Christmas Stockings for Troops

[Oasis]

Sunsup. . . .

It really should be there so they all look alike except for the fabric.

[grammy65]

I have been going through my stash and have come across some fabric I plan to use that isn't exatly Christmas, but I think will make great "socks." Most of it is shiney and bright, but just not in red or green Christmas colors. I'm using quite a few flowered fabrics as there are a lot of girls over there. Of course I'm also using traditional Christmas fabric too. Today I made one in bright strips. Making the socks and the hangee thing in the main fabric, and then using mostly a plain coordinating cuff fabric. Can't wait to get the assembly line going.

This is just going to be so much fun and so fulfilling.

[sunsup]

Oasis, I am wondering about those who don't have Christmas at Bear's Paw, all they have is a pattern and the size.

Grammy 65, so far, I've still got Christmas fabric to use, but it's not all red or green. One I made today is blue and white with snow falkes and snow men.

I've been lineing mine with fabric, but I'm wondering about muslin. Any thoughts?

[grammy65]

I'm lining most of mine with muslin. Sometimes I'm using muslin on the back too....just depends on what's on front. I think the guys and gals will be happy with whatever it's lined with. They will just be happy to know that people are thinking about them. I'm finding that when I use one piece of fabric for the front instead of doing the strips, that I may need to put some kind of backing on it to do any quilting. The one that I have done so far gave me a fit trying to put quilting on it, and I'm wondering if it wasn't because of the batting being on the bottom and no backing. Think I'm going to use some of my embroidery stabilizer and see if that works better.

I'm thinking that even something like sports theme would look good on a stocking. Am I way off base here?

[IowaGal]

I line mine with muslin, BUT I got a huge piece of red plaid flannel in a box someone gave me, so I am going to try that for the lining. Most gals didn't bother with the holly and I wouldn't for this project either. I can't speack for Pam, but I think the pattern isn't as important as the size being fairly close, that way she is sure the same amount of stuffers goes into each one. However, I think they should have a cuff if you can manage it.

Oasis, you are right. If each member made one, we would have almost enough to send to every soldier al Al Asad, and that is the 2nd largest base in Iraq!

I checked with 3 people on military bases, and there is no program out there that will send boxed free. Your friend might have had a particular base that had a group there that was paying for it, but there is no free military mail. Even the soldiers sending stuff home have to pay postage.

[Georgiapeach]

IowaGal, thanks for answering questions, yep, sounds good. I ordered some QIAD backing fabric when it was on sale for lining my stockings. Just be creative, it will look festive and thrill them!

Well poo, as much taxes as we pay there ought to be a program to help with shipping things to the soldiers! That said, more reason to get a stocking to as many as we can because they probably don't get much sent to them!!!! Sew-on, ladies!

[grammy65]

Georgoapeach....can you give us some idea of what you plan to stuff the stockings with. I have a feeling that some people who may not be able to make stockings would like to help in another way. Maybe donate money to help you with the cost of stuffing the socks, and postage costs.

[grammy65]

One thing about shipping to APO's, etc. is that you just pay postage to that point (east coast or west coast). Thank goodness we don't have to pay what it would normally cost to send something to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Georgiapeach...that's a great idea about using the backing fabric for lining. I will have to see about getting some. I just happened to have lots of muslin on hand. I have been using other fabric for some of the backings.

[Evie]

For Iowagal's I lined mine with Kona fabric. It's a tighter weave than muslin. You can find it at Hobby Lobby for a good price. (The Hobby Lobby here sells it for $3.99 a yard.) Something I didn't think of at the time is that Kona comes in some very pretty solid colors like red and green which I think would also do great for the back of the stockings.

[grammy65]

I'm off to Hobby Lobby on Thursday and will check it out. Probably would be a lot more fun than muslin.