This week we sent our Dad up into the loft to bring down the Christmas decoration box because we wanted to share something really wonderful with you…

When we were tiny our Mum made each of us a really special Christmas stocking that we’d bring out every year and still cherish to this day.  Lovingly and thoughtfully made from mismatched scraps of velvet, brocade and floral fabric and trimmed with ric-rac and lace, she added patch pockets for tiny gifts and our nicknames in applique. They are the inspiration for the stockings that we design and make  today. We remember, so clearly, the excitement of hanging them at the end of our beds on Christmas Eve, and then joyfully lugging them down the stairs to take turns opening our gifts on Christmas morning. Two things were always to be found at the bottom of our stockings, no matter what, the biggest navel orange you’d ever seen and a net bag of gold foil covered chocolate coins. 

We do wonder if our Mum knew when she made them forty years ago, that we would still love these stockings and the memories they bring back to us. We were reminiscing together last night and laughing about the questionable sewing, but for us, this is just one of the things that makes them so special. To have something created for you with pure love in every stitch is truly a wonderful thing. 

We wanted to share this little story of joy from our childhood, perhaps it brought back a lovely memory for you or maybe inspired you to create your own heirloom stocking for a loved one. Our lovely friend Innes @aboderie has a wonderful free tutorial and pattern that you are welcome to use and we would love for you to share your creation with us on instagram if you found the time. We have some lovely organic cotton velvet and floral prints in our shop, they are perfect for craft projects such as this, you can browse them here.

And if you don’t have time to make your own then then our collection of stockings are made with just as much thought and love, we adore designing them every year and we always hope that they bring years of  joy to the families who choose them. They are crafted out of the last bits of fabric from our collection and designed to be brought out every year and to last a lifetime. All are made with 100% cotton, including the wadding inside and we love adding little sweet details like frills and pockets. Discover our stockings here, or by clicking on the images below.

We just love this special festive season here at Little Cotton Clothes. For us it is all about family and little traditions and we wish you all a special time with your families too.

With Love, 

Imogen and Leonie

xxx