And The Stockings Were Hung. . .

I finished one of my sewing projects this weekend. (Sidenote- I made these totally from scraps I had - I spent $2.49 on the set!) I made a set of stockings for Michelle and Brad who are sharing their first married Christmas together this year. I also made a set of these two years ago for Andrea and Jayson for their first married Christmas. I guess I've started a new tradition :) I love tradition. But making these stockings wasn't my first plan. I had made a stocking for each daughter when they were little that I intended on giving to them when they had their own home.

You see many years ago, during my husband's first pastorate, we were in a difficult church in a very difficut area of the country to grow a church. It felt much like a mission field. Our home was a tiny apartment attached to the back of the church. It was a tough three years. And it was a lonely three years. I lived far away from my family and there wasn't anyone around my age to be close friends with. During that time I discovered the joy of. . . . Cross Stitching! And I threw myself into it with a vengeance. I cross stitched so much it really almost became an addiction. And some of the things I made were beautiful Christmas stockings for each member of our family. They are crossstiched on 28 count linen. For you non-cross stitchers that means there are 28 squares to an inch to be crossed over with fine thread. It was very tedious and very precise. It literally took me years to finish. And one year for my birthday, my mom made mine for me!

(If you click on the pictures, you can see more of the detail)

So when Andrea got married, I prepared to give her the stocking with her name on it. First she asked me if I would also make one for her husband. I told her no, I didn't think I had it in me anymore to work on something so tedious. And I also realized that if I agree to do it, there would be no end in sight. I would have to cross stitch stockings for every future son-in-law and every potential grandchild! So she and her sisters conferred and told me that I should keep them and not break up the set. I was so glad! They look lovely as a set. Every year I hang these stockings out and they remind me of how God provided a joy in my life during a difficult time.

I couldn't let my married daughters begin their homes with no stockings at all! We take Christmas stockings seriously in our family - I think the girls would rather go without gifts than go without their stockings. So I found the pattern above to do the quilted stockings. They are much easier and I love the way they look as well. And the kids love them. So their homes will be decorated for the holidays with something mom made. That makes all of us happy. And I look forward to adding more stockings to their mantles as needed *wink * wink*! Jess told me something funny this weekend. She was studying the stockings and she said, "Maybe I'll name my kids after all our family members and then I can have the full set of stockings someday!" That girl - she makes me laugh!

Oh, and Here is a fun blog to visit and a chance to win a great contest. It is a drawing for a complete little quilt kit from Anne Sutton, who designed it! Such talent.