It's been a few years since I hung my Christmas stocking up, but when Turtle Mat got in touch recently and invited me to take part in their Christmas Stocking challenge, my interest was piqued. I remembered - and still have - my Christmas stocking from when I was a child and thought it would be good fun to dig that out, as well as make another.

I'm under no illusions that I'd be able to make something as lovely, as what I can only call my vintage Christmas stocking, gorgeous isn't it? I remember hanging it at the end of my bed on Christmas Eve and leaving a glass of milk and a mince pie out for Father Christmas, and then waking in the morning full of awe that he'd been. And at the same time investigating to see what he'd brought.

My vintage christmas stocking complete with a glitter name

I'm sure there's a story behind this Christmas stocking that I don't remember all of right now, but my brother had one similar too. I'm sure mum and dad will fill me in. But onto the other stocking. In the box of craft supplies I received there was some hessian, felt, tinsel, cotton lace trim, some bells, a robin or two and some glitter. It was clear that I'd be making a different style of stocking.

I used my stocking as a template and discovered how messy hessian is work with. And how awkward this open weave type is. I remember making a hessian cushion in needlecraft in Senior School, and remembered that the fibres played havoc with my black school blazer, it was no better with my navy cords this time around.

A hessian stocking trimmed with felt and lace

But eventually I had a stocking edged with blue felt. How to decorate it took me a while to decide on, and then inspiration struck. I'd use the cotton lace trim to form a Christmas tree and add some bells as decoration and top it with tinsel. And so I did.

A lace christmas tree on a hessian christmas stocking, there's bells and a robin nesting there too

It wasn't long before a robin took up residency...

I’m rather pleased with how it turned out, different to my hopes, but nice in its rustic way, but still not a patch on my vintage stocking, is it?

Have you hung your Christmas stocking? Let's hope Santa comes...

* This is a collaborative post, but all views and opinions are my own.