How to Sew a Christmas Stocking (Free Template)

To sew a Christmas stocking, draw one 18 inches tall with a 7 inch wide leg, add a ½ inch seam allowance and cut two outer and two lining pieces. Sew each pair, nest them with a hanging loop between, and turn right side out. A first stocking takes about 1½ hours.

TL;DR

This is a draw-it-yourself template with standard measurements. It is not a Sewzy pattern, because Sewzy does not have a stocking pattern today.
The finished stocking is 18 inches tall, 7 inches wide at the top and 11½ inches long along the foot. All seams are ½ inch.
One stocking needs ½ yard of outer fabric and ⅝ yard of lining. Four stockings need 1¾ yards and 1⅝ yards.
Finish by Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Christmas is Friday, December 25.

Is this a Sewzy pattern?

No. This tutorial is a free template you draw yourself, using plain measurements that any sewist can follow with a ruler, a pencil and a sheet of paper. Sewzy has 76 patterns, but a stocking is not one of them. When you finish, the Christmas sewing patterns page has real Sewzy patterns for the next makes, from the advent calendar to a reindeer plush.

What size is a Christmas stocking?

A classic Christmas stocking is about 18 inches tall with a 7 inch wide leg. This is the finished size, measured on the stitching line before you add seam allowance. Tape sheets of paper together until you have a space at least 14 inches wide and 20 inches tall, then draw the shape with these measurements.

Part of the template	Measure	How to draw it
Back edge (heel side)	18 in	A straight vertical line
Top of the leg	7 in	A straight line at a right angle to the back edge
Front edge, top to ankle	11 in	A straight line down from the end of the top
Foot height	7 in	The back edge below the ankle line (18 in minus 11 in)
Top of the foot	1 in	A straight line out from the ankle, then the toe curve
Toe	3½ in radius	A half circle, so the toe reaches 4½ in past the front edge
Bottom of the foot	11½ in	A straight line from the toe back to the heel
Ankle curve and heel corner	1½ in and 1 in radius	Round both corners with a cup or a compass

Cut out the shape and check it against a real stocking if you have one. Then draw a line 4 inches down from the top edge. Everything above that line becomes a contrast band, and everything below it is the outer stocking.

How do you cut the pieces?

Add ½ inch of seam allowance around the template when you trace it onto fabric, and cut two layers at once. Fold the fabric with right sides together, trace once and cut. The two pieces come out as a mirrored pair, which is exactly what a stocking needs.

Piece	Number	Cut size	Notes
Outer stocking	2, mirrored	12½ in wide, 15 in tall	The part of the template below the band line, plus ½ in on every side
Band	2	8 in x 5 in	Contrast fabric, 4 in tall once finished
Lining	2, mirrored	12½ in wide, 19 in tall	The whole template plus ½ in on every side
Hanging loop	1	3 in x 7 in	Fold in thirds for a ¾ inch strap

If your fabric has a one-way print, point the tops of all pieces the same direction. Because you fold right sides together, the mirrored pair still reads upright.

What fabric is best for a stocking?

Quilting cotton is the best choice for a first stocking, because it is stable, easy to press and comes in every Christmas print. Felt is the quickest and forgiving. Velvet is the richest but needs more care.

Fabric	Good for	Watch out for
Quilting cotton	First stockings, bright prints	Can feel thin, so add fusible fleece if you want body
Felt	The fastest stocking, no lining needed	Stitch ¼ in from the edge on the outside instead of turning
Velvet	A rich, traditional look	Use a walking foot, pin often and press from the wrong side on low heat with a cloth

Wash and press cotton before cutting so a later wash does not shrink the stocking.

How do you sew a lined Christmas stocking, step by step?

Sew the bands to the outer pieces, join the outer pieces, sew the lining, then sandwich the two with the loop in between. Use a ½ inch seam and a 2.5 mm stitch length throughout. If seam allowance is new to you, read our seam allowance explained guide first.

Make the loop. Fold the 3 inch strip in half lengthwise and press. Fold both long edges to the center crease, fold again and topstitch both edges. Fold the strap in half to form a loop.
Pin each band to the top of an outer piece, right sides together. Sew with a ½ inch seam and press the seam toward the band.
Place the two outer pieces right sides together, matching the band seams. Sew down one side, around the foot and up the other side. Leave the top open.
Clip small notches into the toe curve and snip into the inside curve at the ankle, without cutting the stitches. Turn the outer right side out and press.
Sew the lining pieces the same way, but use ⅝ inch seams and leave a 4 inch gap in the leg side. Do not turn the lining.
Pin the loop to the back edge of the outer stocking, with the raw ends of the loop level with the top edge and the curve of the loop pointing down.
Slide the outer stocking into the lining so the right sides face each other. Match the side seams and the toe seams. Sew all the way around the top edge.
Pull the stocking through the gap in the lining and push the lining down inside. Close the gap with small hand stitches or a machine seam close to the edge.
Press the top edge, then topstitch ¼ inch from it if you want a crisp finish.

