Each stocking stuffer design has five files. Two are the embroidery files. File A sews the pocket piece of the stocking. File B first sews the body and then stitches the two pieces together. The other three are dieline files. The dieline files are marked with the letters DL. Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the right shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines. 

We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link, learn more about affiliate links here)

Cut out the first dieline (marked with the letter A). Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the felt on top. Spray the backside of the paper dieline with temporary spray adhesive and smooth onto the fabric.

Cut out the shape and remove the paper. This will be the fabric piece for the pocket of the stocking stuffer.

Repeat this process for the second dieline (marked with the letter B). This will be the front of the body.

To prepare the back piece of the body, spray the backside of the paper dieline with temporary adhesive, smooth it onto the fabric, and cut out the shape.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer. Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices. Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full pocket embroidery design (not the dieline files). Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer. Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the pocket fabric piece.

Spray the back of the pocket piece with temporary adhesive. Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Place the fabric piece right inside the sewn dieline.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue embroidering the design. A zigzag stitch tack down will sew next. This binds the fabric in place for the remainder of the design. Once the fabric is stitched in place, all of the inner elements will sew.

Unhoop the stabilizer and gently tear it away. Now that the pocket piece is finished, set it aside to be used later on. 

Hoop a new piece of tear-away stabilizer. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full body embroidery design (not the dieline files). Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the front fabric piece.

Spray the backside of the front body piece with temporary adhesive. Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Place the fabric piece right inside the sewn dieline.

Attach the hoop to the machine and continue embroidering -- a zigzag tack down will sew next. 

Then, all of the inner elements will sew. On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "tack down, outer border." When you get to this section, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Cut a 7" length of ribbon and bring the ends of the ribbon together to form a loop. Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the ends of the loop to the top of the backside of the front piece. Tape the ribbon to the side of the hoop so that it will not be sewn over in the remaining steps.

Spray the backside of the back fabric piece with adhesive. Turn the hoop over and place the back fabric inside the shape on the backside of the embroidery.

Spray along the edges of the backside of the pocket piece that you embroidered earlier.

Turn the hoop right side up and place the pocket piece on top of the embroidery. Align the bottom edge of the pocket piece with the edges of the fabric piece still in the hoop.

Since both sides of the ornament will be visible when complete, wind a bobbin with the same color used in the needle.

Attach the hoop back to the machine. Continue the design. A running stitch tack down and a satin border will bind all the layers together.

When the design has finished, unhoop the stabilizer and gently tear it away.

Fill the stocking stuffer with candy or even a gift card, and hang in on the mantel or Christmas tree as a fun, extra treat for the holidays.