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Merry Kitty Christmas Stocking

 

 Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.

A fish-shaped stocking is a gift that even the coolest cat will love. Fill with their favorite toys and treats for a paw-some surprise on Christmas morning!
 

Project Needs & Notes

- 1/4 yard lightweight canvas for front
- 12" x 20" piece of quilted cotton fabric for back
- 1/2 yard print cotton fabric for inner lining
 - Medium weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- 10" length of 1/4" wide ribbon for hanger
- Air-erase pen for marking
- Fabric glue
- Scotch tape

For this tutorial, I used the large size of the Ring-a-ling Cat design. Browse through the Christmas category to find something that matches your preference and decor. Designs that are 5" x 6 1/2" or smaller fit comfortably on this stocking.
Finished size:
15" from top to tail indent
8" opening

This project was featured in the following:
12 Days of Christmas Stockings Lookbook
 
To get started, print the PDF of the pattern pieces: pattern piece 1 and pattern piece 2. The patterns consist of seven pages. Each piece fits on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Cut out the pattern pieces and tape them together.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Begin by preparing the front of the stocking. Lay pattern piece 2 on top of the lightweight canvas.

Pin the pattern in place, and trace the shape.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Print a template from embroidery software. If you do not have software to make templates, try Wilcom's TrueSizer, a free program.

Arrange the template of the design on the fabric. Leave at least 1" of space between the outer edges of the design and
the outer edges of the fabric.

Mark the center point of the design, as well as the horizontal and vertical axis lines.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Remove the template and draw lines connecting the marks; the lines will be used for hooping.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Spray the cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive. Smooth the fabric on top.

Hoop the fabric, aligning the marks on the fabric with the marks on the hoop.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is right over the center point.

Embroider the design.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the back of the fabric.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Cut out the stocking shape.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
To prepare the fabric for the front inner lining, use pattern piece 2 to cut a piece of the print cotton fabric.

Align the front inner lining and front embroidered piece together, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a seam along the top edge only. 

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Turn the pieces right side out, and fold at the seam. The wrong sides will be together.

Press the seam with an iron and top stitch a 1/4" seam along the top edge only.

Tack the pieces together along the side and bottom edges with
a 1/8" seam.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Using pattern piece 1, cut one piece of the print cotton fabric for the back inner lining.

Also, cut one piece of the quilted cotton for the back.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Lay the back print cotton piece flat with the right side facing up. Align the assembled front piece on top of the back print cotton piece with the right side facing up. 

To create the ribbon hanger, cut a piece of 1/2" wide ribbon to 10" long. Bring the ends together to form a loop and glue in place with fabric glue. Place the loop at the top center of the back inner lining fabric with about 1/4" of the loop extending out past the edge of the fabric and pin in place. 

Align the back quilted cotton piece on top, wrong side facing up. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the outer edges leaving a 3" to 4" opening along one of the sides for turning.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Clip the seam allowance along the curved edges about every 1/2".

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
Turn the stocking right side out.  Fold the fabric of the opening in 1/2", press, and pin in place.

Press the seams. Top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edge of the shape.

Free project instructions to make a fish-shaped Christmas stocking for a pet cat.
For an extra-special treat on Christmas, make felt stuffies right in the hoop to put in the stocking.

Watch your cat race around the room, playing with their new toys.

Questions or comments? Let us know! Send an email to us; the address is stitch@emblibrary.com.
 

Products used in this Project:
Ring-a-ling Cat $4.49 - $4.99

Available in 2 Sizes:

5.02" x 4.84" | 3.85" x 3.73"
A Feline Navidad Design Pack $15.97

Available in 2 Sizes:

6.50" x 4.93" | 3.86" x 3.86"
Happy Holidays Kitten $4.49 - $4.99

Available in 2 Sizes:

6.40" x 5.85" | 5.26" x 4.79"
Santa's Claws Christmas Stack $4.99 - $6.99

Available in 3 Sizes:

5.82" x 9.40" | 4.25" x 6.86" | 2.38" x 3.86"