmas stockings. We've got you covered with no-knit plans using old sweaters, fun pointy-toe stockings, rustic and easy-to-sew stockings and more.

Adding a personal touch to your festive display can be as simple as snagging a set of low-cost, plain burlap stockings from your local craft store, as above, then personalizing them with festive iron-on letters or a fabric paint pen. Don't have a mantel? No problem. We even include some stocking alternatives such as these Santa-approved festive pails. Keep reading for our best DIY Christmas stocking ideas.

From: H. Camille Smith

Repurpose PJs

Put those annual, matching holiday pajamas to good use — long after your kids inevitably outgrow them. Pull the cozy pants from the back of your closet, and use the fabric to create these fun, festive stockings. Mix and match patterns from over the years for a fashionable, and nostalgic, holiday mantel.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Cozy Quilt Stocking

Repurpose a beloved, family quilt into show-stopping and sentimental stockings for your mantel. Use our step-by-step instructions, below, to recreate this cozy craft.

Get the How-To: Upcycle a Quilt Into Charming Christmas Stockings

From: Marian Parsons

Classic + Custom Stockings

Classic Christmas colors and cable-knit fabric will never go out of style. Snag sweater-inspired stockings in vibrant, seasonal hues, then personalize with a single, large iron-on letter to represent family members’ first name.

Wood You Try This?

These handmade plywood stockings from blogger Erin Loechner reflect a Scandinavian aesthetic and the wood subtly warms up the white mantel. Best of all? They're magnetic, so they can be removed and filled with ease.

Just Add Snowflakes

Give plain felt stockings a wintery makeover by stenciling on shimmery snowflakes with white glitter paint.

BUY IT: Hobby Lobby, $3.49

Feminine Ruffles

Low cost and high style — what’s not to love? Whip out your sewing machine, some muslin fabric and a hot cocoa to recreate this fun, ruffled stocking design in a few hours.

Santa Spotting

Christmas morning will be full of fun this year, especially when the kiddos realize Santa left behind a little sack full of goodies just for them! Get your craft on and recreate this darling vintage-inspired sack using burlap, red ticking fabric and our (free!) iron-on design.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Santa Sack Stocking

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Snowy + Sophisticated

Less is more. Copy this sophisticated style for your mantel or sideboard by using cream, cable-knit stockings and bundles of baby’s breath. Maintain this snowy design throughout the season, then surprise your family by switching out the petals for presents on Christmas morning.

Mini-Mitten Advent Stockings

The only thing better than a stuffed stocking on Christmas morning? Twenty-four stuffed mittens, one for each day, leading up to the holiday. This mini-mitten advent calendar is a guaranteed kid-pleaser that makes counting down fun for the entire family. Recreate the garland design using a long piece of twine, 24 mini-mittens and print-out numbers.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Mitten Garland Advent Calendar

Burlap of Luxury

These burlap coffee sack stockings have an effortless, vintage vibe. Sprigs of greenery peeking out of the top feel fresh and also hide the treasures inside from prying eyes. Design by Holly Mathis; sewing by Michelle Fritz

Festive Fleece

Your fireplace will feel oh-so-festive with fleece stockings. Break out your sewing machine and create this cute stocking using our instructions below, a half yard of fleece, your trusty scissors and embroidery thread.

Menswear

Bring a warm, tailored touch to your mantel with menswear stockings. Choose herringbone, houndstooth, check, plaid or stripes made of cotton, wool or velvet in masculine tones. Cut the fabric to size using a basic template from the Internet, then either sew the edges with thread or fuse them together using iron-on adhesive tape.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Varsity Vintage

Give dad something classic and nostalgic for the mantel this season with a varsity letter stocking. Buy vintage varsity letters online and then iron them on to the front of a basic or handmade stocking, or try stitching them by hand with a needle and thread.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Modern Metallics

Another cute, craft-store upgrade! Let wallet-friendly burlap stockings serve as your blank canvas. Use metallic gold, silver or copper paint to embellish the burlap stocking with a pretty print, a seasonal phrase or a modern monogram.

Vintage Charm

Add old-timey charm to your mantel with stockings made from vintage tea towels. Scout out simple, black-and-white towels or go all out with a red and green motif. Either way, just be sure to add a silver jingle bell to each stocking as a holly-jolly, holiday touch.

From: Sam Henderson

Just Add Ribbon

Give an inexpensive burlap stocking a quick and easy holiday update by gluing a strip of thick, red gingham ribbon one inch from the top, then layering a piece of red velvet ribbon over the gingham.

Pretty Pom-Poms

This DIY is as easy as it gets! Embellish a plain, canvas stocking from the craft store with pom-pom trim and fabric glue for a high-end look that costs less than five dollars.

SEE MORE: 3 Ways to Decorate a Plain Canvas Stocking

Sweater Weather

If you've got old sweaters taking up room in your closet or dresser, give them new life this holiday season as warm, welcoming stockings. This can be a DIY project by deconstructing the sweater, tracing a stocking template directly onto it and sewing cut pieces together with yarn. For best results, drop the sweater off with a local tailor or your local dry cleaner for a minimal fee. Knit pieces require a higher level of skill for sewing than more malleable fabrics such as felt or cotton.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Sew Easy

Take last year's socks up a cozy notch with a DIY hand-stitched design. Using a large needle, loop red or green yarn around the edges of the stocking (don't forget the cuff), then finish with an easy DIY yarn tassel.

SEE MORE: No Mantel? 5 Ways to Still Hang Stockings With Care

Denim + Leather

To create these stockings on a small budget, pick up faux leather from the fabric store and a pair of secondhand faded denim. Cut and sew the stocking from faux leather, then cut the denim to size and attach along the top as a cuff. For an extra layer of interest, sew a few buttons directly to the denim.

