Helene S. Lundberg - Swedish Christmas Crafts

Helene S. Lundberg

Translated by Annika S. Hipple

Skyhorse Publishing

Copyright 2006 by Helene Lundberg and Fredrik Birkler and Ica Bok frlag, Forma Publishing Group AB

English language translation copyright 2008, 2013 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-60239-330-1

eISBN: 978-1-62873-123-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lundberg, Helene S.

[Fint till jul. English]

Swedish christmas crafts / Helene S. Lundberg.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-60239-330-1 (alk. paper)

1. Christmas decorationsSweden. I. Title.

TT900.C4L96 2008

745.594'1209485dc22

2008020583

Printed in China

Swedish Christmas Crafts is intended to give you inspiration and ideas to make your home festive for Christmas. For me, the month before Christmas is especially nice with all the delicious food and fun things to do with family and friends. Its always exciting to dust off the Advent candleholder and set it out in its place of honor. So dig out the old reliable gingerbread and Lucia bun recipes, and lets get started on the Christmas preparations.

You shouldnt stress about Christmas. Think about what is important to you and your family, and put everything else aside for the time being.

The days leading up to Christmas are special, so relax and enjoy the season.

We all recognize the classic image of Christmas stockings hanging on the mantel, waiting for children to empty them on Christmas morning. These stockings will hold a few small packages, but most importantly, they are a lot of fun to make, not to mention how pretty they are.

This stocking is made with gorgeous purple felt and decorated with flowers. Who says you have to stick to traditional Christmas colors just because its Christmas? Its always nice to have a splash of color that draws the eye. You can find felt and beads in a craft store or well stocked fabric store. There are many colors to choose from, so dont be afraid to mix different colors and shadesthere are no rules to follow. You will find the pattern for the stockings on the pattern pages.

Supplies needed:

Light purple felt, approximately 25.6 19.7 in (65 50 cm)

Dark purple felt for the flowers

Beads in different colors and sizes

Dark purple embroidery beads

Embroidery floss in two complementing shades

Embroidery needle

Scissors

Straight pins

Tracing paper and pen

Hand punch

What to do:

1 Trace the stocking (enlarge to 200%), the flower, and the felt button from pages 9091 and 92 and cut them out of felt. You should cut out two stocking pieces, four flowers, and three buttons.

2 Pin the flowers to the front of the stocking and sew a big bead onto the middle of each flower.

3 Sew a ring of small beads around the big bead, but on the back side.

4 Sew chain stitches with the embroidery floss to make stems for the flowers.

5 Pin the sections of the stocking to one another and sew them together with simple stitches, starting approximately 4.7 in (12 cm) down on the forward part of the leg (the side with the toe).

6 Sew the beads onto the front of the stocking (see picture) at the same time as the simple stitches.

7 Sew the stocking pieces together until you have 9.4 in (24 cm) left on the rear part of the leg. Fold down the upper section and sew it down at the same time as you sew the stocking together.

8 Sew the buttons with two small beads on each.

9 Finish by sewing a row of beads along the edge of the fold, as shown in the picture.

If you want a Christmas stocking that can hold a little more, perhaps this design will appeal to you. Its made out of beige felt and is decorated with beads, buttons, and embroidery. This is an easy one to personalize, so have fun!

This stocking looks great with all sorts of different decorations. Use buttons and beads in different sizes, and embroider with embroidery floss, pearl cotton, or thin crochet thread.

Sew the stocking together with simple whipstitches and embroider around the beads with stem stitching. Hang the stocking with a pretty matching velvet ribbon and decorate it with a complementing Christmas ornament. Te pattern for the stocking is on page 91.

Supplies needed:

Beige felt, approximately 15.74 31.5 in (40 80 cm)

Small and large beads

Mother-of-pearl buttons

Embroidery floss in different colors

Velvet ribbon, approximately 39.4 in (1 m)

Sewing needle

Scissors

Tracing paper and pen

Hand punch

What to do:

1 Trace the stocking from the pattern page and cut out two stocking sections.

2 Draw on the decorations and sew on the beads.

3 Using embroidery floss or a similar thread, sew stem stitches around the beads.

4 Place the stocking sections with their back sides together and stitch them together. Attach the beads at the same time.

5 Make a hole in the upper part of the stocking with the hand punch and thread a velvet ribbon through the hole.