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The Perfect Gift: A Personalized Christmas Stocking

A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or shaped bag that children (and adults)
hang up on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus can fill it with small toys, candy,
fruit, coins, and other small gifts.  These are called stocking fillers or stuffers.  
Tradition claims that a child who has misbehaved during the year will only
receive lumps of coal in his/her stocking.  Usually Christmas stockings are “hung
by the chimney with care,” but if a fireplace chimney is not available, the
Christmas stockings may be hung anywhere.  Santa will find them!

In the beginning, children used one of their own socks or stockings for a
Christmas stocking, but today specially-created stockings are used.  Stores
carry an almost unlimited variety of styles and sizes.  Many families make their
own and put names on to make sure Santa will know whose stocking is whose.  
A perfect gift for Christmas is a personalized Christmas stocking!

Three Ways To Personalize your Festive Stocking

Each personalized Christmas stocking should have the owner’s name or initials
on it.  You can needlepoint a monogram, sew on store-bought initials, or use a
sewing machine to monogram or appliqué the name.  Or, you can use
calligraphy to put the name on.  You can add a “gift tag” to each personalized
Christmas stocking with the name.  (Make them from cardboard or use large,
laminated tags meant for gifts.)  

The second way to personalize a stocking is by its attributes.  You can sew a
pocket on the outside for small items.  You can use appliqués, rick-rack, lace, or
pearls and beads to decorate it.  You can use a different kind of fabric beside
traditional felt, such as needlepoint, gingham, silk, patchwork, or knitted wool.

The third way to personalize a Christmas stocking is to link it to the owner’s likes,
hobbies, or occupation, etc.  A man's stocking could be made in the shape of a
work boot or sewn from plaid flannel with a pocket on the front.  Use an old
shirt.  A woman’s stocking can be in the shape of a nylon, or bustier made from
silk.

A gardener's stocking could be made from burlap. An executive's stocking could
be made from striped shirting with a tie in front.  What about one in the shape of
roller blades?

How about a bone shape for dogs?   Or make a paw print for cats.  A sports
lover could have a tennis racket-shaped stocking.  For a teacher, make an
apple.  For a cook, how about a large pot holder?

For children, the same types of ideas will work.  For a baby, sew two bibs
together.  For a little boy, create a baseball or basketball; for a little girl, create a
pretty dress stocking.

The possibilities are endless. Have fun creating the perfect present, a
personalized Christmas stocking for each member of your family!

Why not create your own unique gifts, read
how to make Christmas gift baskets

Thanks for visiting Special Moments, I hope you find some great ideas for this
holiday season.


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