Sewing Wellness | Collette Costello

Tag: holiday

  • Top 5 Victorian Christmas Crafts: DIY Decorations

    Many of today’s favourite Christmas traditions were popularised during Queen Victoria’s reign. Here’s how the Victorians shaped the festive season we know today:

    • Decorating Christmas Trees – Popularised by Prince Albert, who brought the German tradition to England. Trees were adorned with candles, ornaments, and evergreen decorations.
    • Festive Feasts – Victorian Christmas dinners often featured turkey or goose, accompanied by rich trimmings. Plum pudding, mince pies, and even boar’s head were part of elaborate meals for the wealthy.
    • Giving Gifts – Gifts were exchanged on Christmas Eve and displayed unwrapped on tables. The royals exchanged handmade items and fine jewellery, while modest families shared simple, heartfelt gifts.
    • Pudding Traditions – Christmas puddings were served with custard or set aflame for entertainment. Early puddings originated from medieval pottage and evolved into festive staples.

    From trees to puddings, the Victorian’s love for tradition continues to inspire modern Christmas celebrations.

    See below for ideas on how to craft your own Victorian-style gifts and decorations.

    How to Make Vintage Victorian ChristmasDecorations

    Bring vintage charm to your Christmas with these timeless Victorian homemade decoration ideas from English Heritage: 

    Pin-Prick Cards: Christmas cards, a tradition dating back to 1843, were initially expensive but became affordable by the 1880s. Victorians often created homemade cards with intricate pin-prick lace designs, adding a delicate and personal touch.

    To make your own Pin-prick card, download templates here.

    Christmas Crackers: Invented in the mid-19th century by London confectioner Tom Smith, crackers became a festive essential, filled with trinkets and jokes. They remain a classic holiday tradition today. Download how to make guide.

    Paper Flowers: Wealthy Victorian women crafted paper flowers as decorations and personal accessories. By tracing real flowers onto paper and dipping the petals in wax, they created beautiful, lasting arrangements. Download how to make guide.

    Easy Christmas Bunting DIY Project 

    Get into the festive spirit with this fun and easy DIY Christmas bunting project!

    Whether you’re decking the halls or adding a personal touch to your holiday decor, this simple craft is a great way to spread cheer. See how to make bunting video below.

    This 50 Pieces Christmas Cotton Bundle from Amazon includes a range of patchwork patterned fabric, perfect for creating your Christmas bunting.

    If you enjoyed this post subscribe below for more:

  • Christmas Stockings to Make Yourself

    Christmas is a time for warmth, joy, and creativity. One of the best ways to bring a personal touch to your decorations is by making your own Christmas stockings.

    This guide will help you create beautiful, personalised Christmas stockings that will make your Christmas even more magical.

    A Brief History of Christmas Stockings

    The tradition of hanging Christmas stockings is rooted in legend, particularly the story of Saint Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop known for his generosity. It’s said he secretly helped a poor family by tossing gold coins down their chimney, which landed in stockings hung by the fireplace, delighting the family the next

    Over time, the tradition of filling stockings with small gifts and treats became popular in Europe and America by the 19th century. What began as simple socks has turned into decorative holiday items and is now a beloved part of Christmas, with endless ways to personalise them.

    Creative Christmas Stocking Ideas

    Here are 10 fun and creative Christmas stocking theme ideas to inspire your holiday decorating:

    1. Classic Christmas
      Stick to traditional red, green, and white stockings with embroidered snowflakes, reindeer, or Santa.

    To make your own traditional stocking see: How to Sew a Christmas Stocking

    2. Vintage Holiday
    Use burlap or plaid fabric to create a nostalgic, old-fashioned look. Decorate with antique-style buttons, lace, and small wooden ornaments.

    Video: How Make Christmas Stocking quickly

    3. Personalised Names
    Customise stockings with each family member’s name in festive colours or with embroidered initials, making them special for everyone.

    4. Elf Magic
    Create stockings inspired by Santa’s helpers. Decorate pre-made felt stockings, perfect for a playful and whimsical theme.

    Video: How Make Felt Christmas Stocking

    5. Rustic Farmhouse
    Use neutral tones like cream, grey, or brown, with natural elements such as pinecones, twine, or small wooden accents to create a cozy farmhouse vibe.

    6. Christmas Animal Fun
    Design stockings to look like different animals—reindeer, bears, penguins, or even Santa’s sleigh pulled by cute little animals for a playful twist.

