Christmas Stocking with a Hidden Pocket

Sew a Christmas stocking with a little something extra – a hidden pocket to hold a special small present! The zipper pocket will keep the smallest of your stocking stuffers safe and sound and easy to find.

This Christmas stocking has a classic look, made up in a plaid flannel with a fluffy faux fur cuff. And there’s plenty of room inside for treats and small toys.

But look at little closer.

There, on the inside. It’s a little hidden zipper pocket!

Just the place to put a special small present! Perhaps a note from Santa, or a little bit of folded money. Or for the older kids, a little piece of jewelry or a nice pair of earbuds. How cool is that!

I’ve got a free sewing pattern for you below.

Christmas stockings are surprisingly easy to sew. The cuff is a pretty detail but also makes it easy to get a nice clean finish. The zipper pocket is a nice feature that’s also easier to sew than you’d think. Even if you’ve never sewn a zipper before, you can add this zipper pocket to your stocking with little difficulty.

Finished stocking is approximately 17” tall from the tip of the toe to the top of the cuff. The opening at the top is roughly 5” wide.

The zipper pocket is optional. And while I think having a hidden pocket is pretty cool, if you don’t want to mess with it you can just skip the first section of the tutorial.

Best Fabrics to Use for Your Stocking

One of the things I love about making stockings is that you can use just about any kind of fabric you like. I prefer fabrics that have a little body to them, i.e., not drapey. That way the stocking will hold its shape when hanging.

My suggestion would be to use a quilting cotton, flannel, home dec fabric, or even a corduroy. You could even create some cute patchwork designs from quilting cotton and use that for your fabric. These same fabrics would also work for the cuff, though you could also use a fleece if you want a fluffy cuff. For the lining, I’d keep things simple with a basic quilting cotton.

For this stocking I used a flannel for the outside, a quilting cotton for the lining, and a fur fleece for the cuff.

Supplies

Main fabric – 2/3 yard

Lining fabric – 2/3 yard

Cuff fabric – ¼ yard (or large scraps)

½” wide ribbon – 4”

Nylon or polyester zipper at least 6” long

Free Pattern – Christmas Stocking with a Hidden Pocket

RST = Right Sides Together. All seam allowances ½” unless otherwise noted.

Sew the Zipper Pocket

Transfer the small rectangle marking on the pattern to the wrong side of one of the Pocket pieces. The easiest way to do this is to cut the rectangle out of the pattern piece to create a stencil.

Place the Pocket piece you just marked on top of one of your Stocking pieces RST, 3/4” from the top and centered horizontally.

When choosing which of the two Stocking pieces to use for this step, use the piece that has the toe facing the direction you want the toe to be on your finished stocking.

Sew the box marked on the Pocket piece.

Cut a line down the center of the box and make angled cuts toward the corners. Cut right up to the stitch line in the corners, but be careful not to cut through the stitching.

Pull the Pocket piece through the hole to the back of the Lining piece.

You should now have a rectangular opening in the center of your Lining piece. Press the edges and corners of the opening to smooth out puckers.

Working from the front of the Lining, center the zipper behind the hole. Your zipper will be longer than the hole but that’s okay. Glue baste in place. Stitch around the rectangular opening close to the edge.

Trim the ends of the zipper.

Turn the Lining piece over, so it is wrong side up. Place the remaining Pocket piece on top of the Pocket piece sewn to the back of the lining, RST.

Sew the Pocket pieces together around all 4 sides with a 1/4” seam allowance, moving the Lining out of the way as you sew. Sew only the Pocket pieces; DO NOT sew through the Lining.

Sew the Main Stocking and Lining

Place Stocking pieces RST. Sew around sides and bottom. Leave top open.

Clip curves. Turn right side out.

Place Lining pieces RST. Sew around sides and bottom. Leave top open.

Place Lining inside Stocking, wrong sides together, matching side seams. Baste around top with ¼” seam allowance. Zig zag over the raw edge to prevent fraying.

Fold ribbon in half, raw edges together.

Place the ribbon on the inside of the stocking, centered across the side seam on the heel side of the stocking, and with raw edges aligned with raw edge of stocking. Baste in place with ¼” seam allowance.