Clever DIYer Transforms Thrift Store Find Into Precious Christmas Stocking

Repurposing thrift store clothing for Christmas is the ultimate sneaky hack for those of us who go junkin' to feel like we're winning something. Take the totally cute cable knit turtleneck sweater that Instagram DIYer @southernhomeandliving scored at the local Goodwill. Sure, she could have worn it at Christmas dinner, but we're betting it'll garner her more "ooohs" and "aaahs" now that she's DIY'd it into a highly decorative and most excellent Christmas stocking. 

Although the basic idea for her bespoke Christmas stocking will work with any kind of sweater or even sweatshirt, as she points out, there is an advantage to finding one with a turtleneck. Many stockings have a cuff on them. You can attach a cuff to the top of the stocking as you're building it. However, if you find a sweater that has a turtleneck, you've already got a built-in cuff. No extra sewing required. Cutting is required, regardless, so be sure to grab some scissors out of your craft kit, too.

You'll also need to make a stocking pattern. You can cut this out of cardboard or use a stocking you already have and just trace around it with a Sharpie permanent marker. As with most ways to style common items found at thrift stores, a glue gun comes in handy when it's time to rebuild the sweater into something new, but you can also use a sewing machine if you have one. Finally, choose some Christmas ribbon to pretty the stocking up. This'll make it look oh-so lovely once you hang it on one of your festive Christmas stocking holders when it's done.

When shopping for a secondhand sweater, look for one that already has interesting features. This'll make the end product look cooler without much extra work. The cable knit and the turtleneck are just two features. But what about a piece that also has buttons on the collar? Or perhaps a standout pattern? These elements give you more raw materials to work with. Even if the collar doesn't have any buttons on it, use any buttons that are attached to other parts of the sweater to embellish the stocking. Just cut them off and glue them onto the finished stocking.

Once you've washed the sweater, lay it out flat. Then lay the stocking pattern on top of it with the top of the pattern edging up against the turtleneck so that piece stays intact. Trace around the stocking with the Sharpie, and cut the pattern out. Turn the stocking cutout of the sweater inside out. If you have a sewing machine and are comfortable using it, sew the edges together. If not, run a line of glue on the inside edges of the sweater to "sew" it up. The result will be the same. Once the glue dries, turn the sweater right-side out. That'll fold the seam inside the stocking so that it doesn't show. Next, fold the turtleneck down. Add a Christmas-y bow on the collar or buttons down the side. Create a loop to hang it on from some of the leftover sweater material. Glue that onto the inside corner, and then hang it on your mantel.