    7. Winter Wonderland
    Use icy blue, silver, and white tones to create a frosty, snow-filled theme. Add snowflakes, glitter, or faux snow for a magical winter touch.

    Video: How make 15 min Christmas stocking

    8. Modern Geometric
    For a trendy, contemporary feel, use geometric patterns or minimalist designs in black, white, or metallics.

    To make your own colourful modern stocking see: 30 Best DIY Christmas Stockings

    9. Nature-Inspired
    Use earthy tones and natural fabrics like linen or jute. Decorate with dried flowers, small pinecones, acorns, and sprigs of greenery to create a woodland, nature-inspired stocking.

    10. Nordic/Scandinavian

    Opt for simple, minimalist designs with Scandinavian-inspired patterns, such as reindeer, stars, and geometric shapes, all in classic red and white or soft pastels.

    Video: How Make Scandinavian Stocking

    Tips for Crafting Your Stocking

    • Up-cycled Stockings: Transform old sweaters or denim into one-of-a-kind stockings.
    • Themed Stockings: Create designs inspired by favourite movies, hobbies, or colors.
    • No-Sew Options: Use hot glue for assembling and decorating stockings if sewing isn’t your thing.

    How to Use Your Christmas Stocking

    • Traditional Fillings: Historically, stockings were filled with small gifts, candy canes, fruit (like oranges or apples), and nuts.
    • Personalised Gifts: Include items that are special to the person receiving the stocking, such as their favourite sweets, mini toiletries, or small books.
    • Creative Fillings: Some people even use stockings for non-traditional gifts like gift cards, socks, jewellery, or little handmade items.

    Display Ideas for Your Handmade Stockings

    • Hang them on the mantle with festive greenery.
    • Line them along a staircase railing.
    • Use them as decorative gift holders under the tree.
    • Display them on a stocking holder for a table center-piece.

    Christmas Stocking Project

    Get into the holiday spirit with this fun and simple DIY Christmas stocking project! Using traditional patterned fabric, you can create a charming and unique stocking decoration.

    To make your own Christmas stocking see: 10 Min Easy Stocking Tutorial

    These Christmas Fat Quarters are available on Amazon. Fabrics with traditional Christmas patterns, perfect for making your own Christmas stocking.

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  • Top 5 Victorian Christmas Crafts: DIY Decorations

    Christmas traditions were popularised during Queen Victoria’s reign. Here’s how the Victorians shaped the festive season we know today:

    • Decorating Christmas Trees – Popularised by Prince Albert, who brought the German tradition to England. Trees were adorned with candles, ornaments, and evergreen decorations.
    • Festive Feasts – Victorian Christmas dinners often featured turkey or goose, accompanied by rich trimmings. Plum pudding, mince pies, and even boar’s head were part of elaborate meals for the wealthy.
    • Giving Gifts – Gifts were exchanged on Christmas Eve and displayed unwrapped on tables. The royals exchanged handmade items and fine jewellery, while modest families shared simple, heartfelt gifts.
    • Pudding Traditions – Christmas puddings were served with custard or set aflame for entertainment. Early puddings originated from medieval pottage and evolved into festive staples.

    From trees to puddings, the Victorian’s love for tradition continues to inspire modern Christmas celebrations.

    See below for ideas on how to craft your own Victorian-style gifts and decorations.

    How to Make Vintage Victorian Christmas Decorations

    Bring vintage charm to your Christmas with these timeless Victorian homemade decoration ideas from English Heritage: 

    Pin-Prick Cards: Christmas cards, a tradition dating back to 1843, were initially expensive but became affordable by the 1880s. Victorians often created homemade cards with intricate pin-prick lace designs, adding a delicate and personal touch.

    To make your own Pin-prick card, download templates here.

    Christmas Crackers: Invented in the mid-19th century by London confectioner Tom Smith, crackers became a festive essential, filled with trinkets and jokes. They remain a classic holiday tradition today. Download how to make guide.

    Paper Flowers: Wealthy Victorian women crafted paper flowers as decorations and personal accessories. By tracing real flowers onto paper and dipping the petals in wax, they created beautiful, lasting arrangements. Download how to make guide.

    Easy Christmas Bunting DIY Project 

    Get into the festive spirit with this fun and easy DIY Christmas bunting project!

    Whether you’re decking the halls or adding a personal touch to your holiday decor, this simple craft is a great way to spread cheer. See how to make bunting video below.

    This 50 Pieces Christmas Cotton Bundle from Amazon includes a range of patchwork patterned fabric, perfect for creating your Christmas bunting.

    If you enjoyed this post subscribe below for more: