My Christmas Stocking has always been my favorite holiday decoration, because my Grandma Asdell made it for my first Christmas. It's made of a nice sturdy wool felt, with Christmas motifs appliqued on it.  On Christmas morning, it was always filled with fun little gifts, and always an orange in the toe.  For the last few years that all of us were at home, my siblings and I kind of took charge of filling the stockings. For me, finding those little "stocking stuffer" gifts was more fun than shopping for the "real" gifts.

My second block for the Moda Bake Shop's 2019 Countdown to Christmas is called "By the Chimney with Care".  I've written the pattern for two sizes - a 12" finished block and a 6" finished block". Note that the 12" block is made up of two 6" x 12" stockings, which could come in handy, depending on which layout you choose for your Countdown to Christmas Sampler quilt.

I used a little trick I learned from the late Mary Ellen Hopkins in this block. See that pretty bright pink in the top band and toe of the  green sock? That is the wrong side of the darker pink in the other sock. You can tell if you see the block up close, but it's not obvious. The trick doesn't work for all prints, relatively few, in fact, but now and again you get lucky. Besides, as Mary Ellen used to point out, "You paid for both sides, so you may as well use them!"

Make the Shank Units

Sew a stripset, alternating three short light red and two short dark red strips. Sew the dark green rectangle to the top of the stripset, and sew a white strip to the LEFT side of the stripset as shown.

Sew another stripset, alternating the three short dark green and two short light green strips. Sew the red rectangle to the top of the stripset, and sew a white strip to the LEFT side of the stripset as shown.

Set these units aside.

Make the Ankle Units

Sew a long dark red strip and long light red strip together, as shown. Place the smaller white square on the left end of the stripset. Mark and sew a diagonal seam on the white square, then trim 1/4" from that seam and press the corner open.

Repeat with a long light green and long dark green strip. (Note the placement of light and dark greens.)

Set these units aside.

Make the Foot Units

Sew a short light red strip and a short dark red strip together, as shown. Draw or stitch a diagonal seam on the dark green square in a contrasting color. Sew the square to the left end of the stripset, and sew the remaining long dark red strip to the top of the stripset.

Place the larger white square on the right end of the stripset. Mark and sew a diagonal seam on the white square, as shown, then trim 1/4" from the seam, and press the corner open.

Repeat with the remaining green strips and the red square. (Note the placement of the dark and light green strips)

Finish the Block

Sew the Shank, Ankle and Foot units together to make two stockings.

Sew the stocking together to complete your block.

Anne Wiens