Sew Your Own Christmas Decorations

Christine Boyle

Creative Director - Sewing Tutor

Christmas is the time for gift giving and this year I made a stocking garland to dress the mantlepiece. All my decorations are handmade using the gift of sewing which I learnt at age 6. I love to share this gift with my students teaching them to sew at all levels.

Christmas Decorations

SEWING A MINIATURE STOCKING GARLAND

It was the night before Christmas and I was to be found sitting fireside hand sewing on sequins to my mini stocking garland. Not a soul in the house stirred and you could hear a pin drop.

It had to be ready for the Twelve Days of Christmas which start officially on the 25th and ends on the 6th January. The 12 little velvet stockings had been on my sewing list for a few years, but this year, I had a new fireplace to dress. (yet to get its mantle)

I had still some red velvet fabric left after making my luxury velvet large stockings. With the arrival of 2 new golden velvet Chesterfield sofas before Christmas I was moving my Grandads Ercol chair to another room. Which meant of course, a new cover to match the decor was in order. Meaning I could repurpose the current green chair cover into the reverse of the stockings. Green velvet – the perfect Christmas colour to marry with red!

These stockings would be made to last many years and had to be large enough to fit a little treat for each of the 12 days.

I thought of a Christmas message to use for the green reverse side, and settled on PEACE LOVE JOY using 12 letters.

Beads, sequins, tassels, velvets, linens, silk and gold fabrics were all used. Nothing was bought brand new.

Using my sewing skills that I was gifted with I set about planning the design and creating the garland.

💡 Christine's Tip "Don't be afraid to use up old fabrics to make something spectacular that sparkles for Christmas time.

HOW I MADE IT

The luxury hand made garland was made using repurposed elements! Nothing was bought. I know it will last, because I considered each detail and sewed it myself. The throw-away stockings will clutter up landfill and everyone will have the same. But that’s the wonderful thing about making it yourself; it is totally unique!

RED VELVET – gifted from my student (thank you Conor) It was from a film.

GREEN VELVET – gifted from my friend (thank you Kirsty), again from a film. I had previously made it into an Ercol chair cover so it was now having a second life.

GOLD LEAF LINING FABRIC – Thank you Kirsty.

WHITE IRISH LINEN DAMASK tablecloth – rescued from the skip outside Copeland Linens, Belfast.

TASSELS – taken from a TK Maxx Tie back that had fallen apart. There just happened to be 12 tassels…how about that?!

BEADS AND SEQUINS – all gifted many years before and kept in my craft stash for that ‘just in case’ moment.

RED SILK for hanging the stockings from – used to be the straight waistband from a red silk skirt (previously dress) I made for a cousin’s wedding.

PREPARATION IS KEY

With so much to consider : mirrored numbers, letters, velvet naps; preparation was ultra important! After everything was cut, the number and letters were appliqued on. Then the beading, the lining, the sewing of the main stocking and then the tassels. The final touch was hanging it up.

P.S. I have since ordered 3.5cm long wooden pegs to allow the stockings to sit better. The only purchase for this garland!

"Christmas time gives you the time to count your blessings. Its not just about the gifts you receive - its also about the gifts you give and can share to others."
- CHRISTINE BOYLE, SEWING TUTOR - DIRECTOR COLOUR & CLOTH

THE OTHER DECORATIONS

The other hand made decorations included in my Christmas included

Mistletoe – made from Ikea cushion covers and a thrifted pearl bracelet
A Santa sack sitting alongside the handmade quilt and cushions.
Red leather hearts for the tree (and multipurpose for Valentines!) began life as a red leather sofa
Mums crochet snowflake garland draped from the beams
The Large luxury hand made stocking
The tree ‘skirt’ using the same red velvet, linen tablecloth and a red ribbon from a box of chocolates.

The hand picked holly from my garden ties it all together across the fireplace.

Christmas time gives you the time to count your blessings. Its not just about the gifts you receive – its also about the gifts you give and can share to others.

THE GIFT OF SEWING

I was very lucky to learn how to sew with my mum when I was 6. That means I am also of the vintage that learnt to sew at school. I just love sewing! And I love sharing this wonderful gift with my students who come to learn with me, at Colour and Cloth.

With classes year round and workshops on many sewing projects together my students grow in skills and confidence. Its this that gives me joy!

There is a lovely peace that both machine and hand sewing can bring. Once you are in a rhythm and creating your own pace. Its wonderful to see my students enjoy their sewing.