3-D Letters

Give your stocking 3-D flair with house letter embellishments. Choose a specific style stocking, then decide on a coordinating font and finish. For a classic, masculine appeal, add a tarnished brass X to a plaid stocking with gold thread and a needle. Since the thread and house letter are similar in tone, the thread virtually disappears, resulting in a seamless, tailored look.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Cross It Off

Give your tired Christmas decor a dose of chic Scandinavian style by DIYing these canvas Swiss cross stockings. You just need paint and a kitchen sponge to apply.

GET THE HOW-TO: 3 Ways to Decorate a Plain Canvas Stocking

Dip Dye

If you are looking for an easy stocking tutorial or just a fun way to enhance a plain white stocking, try a little fabric dye. Dip-dying can also be a fun project to do with kids.

Sack It to Me

Instead of a traditional Christmas stocking, try making these fun, vintage grain sack inspired "stocking sacks" from Marian Parsons. With draw strings and custom painting, these sacks are cute and functional. Use them in lieu of stockings, as a stand-in for wrapping paper or as a personalized hostess or teacher gift.

From: Marian Parsons

Go Faux

Instantly glam-up your holiday decor by outfitting plain canvas stockings with faux fur and glittery, personalized letters.

GET THE HOW-TO: 3 Ways to Decorate a Plain Canvas Stocking

Pails by Comparison

Give your holiday decorations a playful twist by swapping out traditional Christmas stockings for metal pails painted with fun, bright colors. Who said stockings had to be made of fabric anyway?

Get the How-To: How to Make Painted Pail Stockings

From: Marian Parsons

Add Elegant Accessories

Use unique charms to elevate and personalize your store-bought stockings this year. Dangle silver or gold ornaments from the stocking holder, as seen here. Opt for symbols like this wishbone, or personalize with an ornament that represents your first initial.

From: Kerrie Kelly

Best Dressed

Your mantel will land on the best-dressed list this holiday season, all thanks to this sleek, wardrobe-inspired stocking design. Start your recreation of this design with a solid-color stocking. Adhere a pretty, plaid fabric to the cuff with iron-on tape, and add toggles to the front for a preppy, polished look.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Playful Trim

Bring plain, white stockings to life with an iron-on adhesive and festive ribbons and trim. Play with a mix of your go-to seasonal hues and add unexpected texture with fun, fringe details along the stocking cuff.

SEE MORE: Easily Construct a Faux Mantel for the Holidays

From: Marian Parsons

A Better Sweater

Don't toss that old sweater. Instead, repurpose it as custom stockings for the entire family. This project requires no sewing machine or knitting needles and can easily be completed in an afternoon. (That's our Christmas gift to you!)

Get the How-To: How to Make No-Knit Christmas Sweater Stockings

From: Marian Parsons

Repurposed Coffee Sack Stocking

Coffee lovers will especially love the look and feel of repurposed burlap coffee bean sack stockings. To find them locally, simply ask your neighborhood coffee house for any discarded sacks they may have in the back. Many times, the staff will be more than happy to give them away for free. Coffee bean sacks can also be found online for approximately $5 per sack.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Felt Silhouette Stockings

Make it modern this holiday season with graphic felt silhouette stockings. Decide on a holiday shape that's easy to identify, trace it directly onto colored felt with a marker, cut it out with scissors and attach to a felt stocking body with fabric glue.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Felt Names

Felt is one of the easiest fabrics to work with. The stiffness of felt makes it easy to trace and cut shapes, letters or silhouettes. Hang custom name stockings made entirely from felt that are equal parts personal and poppy. To identify each stocking, cut family members' names or initials out of felt, and adhere them to the stocking with fabric glue.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Pointy Toes

You may have an elf on your shelf, so how about an elf stocking on your mantel? Make it in any color scheme to match your Christmas decor. The fun pointed toes and jingle bells are guaranteed to make the kids smile.

GET THE HOW-TO + FREE PATTERN: How to Sew an Elf Christmas Stocking

Burlap Bones

Don’t forget to fashion a fun stocking for your fur babies! Use a black pen to trace two, identical outlines of a classic dog bone onto burlap fabric. Cut out the two burlap bones and use all-purpose glue to create a pretty, 3D stocking, perfect for your pooch. Accessorize with vibrant ribbons and use a paint pen to personalize with their names.

Rustic Customization

Use burlap or canvas to create this easy-to-sew stocking. A chalkboard nameplate lets you change your mind about who your gift recipient is going to be.

GET THE HOW-TO + FREE PATTERN: How to Sew a Burlap and Chalkboard Christmas Stocking

37 Creative DIY Christmas Stocking Ideas

Related To:

Shop This Look

DIY Stocking Decorating Ideas: Easy + Personal

Repurpose PJs

Cozy Quilt Stocking

Classic + Custom Stockings

Wood You Try This?

Just Add Snowflakes

Feminine Ruffles

Santa Spotting

Snowy + Sophisticated

Mini-Mitten Advent Stockings

Burlap of Luxury

Festive Fleece

Menswear

Varsity Vintage

Modern Metallics

Vintage Charm

Just Add Ribbon

Pretty Pom-Poms

Sweater Weather

Sew Easy

Denim + Leather

3-D Letters

Cross It Off

Dip Dye

Sack It to Me

Go Faux

Pails by Comparison

Add Elegant Accessories

Best Dressed

Playful Trim

A Better Sweater

Repurposed Coffee Sack Stocking

Felt Silhouette Stockings

Felt Names

Pointy Toes

Burlap Bones

Rustic Customization

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