A 4 inch gap is large enough to pass your hand through.

How much fabric do I need for one or four stockings?

One stocking needs ½ yard of outer fabric and ⅝ yard of lining, both 44 inches wide. Four stockings need 1¾ yards of outer fabric, which covers the bands and loops, and 1⅝ yards of lining. These come from laying the pieces out on 44 inch fabric and rounding up to the next ⅛ yard.

Fabric (44 in wide unless noted)	1 stocking	4 stockings
Outer fabric, with bands and loop	½ yd	1¾ yd
Lining	⅝ yd	1⅝ yd
Felt, 36 in wide, no lining	⅝ yd	2⅛ yd

The felt row has no band or lining, so each stocking is two layers of felt. To check amounts for other sizes, use the fabric yardage calculator, and read how much fabric do I need for the general method.

What should I sew after the stockings?

After the stockings, sew projects that share the same fabrics. Leftover cotton and felt are enough for several of these Sewzy patterns:

Advent Calendar: a wall hanging with pockets, intermediate, about 5 hours.
Christmas Ornaments: beginner, about 30 minutes each, in Mini and Classic sizes.
Cone Christmas Trees: beginner, about 1 hour, in three sizes.
Santa and Elf Hats: beginner, about 1 hour, from Toddler to Adult L.
Wine and Gift Bags: beginner, about 1 hour, in Small, Large and Wine sizes.
Reindeer Plush: intermediate, about 3 hours, in three sizes.

Our fabric ornaments and advent calendar tutorial pairs well with a stocking, and the list of handmade Christmas gifts to sew sorts ideas by time. If you also own a porch goose, see the Christmas goose outfits ranked by hours.

When should I sew Christmas stockings?

Finish by Tuesday, December 1, 2026, so the stockings are ready to hang as December starts. Christmas is Friday, December 25. A four Saturday plan works well for a family of four. These times are estimates, not Sewzy figures.

Saturday, October 24: draw the template and sew one test stocking from scrap fabric.
Saturday, November 7: wash and press the fabric, then cut every piece.
Saturday, November 14: sew the outer stockings and the loops.
Saturday, November 21: sew the linings and join them to the outers.
Saturday, November 28: add names, press and hang them. The deadline is Tuesday, December 1.

Plan about 1½ hours for your first stocking and about 45 minutes for each one after that, once the pieces are cut.

Make it with Sewzy

Sewzy is an iPhone app with 76 sewing patterns, 13 of them free. Every pattern has every size, a size finder, a written step-by-step guide and an AI coach. Print the letter size PDF at home or take the A0 file to a copy shop. You can print Sewzy patterns at home and use the AI coach when a step is unclear. Sewzy costs $3.99 a week or $29.99 a year, with a 3-day trial. Get Sewzy on the App Store.

FAQ

How big is a standard Christmas stocking?

A classic stocking is about 18 inches tall with a leg 7 inches wide, and the foot reaches about 4½ inches past the front of the leg. That holds small gifts and candy. For a roomier stocking, enlarge every measurement by about 10 percent.

How much fabric do I need for one Christmas stocking?

One lined stocking needs about ½ yard of outer fabric and ⅝ yard of lining, both 44 inches wide. Four matching stockings need 1¾ yards of outer fabric and 1⅝ yards of lining. These amounts include room for the cuff band and hanging loop.

What is the best fabric for a Christmas stocking?

Quilting cotton is the easiest for a first stocking because it is stable and presses well. Felt needs no lining and does not fray. Velvet looks rich but shifts under the needle, so use a walking foot and plenty of pins.

What seam allowance should I use for a stocking?

Use ½ inch on every seam. Clip the curves at the ankle and toe so they turn smoothly. If you want the lining to sit neatly inside, sew the lining seams at ⅝ inch instead.

When should I sew Christmas stockings?

Aim to finish by Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Christmas is Friday, December 25, so that leaves time to add names and fill the stockings. Four stockings fit comfortably into four Saturdays in November.