Every item on this page was chosen by a Woman's Day editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

37 Homemade Stocking Decorating Ideas for a Festive Mantel

Put on your Santa's Elf hat for the day and DIY these cute stockings.

stocking decorating ideas  woodland creatures stockings
Antonis Achilleos

When it comes to decorating your mantel for Christmas, you may have a few decor pieces that come out for display every year, whether it's a festive wreath you could hang on your door as well, or a row of hand-me-down stockings with everyone's initials. But if you want to switch things up this holiday season, you can DIY Christmas stockings with just a few materials. These stocking decorating ideas make for an easy homemade Christmas decoration — plus, they are the perfect Christmas craft that doubles as an essential piece for Christmas Day present opening.

While some of these stocking ideas require sewing experience, there are also paper stocking ideas great for the younger crowd. With festive themes and merry colors all around, your mantel will draw everyone's attention on Christmas Eve as they anxiously await seeing their stocking stuffers the next morning. You'll find sizable stockings that will fit every stuffer imaginable, whether it's for the older sisters' minimalist stocking, or for Dad's favorite flannel stocking. You can reuse items you have around your home, or purchase a few materials from your local craft store. Regardless, these stocking decorating ideas promise to become a staple Christmas decoration for years to come.

stocking decorating ideas ice skate stockings
Cedric Angeles
1 of 37
Ice Skate Stockings

Show off your family's favorite winter activity with these easy-to-make skate stockings. Simply cut two pieces of felt into blade shapes and glue them together before glueing on to the end of the stocking. Add decorative backstitch embroidery with French knots at the ends to create laces.

stocking decorating ideas  rainbow striped stocking
A Kailo Chic Life
2 of 37
Rainbow Striped Stocking

These stockings, made from colorful strips of flannel, will brighten up your mantel display. If you have young kids at home, they will go wide-eyed at the sight of these cute stockings hanging from the fireplace on Christmas morning.

Get the Rainbow Striped Stocking tutorial at A Kailo Chic Life.

stocking decorating ideas simple felt stocking
William Geddes
3 of 37
Simple Felt Stockings

Looking for a quick way to make your mantel merrier? Stuff Christmas cheer into this DIY holiday mantel decor.

Get the Simple Felt Stocking tutorial.

Shop Fabric Scissors

stocking decorating ideas  woodland creatures stockings
Antonis Achilleos
4 of 37
Woodland Creature Stockings

Craft these cute creatures with felt, fabric, and buttons using our free templates.

To make the stockings, print templates and cut all shapes out of corresponding felt and fabric. Sew the front and back of the stocking shapes together with a ¼" seam; turn inside out. For the cuff, cut an 8" x 16" rectangle from matching felt, sew ends together with ¼" seam, then turn inside out and slide over the top of the stocking. Tuck 3 inches of the cuff inside the top of the stocking; hot-glue in place. Glue together a ¾" x 10" strip of matching felt to form a loop and hot-glue to the stocking. From cotton batting, cut out a head shape slightly smaller than the felt pieces. Sandwich the batting piece between the head shapes and hot-glue the layers together. For the scarf, cut a 6" x 48" rectangle and stitch together on long sides; turn inside out (use selvage as edge on short ends to avoid fraying). After attaching the body features (see below), wrap cotton scarf twice and tie.

Deer: Arrange facial features in this order: ears, antlers, cheeks, nose. Then, for the eyes, layer the eyelashes behind the white eye shape and use ¾" buttons for the pupils. Hot-glue everything in place.

Fox: First, hot-glue the outer ear shapes to the back of the head. Next hot-glue the cheeks, nose, and eyes, including ½" buttons for pupils. Finish by attaching the belly and inner ear fabric shapes with hot glue.

Owl: Start by hot-gluing the ears in place. Then layer the eye shapes (including ¾" buttons for the pupils) and beak and hot-glue in place along with the belly. Crease wings with an iron and glue to sides under cuff.

stocking decorating ideas felt stockings
Eric Roth
5 of 37
Cozy and Colorful Felt Stockings

These felt stockings are not only soft to the touch, but also require minimal steps to assemble. Try different kinds of cookie cutters for an extra-personalized stocking.

