Best Stocking Hangers Ever - Tutorial

As promised, I'm back tonight with an awesome stocking hanger project. First, lets look at the usual stocking hangers...

You know what I see?

I see three death devices for my toddler. Yep, he would pull that down for sure and bam! - Christmas in the emergency room! Not to mention that most of these things won't hold a stocking full of stuff without tipping over.

I'm very about form and function, just ask my hubby. He watched me drop $300 of his hard earned dollars on a Svan (high chair) and another $300 for a Joovy Ultralight (stroller). In my mind, some things are worth the splurge - if they have great form and function. So, when I found these...
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=38749&productId=597063&qs=3009650
If they are sold out that link won't work. Try here instead...
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=505795&catalogId=1&storeId=1&langId=-1&nav=tn-ln

I was thrilled! They solved both problems and weren't too busy looking.
I had every intention of ordering them but as my search for stocking went on, it was getting later and later into the season.

Suffice it to say, I ended up not getting around to ordering them. Then, when I finally went on to order them, they were out of stock. They just got back in stock today, but I have already solved my little dilemma...

I've been dying to share this with you all so on with our project!

Supplies

• metal rings - from craft store - mine say 4"x3.2mm but you could a differernt size

• glue
• wooden balls with holes drilled in one side - 2 per hanger - make sure they fit in the loop of your stockings
• paint - if desired
• pliers
  

Take some pliers and look for your rings connection spot, the part where the circle is "welded" together. It's hard to see in this picture but easy to spot in person.
Bend your wire on the sides back and forth and it will snap apart fairly easy.
Now, pull the circle open until it is in this shape and use your pliers to bend down part of the top to sit in the wooden knob. You want the opposite end of the circle to sit a bit further back so the low point is directly under the opposite side's bend...
You can paint the ring and wooden knobs now, if you want. After painting or not painting, take the knobs...
and add some glue - I think hot glue might work just as well or better.
I used a larger ball on the crook we made and a smaller ball on the bottom so you could see better. See how the bottom one sits back more and is on the curve. Again, the top one is on the crook we made. Also, my circle got a coat of silver paint. ;)
That's it. Pretty easy, right?

You can see why it works here...
The weight of the stocking is directly under the contact point of the top knob. The weight is pulling down in a line and not hanging off the front.
Nice, huh? It works the same way as the other stocking holders... you know the ones I procrastinated on?

I'm kinda glad that it happened this way. Wanna know why?

Project Cost
1.99 (balls) + 2.47 (4 rings) =4.46
now divide that by four, the amount I could make with my supplies I bought...
$1.12 per holder
Woohoo!

The other ones were 19.95 per 2 and only sold by the set. The shipping was going to be 6.95 for two sets(4 hangers total). It would have been 4.95 for one set.
46.85 for 4 hangers - not too bad at all but...

46.85 - 4.46...

I just saved $42 and some change! :)

I like the look of mine better, too. The natural wood balls go well with the natural wood stocking letters...
Happy Holidays!

theinspiredroom.net

The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care...

Some might say that it's a bit late to not have stockings up.

I say better late than ever.
I couldn't find the perfect stockings until I saw them on another blog. I spotted them so late that I was concerned about getting them in time for Christmas. :(
I especially loved how one stocking looked masculine and one look very feminine.
I guess I could have used last years, but I just couldn't settle. What to do... what to do? I would have just bought them had I spotted them around early November. I was determined to get some for the kids...

So...

I used craft paper to freehand two shapes that looked similar. After several lines in different marker colors, I finally had two outlines I liked. I cut them out, folded the remnant right sides together, and pinned my homemade patterns on the woven fabric I had. I then cut around the pinned stacks, leaving a little extra fabric all the way around to zig zag stitch. (keeps fabric from unraveling)

This is the pattern for our son's.
This is the pattern I came up with for our daughters'.
I left the "pattern" pinned on the fabric so I wouldn't lose the curves while I sewed. I made sure the needle of my sewing machine stayed right up against the edge of the paper. Afterwards, I zig zag stitched around the rough edges and hemmed the opening by folding it down and top stitching. I also zig zag stitched on a loop of ribbon to hang them by.

Son's

Daughters'I loved the look of the letters hanging, too. I just picked up wood ones and drilled holes for some jute twine.
After adding the jute tied letters...
A while back, I picked up that fabric as a remnant for $6. It's been begging to be made into something wonderful. I think it was destined to be! It's a burlap look but feels delightfully soft. The colors are perfect for my natural and beachy Christmas decor. See... better late than ever!

Notice the stocking hangers? I'll show you how to make them tomorrow night. They are great! They'll hold a ton of weight and won't fall down. They aren't finished, by the way. I have some paint in mind and the last balls need to be added to keep the ring from scratching your mantel.

Some decor additions

Red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, turkey, dressing, homemade rolls, and glazed carrots are all waiting to get made while I indulge my decorating addiction.

I haven't put all my new purchases in place but these two cast-offs have found spots to call home, for now anyway.

So, where did this pheasant go?

ta-da...

Okay, you don't get credit for that one. My picture cropping gave that one away. lol.

I've been loving the feathers and natural decor this Christmas so I think me finding her was meant to be.

She looks good from any angle.
That shutter is for holding Christmas cards and photos that we get in the mail this time of year. I have extras that we'll spice up for a "Fabulous Friday" gift. ;)

Now, what about the homeless fish?

He has now found a new home here...

I hung him about four inches lower than the door frames in the room. He brings some color to the large gray area above the television and adds height.

Side note ~ My demonic camera seems to wash out color and depth. It's got a flash that could kill a vampire 40 miles away. It turned the screen on the T.V. a creepy white so I blocked it out in black. The wall color is really a light gray and the white background of the two side photos contrast more than what is visible in the photo.

Check back soon for my cheap and easy countdown for Christmas decorating and stay tuned for our Friday gift idea!
(I'm super excited about it!!!)