Bucilla Santa's List Christmas Stocking Felt Applique Kit, 86360 18-Inch

While watching TV and listening to music, I had a great time doing this. The only issues I had with the kit stemmed from my own making. It was necessary for me to re-write re-do some stitches that I messed up earlier. I should have also paid more attention to the instructions. You'll be fine if you take the time to prepare and educate yourself on these kits. br>br>To cut down on the learning curve, I highly recommend reading some websites that provide tips on how to complete the kits. This isn't required, but it will help you learn from the mistakes of others. I'm glad I did because I believe my finished product will be more durable over time. For example, instead of using one piece of thread to sequin/bead, I used two and doubled the stitch to ensure a secure fit. I used a double stitch to sew the sequin/bead onto the stocking and then re-sewed it. Threaded the same sequin/bead twice to secure it, which should ensure that the sequins/beads stay on the stocking for decades and withstand normal wear and tear. I used all 6 strands when stitching the name at the top of the stocking because I thought it would look thin otherwise, and I used up the threads faster because I used more strands than the instructions recommended. I had read on several websites that this would happen, so I went to Amazon and bought some extra thread. I could have bought it from Bucilla, but I was able to find thread on Amazon that was a perfect match for the colors. br>br>As I worked on the stocking, I began to get the hang of it. It's a straightforward procedure - All you have to do now is read the directions carefully and take your time!! Rushing is a surefire way to make a mistake. I didn't like a few minor details about the stocking, so I bought extra felt to make some minor changes. This is purely a matter of personal taste and is not required! The stocking is lovely on its own. All I wanted to do was make a few minor adjustments. If you're going to make a stocking, make sure you give yourself plenty of time. These kits appear to be simple, but they take a long time to complete. I didn't work on the stockings because I didn't have enough time. It took me about a month and a half to get to this point. It takes time to lightly iron the pieces (they have a few wrinkles from being folded in the packaging), read the instructions, cut out the pieces, secure them on, and finally, the sequin/beading, which is, in my opinion, the most time-consuming process. I had a lot of fun making this stocking, even though I underestimated the time it would take. Each of my nieces and nephews will receive a stocking from me. I'll keep buying extra thread, stuffing, and felt in the future, and I'll start the kits much earlier next time so I'm not rushing to finish before Christmas.

Lewis Logan

| Feb 06, 2021

With my firstborn, I began this nearly 50 years ago. I needed to make new ones for their wives and husbands now that these grandchildren have grown up and married. You can follow the instructions, but I prefer to add more than what they provide, so I always order an extra sequence. They always turn out beautifully, and the recipients are always pleased.

Jax Kuhn

| Jun 23, 2021

The kit came with a WHITE stocking back for a GREEN stocking front, which was a huge disappointment! I didn't realize it until after I had sewn all of the applicues to the front, or I would have gone out and bought enough green felt to cover the front and back. I couldn't find any green felt that matched the stocking front color! So I wrote to Plaid Crafts and asked if I could buy more green felt from them, and they responded: br>br>"Unfortunately, we are unable to make any changes to the kit as it is. " We do not sell felt on its own. "br>br>It's difficult for me to believe that others haven't needed extra fabric to replace goofs in the past, and I can't believe they couldn't provide this. " Furthermore, the sequins are of lower quality than those found in kits I made in the 1980s. I'll definitely look for higher-quality kits for the stockings of my other grandchildren.

Santiago Barton

| Dec 01, 2021

) This is my third kit, and I plan to purchase more in the future. I tried another brand and was extremely disappointed. The felt used to be thinner, and you had to cut it out with a paper pattern; now, the felt is stamped, and all you have to do is cut out the pieces.

Leif Dunlap

| Feb 08, 2021

These stockings were made by my mother over 30 years ago, and they are still treasured by my daughters. For my grandson, I decided to carry on the tradition. To be honest, I'm dissatisfied with the fabric and materials' quality. It is difficult to work with the felt because it is so thin. I dug up my daughters' stockings and noticed that the quality had deteriorated over the years. The green fibers pulled up through the stitch as I appliqued the white cuff to the green stocking. I double-checked that I read and followed the instructions carefully, and I practiced the stitches on scraps of fabric first. I'm afraid the felt would have torn if I had to remove stitches. Because the felt is so thin, it's difficult to cut out the pieces even with the sharpest of scissors. I had to add a backing to the green portion of the stocking because the fabric is too thin to hold many items without tearing. br>br>The thin needle had burrs on it, which broke three of my needle threaders as well as the thread. Threading the eye was extremely difficult due to its small size. I wouldn't use the cheap needles that come with the kit. Working with the extremely fine gold metallic thread was also a pain. The beads came in a variety of shapes, but all came from the same packet; most were round, but many were triangle-shaped or tubular, and thus looked odd when arranged in a row with sequins and beads. br>br>I've done embroidery kits before and have never needed to watch a video to figure out how to do a stitch. I found the stitch instructions to be a little hazy and difficult to follow for beginners. br>br>I spent the majority of my time working with low-quality fabrics and threads. br>br>I like the step-by-step instructions and numbered pieces, which make it simple to put the pieces together. br>br>Be prepared to spend a few extra dollars to replace torn threads, purchase high-quality needles, and possibly replace some beads, as well as tracing paper, which is difficult to come by. I'd also add a backing to the stocking to make it more durable. br>br>I believe this would be a much more enjoyable project for Bucilla if she used higher-quality felt and materials. I wasn't expecting to have to spend as much time troubleshooting and working with flimsy materials as I did. I'm not sure I'll ever do another one because it was so disappointing. Despite all of the frustration, it turned out to be quite lovely in the end.

Walter Le

| Jul 15, 2021