String Quilted Stockings

When Marci and Mack were just tiny, I learned to do Counted Cross Stitch and quickly became addicted. A friend of mine gave me the Christmas Alphabet pattern to cross stitch the cuffs for Christmas Stockings. That was 20 plus years ago and String Quilting was really popular.
I made four stockings one year and as each new baby came along I'd pull out the cross stitch pattern and make a new one adding Kayley, Scott & Hope. The stockings have been a consistent tradition hanging on the mantle every Christmas from California to New York. When Marci was pregnant with her first baby, she mentioned that she would love to have the same kind of stockings. So I made one for Ella and sent it to them for her first Christmas. The counted cross stitch is on 22 count hardanger fabric. When I made our stockings years ago I had no problem with that, even four years ago when I did Ella's stocking I did okay. Well, I don't know what happened...hmmm....but now I need to not only have glasses on but wear a lighted magnifying glass around my neck to do the small count. That kind of makes it tough to take your project to soccer practice and the doctor's office. Talk about making a spectacle of yourself. Besides, I had a book to read.


I have Addie's cross stitch started but I knew there was no way I was going to get it done, so I went ahead and made her a string quilted stocking that we can add the cuff to. Marci and I have decided that I need to teach her how to do counted cross stitch. I am a little worried about her addiction problem. Hopefully it won't be as bad as Twilight!Ella & Addie Christmas 2008