Get the Cozy Felt Stockings tutorial.

SHOP COOKIE CUTTERS

stocking decorating ideas  graphic stockings
Studio DIY
6 of 37
Graphic Stockings

The tweens and teenagers will appreciate these fuzzy stockings that spell out cute Christmas messages.

Get the Graphic Stockings tutorial at Studio DIY.

Shop Iron-on Letters

stocking decorating ideas festive felt stockings
PAUL WHICHELOE
7 of 37
Festive Felt Stockings

Instead of using heavy stockings with an even heavier price tag, opt for these DIY felt creations decked in nature-inspired themes.

Get the Festive Felt Stockings tutorial.

Shop Craft Glue

stocking decorating ideas  harry potter stockings
Crafting Cheerfully/Kimberly
8 of 37
Harry Potter Stockings

Accio Christmas stocking! Harry Potter fans won't be able to discern if it's their living room or Gryffindor Common Room come Christmas Day thanks to these paper stockings.

Get the Harry Potter Stockings tutorial at Crafting Cheerfully.

stocking decorating ideas blanket stocking
Camp Gilmore
9 of 37
Blanket Stocking

Take some pointers from Instagrammer @CampGilmore and use scraps from an old wool blanket (or maybe even find a secondhand wool blanket if you want to go thrifting) to DIY creative stockings with a vintage feel.

diy christmas stockings festive trim
Courtesy of Amanda Escoe
10 of 37
Festive Trim Stocking

As blogger Amanda Escoe shares on Instagram, combining pom pom trim and fringe trim creates a whimsical and bohemian-style stocking that will add a bit of texture and fun to any fireplace mantle.

Shop Pom Pom Trim

stocking decorating ideas  no sew felt owl stockings
Lia Griffith
11 of 37
No-Sew Felt Owl Stocking

The beauty of these stockings is that no sewing machine (or experience) is required. This may mean there are a few more materials and tools necessary, but with just easy four steps, you can have the whole family join in on the decorating.

Get the No-Sew Felt Owl Stocking tutorial at Lia Griffith.

Shop Fusible Bonding Web

decorating stocking ideas flannel and trim christmas stockings
Anna Olsen
12 of 37
Flannel & Trim Christmas Stockings

If you’re interested in bringing the coziness of flannel pajamas to your Christmas stockings, this DIY tutorial from Anna Olsen, Manager of Crafted Content at JOANN, is an excellent (and cute) option.

Get the Flannel & Trim Christmas Stockings tutorial at JOANN.

stocking decorating ideas piñata stocking
Wild Mae Design
13 of 37
Piñata Stocking

Different fringed fabric scraps came together to make this festive and fun stocking from Wild Mae Design. Add some extra large pom poms for a playful touch.

stocking decorating ideas sleepy reindeer stocking
The Show Gals
14 of 37
Sleepy Reindeer Stocking

Crafter Katelyn Showalter of The Show Gals demonstrates how to make the cutest reindeer stocking you’ve ever seen with just a few simple additions, like a pom pom and some paper antlers.

stocking decorating ideas snowman stocking
Two Little Taylors
15 of 37
Snowman Stocking

Want to create an easy winter scene on a stocking? Try using two or three large white pom poms to create a snowman and using fabric scraps to build the rest of the winter wonderland, as the Two Little Taylors blog suggests.

stocking decorating ideas basic burlap stocking
Dear Lillie Studio
16 of 37
Basic Burlap Stocking

Grab the kids and have them help you string together these elegant burlap stockings.

Get the Basic Burlap Stocking tutorial at Deer Lillie Studio.

SHOP BURLAP

stocking decorating ideas chunky knit stocking
Nourish and Nestle
17 of 37
Chunky Knit Stocking

Stuff gifts at the bottom and holiday decorations at the top of these woven stockings to bring your living room mantel to the next level.

Get the Chunky Knit Stocking tutorial at Nourish and Nestle.

SHOP WHITE YARN

stocking decorating ideas white trimmed burlap stocking
Uncommon Designs
18 of 37
White Trimmed Burlap Stocking

Add simple touches — like buttons — to these rustic burlap stockings for a look that won't go unnoticed.

