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.

A Christmas Countdown - useful ideas for a very merry Christmas!

1. Look for natural items... sticks, pine cones, pampas, berries, dried grasses, rocks, and beans, are all nice natural and frugal.

So, how about some of these on your tree? Cut out some silhouettes or use family photos add some foam board for a backing and glue on the sticks.

2. Change out your art.
You can inexpensively frame pages cut out of Christmas books for a nice holiday look. Got some scribbled in books or books with pages missing? If your books are already a bit abused you can feel even better about dealing them the final death blow. You'll feel even better looking at your nifty seasonal artwork.

3. Paint it.
Freshen up ornaments, branches, wreaths, or just about anything with spray paint.

4. Decoupage it.
Same old Christmas balls getting you down? Decoupage them with some newspaper strips. For a more vintage feel, dip the paper into tea and then let dry before applying. Decoupage... run with it...

5. Think outside the box for fabrics.
Need a new tree skirt but boy are they expensive! Use a tablecloth, flat sheet, muslin or a curtain. Want some Christmas pillows to accent? Grab some $1 placemats and sew them together! Need new stockings? Grab some sweaters from a thrift shop and sew them (works well for warm pillows, too), or use some fabric glue on felt. An even easier idea, soak some of dads big socks in tea overnight. Dry them and glue on some fabric scrapes and trims!
6. Go green with wrap that lives long after Christmas is over.
Instead of $3.50 on a disposable gift bag save a buck or two and get reusable shopping bag. Kohl's has great ones that fold up. I keep one in my purse.

7. Adopt a tree for the entrance of your home.
There are lots of trees that need a good home. Just take a look at all the little orphaned trees on Craigslist and Freecycle. Why not adopt one? The tree gets a home and you get the satisfaction of knowing you saved something from the landfill. Stick it in a galvanized pail or planter and fill it in with bricks and moss. I use bricks and broken chunks of concrete to keep my outdoor faux plants weighted down. ;)
Look at this poor homeless tree. He fell asleep on some garbage bags, didn't even have a blanket.

8. Be original with toys.
Toys work so well to decorate for Christmas. Get some $1 trains at the dollar store and spray paint them or distress them toss them in a cloche and add some candles and evergreen cutting around the cloche. Cute and fun! These and boats work well on trees.
See more here.

9. Upcycle - save and look super savy
Rethink those everyday items you toss. Need a box for something? Got and oatmeal box? Well, there you go. Paint it and add some trim. Need something pretty to carry cookies to the neighbors but forgot to buy a "giveaway platter"? - what I call the dollar tree platters I pick up for these types of occasions. Use pizza carboard. I stack two and cut out paper to glue on top. Then go around the edge with some hot glue and ric rac. Put your cookies on a circle of wax paper a bit smaller than the pizza cardboard to keep the oil from getting into the paper. Add plastic wrap and your good to go.

10. Frame it - a different take on your average bear
Like Chistmas villages but don't have the space for an entire table of the stuff? Use a frame in the center of your dining table to create a clean edge for your little village. No more wondering white fabric and snow! Use frames for everything from wreaths to tree toppers. Add a big bow and mistletoe with bells hanging down at the top and you have a lovely wreath. Put two back to back and sandwich a metal spring at the bottom along with a middle of scrap paper with a big initial and you've got another awesome craft.
You can see how to make the spring here.

Fabulous, Fantastic, and Frugal Friday - Gift No. 6 - Winter Face Mask

I'll start this post by asking you not to run away in terror from the crochet and my little outlaw, above. If you add his hat and coat, he wouldn't look like he were about to rob a bank. lol.

This project can be done easily with a few very easy crochet skills. If you don't know how, try it because you just might love it. It's much easier than you think. ;)

Things to know before you start:

•   I used a size "H" crochet hook for a better stretch.
•  You will want, at least, an approximate measurement on the length and width for this. I used a string to go around my son's head and then laid that next to my yard stick. My son's circumference (width) was 10.5" around and I just kept trying it on to see if the length was good. It will stretch a bit so I made his 10.5" and let it stretch with his head to be a bit loose. I held it to the yard stick when I made the starting chain to get the right width/circumference. It's length will go from the bridge of the nose to the bottom of the neck with a little more length to scrunch up a bit.
• If unsure about width use buttons. Directions for that will be below.
• You will need this to weave in any ends, to join the ends, and to add buttons... (They are just plastic yarn needles.)
  

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I could have went to the trouble of making a video, but this is not the week for that and why go to the trouble when it's already available to you.

Start here:
These videos are in order to complete this project. Be sure to read my instructions, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDzVcrmzs4

Then make a chain the width/circumference of the mask (this measurement should circle the head completely - around the nose, face, back of head) and add one extra chain stitch. If you aren't exactly sure, make it a bit bigger and we'll add buttons later. If you are sure but like the idea of buttons, make it an inch more to add buttons.
Here is how you make a chain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5fnuYd898k

Then you will do single crochet stitches to finish it. Be sure to do your first single crochet stitch in the second stitch from your hook, so skip one from your hook. It's the very first stitch she does. She puts her hook in the second chain from the hook, like this...
(This is just a picture that demonstrates the first step of the video below a bit more clearly.)

 Continue, just like in the video to get the length/nose bridge to bottom of neck measurement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hwHtyJFMf0

When you get to the end of your last row you'll need to end like this. Of course, your rectangle will be much larger. The size in this video would fit a barbie. ;) Leave a 2 foot tail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDC98PFnEJU&feature=related

You should now have something like this:

Okay, so I made this picture because my batteries were down. lol...

 Now, proceed to the buttons or no buttons options below...

First, No Buttons Option
  If you want buttons, skip down to Buttons Option.

You will then join ends. Fold both ends to the center so they meet, if you don't want buttons.

The you will do zigzag the tail through like this:
(It doesn't really have to be in any particular place. I just randomly do this.)

When I get to the top I put my yarn on the inside and go through a loop with a double knot and then weave in my leftover tail for security. To weave in the tail is to do just that, weave the needle in and out of loops to "hide" the tail and help keep the knot secure.

If you made it here, CONGRATULATIONS! You have an awesomely warm face mask gift!

 

Now, Buttons Option

You should now weave in your tail. To weave in the tail is to do just that, weave the needle in and out of loops down the side where your tail is to "hide" the tail and help keep the knot secure.
Go down, yellow color, and back up, pink color. This doesn't have to be exact, just skip around down the side. I usually back track and circle around a stitch as I head down the yellow.

Then sew on buttons with matching yarn. The buttons should be just big enough that the holes of your crochet work can stretch over them, but not be too loose.

 

You would button the buttons into the opposite end of the mask, down the back of the head.

If you too made it here, CONGRATULATIONS! You have an awesomely warm face mask gift!

Now go give this gift your favorite little or big buddy. They'll appreciate having a cozy nose and cheeks all winter long.

BTW, I don't recommend making this in black,lol, not unless you plan to weave a design into it. ;)

Happy Gift Giving