Announcing Nancy Zieman’s 2016 Christmas Stocking Sewing Challenge

Announcing Nancy Zieman’s 2016 Christmas Stocking Sewing Challenge

You’re invited to participate in our 2016 Christmas Stocking Sewing Challenge. Use one of the free sewing patterns below, or any stocking pattern, and sew a Christmas stocking for yourself, a family member, or as a gift. Then, enter our Christmas Stocking Sewing Challenge. It’s easy!

From elegant to whimsical, Christmas stockings are a great way to add a pop of holiday cheer to any room. Plus, they can readily be sewn in a few hours of enjoyable sewing time.

Here’s a listing of free stocking patterns:

I {Heart} Pellon Stocking from Pellon Projects

Christmas Stocking Tutorial from Amy’s Creative Side

Christmas Stocking Sewing Challenge Guidelines

• Select or create your design. All sewing, quilting, serging, machine embroidery, and embellishment techniques are eligible. Stocking must be made within the last year and may not have been entered into previous NZ Stocking Challenges.
• Grab our Stocking Sewing Challenge blog badge and let your friends know about this exciting sewing challenge.
• Share your progress and projects on your social media sites using the hashtag: #NZStockingChallenge
• Email your photo to [email protected] by December 3, 2016. One entry per sewist; open to continental US residents only.

Schedule:

• November 5, 2016—Stocking Challenge Opens
• December 3, 2016—Stocking Challenge Deadline to Enter
• December 4–12, 2016—New! A Panel of Judges Review Entries
• December 13, 2016—Winners Announced! All decisions made by judges are final.

 

An InLinkz Link-up

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Half-Square Patchwork Stocking Tutorial

This project uses 1/4″ seam allowances. Approximate finished size: 14-1/2″ x 20″.

Supplies, Fabrics, and Notions:

• 5/8 yard green fabric (stocking back and lining)
• 1 fat quarter pink fabric (piping)
• 16 assorted jewel tone solid squares measuring 3-7/8″ x 3-7/8″ This is a perfect stash-buster project or ideal for a package of charm squares.

• 18″ x 22″ Pellon Fleece
  
• Quilt Basting Spray
•  No-Hassle Triangles Gauge
  
• 1 pkg 3/8″ Wrap’n Fuse Piping
• Nancy Zieman Downloadable Stocking Template
• Optional: Rotary Cutter Pinking Blade

Printing:

• Download the Nancy Zieman Stocking Template
• Print the stocking template. It’s a large image so opt to “tile large pages” if applicable. The template will print on six pages. After assembled and cut out—stocking shape will measure approximately 15″ x 20-1/2″.
• Use the grid within the stocking shape as a guide when taping pages together.

Create the Patchwork

Easily make half-square triangle blocks for your stocking using the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge. There’s no hassle and no need to cut a single triangle! The measurements are printed on the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge that Nancy designed for Clover.

• Reference the left side of the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge to select a half-square block size.
• Layer two 3-7/8″ squares, matching right sides.

• Slide the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge to the 3-1/2″ half-square position. Place gauge onto squares and double-check the block size. If the block set is larger or smaller than the confines of the gauge, recut the blocks.
• Mark a center diagonal line on the fabric through the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge die cut openings.

• Stitch a scant 1/4″ from each side of the center marking.

• Cut along the center diagonal line.

• Press seam allowances open.

• Presto, accurate half-square triangles!

Just click and watch No-Hassle Triangle Quilts online! 

Create the Patchwork

• Audition and arrange 31 half-square triangles in a backwards “L” shape patchwork pattern—as shown below.
• The stocking patchwork is seven blocks tall.
• The stocking top is four blocks wide.
  
• The lower three rows are five blocks wide.

Note from Nancy: Snap a picture of the arrangement to use as a reference.

• Join blocks in pairs.
• Press seam allowances in one direction.

• Join pairs to form rows.

• Press seam allowances in one direction, making sure to press even rows to the right and odd numbered rows to the left.

• Arrange rows.
• Lock opposing vertical seam allowances and join rows.

• Press seam allowances in one direction.

• Spray the patchwork stocking’s wrong side with Quilt Basting Spray.
• Layer onto the 18″ x 22″ Pellon Fleece batting.
• Quilt the patchwork and batting layers using a Walking Foot. We opted to stitch-in-the-ditch along my seamlines, using a Walking Foot.