Get the White Trimmed Burlap Stocking tutorial at Uncommon Designs.

SHOP BURLAP

stocking decorating ideas embellished burlap stockings
Craft Passion
19 of 37
Embellished Burlap Stockings

Make Christmas morning complete with these stunning crafts. Sub the burlap for cotton, if preferred, and jazz them up with even more embellishments for an extra-special touch.

Get the Embellished Burlap Stockings tutorial at Craft Passion.

stocking decorating ideas polka dot stockings
Fynes Designs
20 of 37
Polka Dot Stockings

The neutral tones make these stockings perfect for every member of the family. As shown, adding a cute photo tag makes for great personalization.

Get the Polka Dot Stockings tutorial at Fynes Designs.

BUY MUSLIN FABRIC

stocking decorating ideas pretty patterned stocking
Simplify
21 of 37
Pretty Patterned Stocking

Here's a super-easy way to personalize stockings. Give each of your loved ones their own patterns, like this blogger did.

Get the Pretty Patterned Stocking tutorial from Camille Roskelley.

BUY QUILT FABRIC

stocking decorating ideas sweater stocking
An Extraordinary Day
22 of 37
Sweater Stocking

Don't throw out those old sweaters — transform them into these beautiful handmade stockings. All you have to do is outline the stocking shape you want and carefully cut out the sweater. Then, sew the pieces together and attach a knot. Easy as that!

Get the Sweater Stocking tutorial at An Extraordinary Day.

RELATED: 30 Best Ugly Christmas Sweaters You Need to Buy ASAP

stocking decorating ideas monogram pin stockings
Blue iStyle
23 of 37
Monogram Pin Stockings

Already have your stockings ready? Personalize them with these cheerful monogram pins.

Get the Monogram Pin Stockings tutorial at Blue iStyle.

stocking decorating ideas personalized felt stockings
Lia Griffith
24 of 37
Monogrammed Felt Stockings

Made of out of wool felt, these monogrammed stockings are soft to the touch and sturdy enough for last-minute gifts.

Get the Monogrammed Felt Stockings tutorial at Lia Griffith.

Shop Wool Felt

stocking decorating ideas denim stocking
Nebraska Views
25 of 37
Denim Stocking

Have an old pair of jeans? Don't throw them out. Recycle them into these creative, patterned holiday stockings.

Get the Denim Stocking tutorial at Nebraska Views.

stocking decorating ideas  wool felt stockings for your pets
Lia Griffith
26 of 37
Wool Felt Stockings for Your Pets

If you put out catnip or doggie toys for your favorite furry friends on Christmas Eve, then it stands to reason that you will need to hang a stocking for them, as well.

Get the Wool Felt Stockings for Your Pets tutorial at Lia Griffith.

RELATED: 43 Unique Gift Ideas for Dogs (and Dog Lovers)

stocking decorating ideas knotted stocking
His and Hers
27 of 37
Knotted Stocking

While this pattern looks a bit more complex, it's still just as easy to make as the others.

Get the Knotted Stocking tutorial at His and Hers.

stockong decorating ideas scandinavian felt christmas stockings
Lia Griffith
28 of 37
Scandinavian Felt Christmas Stockings

You will need some embroidery knowledge to DIY these Christmas stockings, but the tutorial comes with a printable template you can follow for a professional look.

Get the Scandinavian Felt Christmas Stockings tutorial at Lia Griffith.

Shop Embroidery Needles

stocking decorating ideas pom pom trimmed stocking
Just the Bee's Knees
29 of 37
Pom-Pom Trimmed Stocking

If you're not the red-and-green type, these stylish stockings with pom-pom trim are just the thing to deck your halls.

Get the Pom Pom Trimmed Stocking tutorial at Interiors by Sarah Langtry.

SHOP POM POM TRIM

stocking decorating ideas felted stripe stocking
Studio DIY/Jeff Mindell
30 of 37
Felted Stripe Stocking

This DIY stocking is overflowing with whimsy. Personalize each striped stocking with pom poms and felt monograms in contrasting or complementary colors.

Get the Felted Stripe Stocking tutorial at Studio DIY.

Shop Needle Felting Tool

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below