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A DIY swan stocking is a festive way to add a handmade touch to your holiday decorations. This project uses stiff glitter felt for the stocking and swan details, with a knitted or felt cuff to finish the opening. The felt pieces can be assembled with hot glue, so sewing is optional for the main stocking.
Plan to make the stocking shape slightly shorter at the top than a finished stocking, since the cuff will cover part of the neck. Before gluing, arrange the swan pieces on the front to check their positions and make sure the feathers overlap neatly.
Supplies for a DIY Swan Stocking
- 1/2 yard of thick white glitter felt
- 2 sheets of stiff pink glitter felt per stocking, plus 1 extra sheet if making the no-knit cuff
- 1 sheet of orange felt
- 1 sheet of black felt
- Hot glue gun and scissors
- 1 ball of worsted-weight yarn
- U.S. size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles, or the size needed to obtain gauge
- Tapestry needle
Use sharp scissors to cut the felt cleanly, and take care when working with hot glue. Keep the two pink stocking pieces aligned so the edges match when you join them.
How to Make the Felt Swan Stocking
1. Cut out the swan details
From the white felt, cut a swan neck and body, along with 25–30 feathers. A simple leaf shape works well for the feathers; slight differences in shape can give the finished design a natural, layered look.
2. Cut the beak and eye
Cut the eye from black felt. Use the orange felt for the beak, including its top section, as shown in the project images. Set the small pieces aside until you are ready to assemble the front.
3. Make the stocking base
Cut two stocking shapes from pink felt, leaving the neck shorter to make room for the cuff. The neck area should be 6 inches wide so the cuff can fit over the opening. Apply a bead of hot glue around the edge of one piece and press the second piece into place. Sewing the edges together is also an option.
4. Attach the swan
Glue the beak, eye, swan body, and feathers onto the front of the stocking. Start placing the feathers on the right side and work toward the left, overlapping them as you go. Check that the body and neck sit where you want them before securing all the pieces.
Choose a Knitted or Felt Cuff
5. Knit the cuff (optional)
The knitted cuff instructions are credited to Vickie Howell. The gauge is approximately 4.5 stitches per inch in Slipped Rib Stitch, slightly stretched. The finished piece measures 12 1/2 inches by 3 1/4 inches.
Cast on 57 stitches. For Row 1, repeat “slip 1, purl 2” to the end. For Row 2, repeat “knit 2, purl 1” to the end. These two rows form the Slipped Rib Stitch.
- Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the piece measures 3 1/4 inches.
- Bind off in Slipped Rib Stitch, leaving a long tail for seaming.
- Use the tapestry needle and tail to sew the short ends together into a circle.
- Weave in the ends and block the cuff if needed.
Measure the knitted piece as you work, since the stated gauge helps the cuff reach its intended size.
6. Make a no-knit felt cuff
For a cuff without knitting, cut the extra pink felt sheet in half to make two pieces measuring 8 by 5 inches. Glue the pieces together at the ends to form a circle, then fold the circle in half to create the cuff.
7. Attach the cuff
Use a tapestry needle and yarn to blanket stitch the cuff around the top of the stocking opening. Tie the yarn ends securely in a knot and trim the excess. Keep the stitches evenly spaced to help the cuff sit neatly around the neck.
8. Add a hanging loop
Braid a few strands of yarn and tie them into a loop around the top of the cuff. If you made the felt cuff, you can instead hot-glue the loop to the inside. Check that the loop is firmly attached before hanging the stocking.
Finishing Your DIY Swan Stocking
Once the glue has set and the cuff and loop are secure, the stocking is ready to display. For a coordinated alternative, the design can be adapted into a flamingo by changing the white felt to light pink and adjusting the beak shape. Otherwise, this DIY swan stocking makes a charming handmade addition to seasonal decor.
Project by Kara; knitted cuff instructions by Vickie Howell.
