What to do with Christmas Stockings?

There have been some great after-Christmas deals at all our local stores.  Besides the obvious wonderful items for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for next year, there still remains on the shelves some very inexpensive but odd items:  tinsel, curling ribbon, bells, ornaments, and lots and lots of Christmas stockings!  For just pennies I have bought bags of them hoping they could be used in some crafty way .

You could of course fill the stockings with other fun items such as candy and school supplies so the children can discover each item with joy.  But afterwards, I wondered if the stocking would be useful.  I decided to make tote bags!

Turn the stocking inside out.  Cut straight across, just above where the stocking begins to curve to make the toe.  Sew the bottom seam closed to make the bottom of the bag.  Then using the scrap “toe” cut out 2 strips of fabric to make the handles.  I fold them over once to make a double layer of fabric and zig zag them closed to make a firmer and sturdier handle.  (You could make a tube and then turn them, this would look great.  It does take more effort and can be difficult if the width is thin.)  Sew the handles on the inside of the tote.  (I sew them with a zig zag and go back over and over to secure them.)

Tote bags for 25 cents and less than 15 minutes to make!