Create the Stocking

• Lay the taped template on the quilted stocking front.
• Cut out the stocking shape with a scissors or use a rotary cutter.

• Fold the green lining fabric in thirds to create three layers.
• Lay the stocking template on the lining fabric and cut three: One stocking back and two lining pieces.

• Lay the template on the Pellon Fleece and cut one layer.

• Apply Quilt Basting Spray  to the Pellon Fleece wrong side.
• Adhere to the stocking back fabric.

• From pink fabric, cut three, 1-1/4″ bias strips.

• Join the short ends of bias strips, off-setting the angle by 1/4″.

Note from Nancy: Wondering about the red, laser line? It’s a special feature on Baby Lock’s Destiny II machine. Line up the laser beam with the “V” of the 1/4″ off-set seam allowance for the most accurate stitching!

• Wrap the fabric strip around the Wrap’n Fuse Piping and press.

• Use a Piping Foot or Zipper Foot to apply the piping to the right side of the patchwork stocking edges.
• No need to apply piping at stocking top edge.

Create the Hanging Loop

• Cut a fabric rectangle measuring 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″

• Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise. Finger press folded edge.
•  Open the rectangle. Meet long edges at fold.

Create the Stocking

• Place stocking front and lining, right sides together. Pin along top edge.

• Place stocking back and lining, right sides together. Pin along top edge.

• With both stocking back and front open and flat, meet right sides together and pin.

• Stitch around the stocking using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
• Backstitch at the start and finish, leaving 4″ unsewn along the lining’s straight edge.
• Press the seam allowance at the opening.
• Use a rotary cutter pinking blade to trim excess fabric from the seam allowance at the curved edges.

 

• Turn the stocking right side out through the opening.

• Hand stitch the opening closed.

• Tuck the lining into the stocking fabric. Press.

• Our stocking is complete! We look forward to seeing your stockings in the 2016 Christmas Stocking Sewing Challenge!

Go Social with Your Stocking Sewing Challenge

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How to Enter

Enter the Stocking Sewing Challenge by emailing a photo to [email protected]. It’s easy!

Schedule:

• November 5, 2016—Stocking Challenge Opens
• December 3, 2016—Stocking Challenge Deadline to Enter
• December 4–12, 2016—A Panel of Nancy Zieman Judges Review Entries
• December 13, 2016—Winners Announced!

 $1,700 in prizes! Thank you to our generous sponsors!

• Pattern and coloring book bundle sponsored by Amy Barickman, a $179 value

• Pellon Product Assortment from Pellon, a $165 value

• Complete Mug Rug Kit from June Tailor, a $158 value 

• Nancy’s Notions DVD and Book Bundle, a $157 value

• Five Random Winners:  F+W Media will provide a copy of See Kate Sew by Kate Blocher, a $129 value

• C & T Publishing will provided five NEW books, one per person, a $120 value

• Cozy Christmas Collection 1 yard bundle, Rollie Pollie strip collection, and Cute Buttons sponsored by Riley Blake Fabrics/Penny Rose fabrics, a $118 value

•  E-Gift Certificate from Martingale/That Patchwork Place, a $100 value

• Clover-USA Nancy Zieman Notion Bundle, a $100 value

• Three book bundle by Amy’s Creative Side, a $75 value

Stocking Challenge Schedule:

• November 5, 2016—Stocking Challenge Opens
• December 3, 2016—Stocking Challenge Deadline to Enter
• December 4–12, 2016—A Panel of Judges Review Entries
• December 13, 2016—Winners Announced! All decisions made by judges are final.

Share your comments below about the Stocking Sewing Challenge and let us know if you plan to join!

Get Stitching!

Email challenge questions to [email protected]. Challenge not open to sponsors, employees, and immediate family members. Photos and techniques may be featured in future promotions, blog posts, videos, and/or TV shows. The FTC requires us to tell you that Nancy Zieman has provided products by other companies in the course of her business. The FTC requires us to advise you to take this information into consideration when reading this posting.

Nancy Zieman—author, pattern designer, businesswoman, producer, and national sewing authority—is the host of the popular show Sewing With Nancy, which appears exclusively on public television stations across the United States and Canada. Follow Nancy’s blog at NancyZieman.com/blog and sign up to receive Nancy’s E-News for the latest news in Sewing, Quilting, Creating, and Block of the Month updates.

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