Personalised Christmas stockings and hats

The tradition of Christmas stockings and hats

Our personalised Christmas stockings can be hung from the branches of your Christmas tree. However, tradition says they should be placed on the mantelpiece, if you have one in your living room or near the tree. But where does this Christmas stocking tradition come from? From Saint Nicholas, of course, as is often the case when it comes to Christmas! The bishop lived in Asia Minor in the 4th century. Legend has it that three needy sisters hung their stockings on the fireplace mantel to dry. At night, Saint Nicholas filled those stockings with gold coins, dropping them down the chimney to the great joy of their owners.

Since then, of course, we no longer fill stockings with gold coins (although, you never know :-) but with small gifts.

This Christmas stocking tradition is very present in Anglo-Saxon countries such as the United States and England. Today, more and more families are adopting this decorative and personalised solution instead of placing shoes under the tree.

Another tradition: Christmas baubles, for which Alsace was particularly pioneering, as the first baubles appeared in this region in the 12th century (they were apples back then!), and the first blown glass baubles appeared in the 19th century. And once again, to make your Christmas Eve unique, Amikado offers a wide range of personalised Christmas baubles with a name or photo.

Which Christmas stocking to choose?

Many models are available in our collection of Christmas stockings, all personalised with embroidery in our workshop in Toulouse. You’ll be able to choose the design you like most, the material (felt, polyester, linen look, etc.) and, depending on the model, you’ll also face a crucial choice:

• Christmas reindeer
• Santa Claus
• Snowman
• Christmas penguin
• Christmas bear

Some of you may prefer to order a single model to avoid jealousy, while others will go for a variety of characters or animals depicted on the Christmas stocking. Either way, these delightful embroidered Christmas stockings will make everyone happy.

How to make and decorate a Christmas stocking?

Every year, during the festive season, it’s time to bring out our good old Christmas decorations. When it comes to decor, there’s no shortage: garlands, all kinds of lights, Christmas baubles, personalised Christmas cushions to decorate the living room, and even in the kitchen you’ll find the famous personalised Christmas beer glass by Amikado on our website. But if there’s one must-have not to forget this winter for Christmas 2022, it’s the famous Christmas stockings, also commonly known as Christmas stockings. Yes, they’ll bring that little magical touch that makes all the difference at the foot of the tree, on the wall, or by the fireplace.

This tradition, rooted for generations, makes both young and old dream every year. Indeed, we’re all excited at the thought of entering the Christmas period, seeing all kinds of decorations, watching Christmas films on repeat on TV, and discovering what’s hidden inside those Christmas stockings. Yes, you got it, the Christmas stocking is a must-have during the festive season.

Now you have the choice between making your own Christmas stockings or ordering them directly from our website. Amikado offers various models, all unique because they can be personalised with the name of your choice. Different colours and illustrations, all around the Christmas theme, are sure to delight your loved ones. Everyone will have their own personalised Christmas stocking this year.

Now, if you prefer the "home-made" route, it’s not very difficult to create your own Christmas stockings, as long as you get the right materials. To begin, it’s important to choose the colours. Red and green are the traditional Christmas colours par excellence. But white is also an essential colour, evoking the pure white of the first snowflakes falling in December. Gold and silver bring a little touch of glamour and sophistication that will beautifully dress up your fireplace.

Materials also offer many possibilities. Felt is the go-to material, but Christmas stockings can also be made from wool or all kinds of fabrics. Once finished, you can decorate them to everyone’s taste with, for example, ribbons, bows, glitter, rhinestones and even small bells.

To start shaping your stocking, you first need to create a pattern to serve as a template so that all your stockings are identical. Patterns are easily found online and can be easily reproduced by hand. The rest is simple: place your pattern on the felt, trace the outline, cut out two identical pieces, and sew them together with matching thread. That’s it! All that’s left is to decorate them as you wish!

What to put in a Christmas stocking?

You’re probably wondering what to put in your Christmas stockings and don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, Amikado explains how. Christmas stockings are, of course, decorative items. They bring a touch of history and tradition that lives on during the wonderful festive season while still being very practical today!

Christmas stockings are also an opportunity for a double surprise on 25 December. Yes! In addition to the gifts under the tree, personalised Christmas stockings will also hide lots of small surprises for the whole family to discover.

Now that you’ve got the idea, it’s time to get started—but not just anyhow. Every Christmas stocking is unique because every person is unique! You certainly won’t offer the same thing to your husband, your little daughter, or your mother-in-law! Start by identifying each person’s interests to find the best little surprise that will make them smile when they discover it.

Traditionally, Christmas shoes were filled with edible treats, mostly sweets, dried fruits, and all kinds of confectionery. Today, customs have evolved, and stockings are personalised more and more depending on the person they’re intended for. The key is to choose useful gifts suited to each recipient. This year, surprise your loved ones with personalised gifts just for them—unique items they’ll be the only ones to own. Amikado has put together a special selection to fit into your Christmas stockings, with something useful for every family member.