by Rina Grosman

A study was done this year to find out how much it would cost today if someone were to purchase all of the presents in the12 days of Christmas song. The total was a whopping $75,000. As we may not all have that kind of cash to spend on turtle doves and milk maids, here’s a quick diamond fix to get you through the first week of the holiday season.

Materials:

Gold leather

Paper clips

Rhinestones (with a flat back)

Contact cement

Scissors/rotary cutter

Step 1: Draw a stocking pattern. This can be based off of one you already own, or from you favourite style of shoe (maybe a really unique Fluevog stocking). Cut out the pattern and place it onto the suede side of the leather. Trace around it twice, making sure to trace a mirror image the second time.

Step 2: Cut out the stocking on the line. You can either use a rotary blade, or sharp scissors. Cut out a strip of leather for the loop to hang the stocking. It should be 4 or 5 inches long and about 1 inch thick.

Step 3: Fold the strip in half and place it in the top corner of the stocking (on the side without the foot) on the suede side and secure it with a paper clip. Place the other side of the stocking on top with the suede sides touching and the leather sides facing out. Secure together with paper clips.

Step 4: Sew together using a leather needle (you can use a regular needle if the leather is soft enough) with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Step 5: Apply a thin layer of contact cement to the backs of the rhinestones and to the areas where they will be placed on the stocking. Let both surfaces dry and then stick them together.

Hang that sucker up and wait for the filling to begin!

Note: Upgrade in stocking may result in an automatic stuffing upgrade.