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DIY Crafts

How To Turn Old Sweaters Into Pretty Holiday Stockings

Design expert Deb Nelson shares her step-by-step tutorial on how to craft your own sweater stockings.
By Produced by Andrea Mills and Emma Reddington
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Designer and blogger Deb Nelson

(Photo: Sian Richards)

I love classic red-and-white holiday colours, and I thought it would be a great idea to recycle old sweaters into homemade, one-of-a-kind Christmas stockings. It’s a fun, simple project, and the stockings become irregularly shaped, giving them a Grinch look.

Supplies

  • Old sweaters (1 per stocking unless it’s really large)
  • Good scissors (for cutting fabric)
  • Sewing machine, or needle and thread

Instructions

  1. Choose a few sweaters you want to recycle (if you don’t have any look for some at Value Village or other thrift stores)—wool is a good option if you want a felt stocking.
  2. Machine wash and dry them (in the dryer, don’t hang to dry).
  3. Lay them out flat and cut a long sock shape up from the bottom band of the sweater. Cut a shape that is a bit larger than you would like to allow space for the seams.
  4. Put the right sides together so the inside part of the sweater is facing out then sew along the edges. You can use small, tight hand stitches or use a machine for better durability.
  5. Turn it inside out so the seam is on the inside and you have a new Christmas stocking.

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A Bright Spot: Our Spring 2026 issue features 12 colourful DIY decor hacks from guest editor Alexandra Gater. Plus, recipes for protein-packed breakfasts, cheese soufflé and a dreamy rhubarb cake.