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- Getting Crafty for the Holidays — Out with the Old, in With the New
Getting Crafty for the Holidays — Out with the Old, in With the New
Goodwill Author Position
by Felicia Czochanski Bisaro
As the end of the year approaches and the hustle and bustle of the holidays kicks into full gear, don’t forget to take a moment to reflect on all the wonderful milestones and moments that occurred in the past twelve months. No year is totally perfect or completed without mishaps along the way, but it’s important to learn from those moments and do what you can to leave them in the past. Instead, focus on what made you smile, made you proud and made you a better person this year. Out with the old and in with the new isn’t just a good tagline; it’s a phrase to live by as a new year brings a chance for a new beginning.
For so many of us, it’s easy to get sucked into our screens and scrolling on our phones, which is why taking the time to disconnect and focus on a craft can be the perfect experience to help close out the year in a more thoughtful and fruitful way.
This year, I decided to try my hand at making some DIY stockings out of clothing that I used this year. The upcycling process is not only fun but also challenging — getting me out of my beginner sewer comfort zone. It’s an added bonus that the end results also allow me to hold on to the memories associated with the clothes that were transformed into stockings, which, for me, is usually one of the biggest barriers to cleaning out my closet, since I attach special moments to what I was wearing at the time.
In this case, I took this pretty teal sweater that I’d thrifted at Goodwill earlier in the year to be part of my mermaid costume for Halloween — iridescent rainbow sequins included, of course! I decided to try my hand at giving it life in a new way. It’s amazing how what you find secondhand can provide for you throughout the year. Plus, shopping secondhand at Goodwill makes it not only a win for you when you find wonderful items to take home, but it’s also a boost to the local community as all purchases provide resources and job training to those in need.
Think about some of your significant moments this year wearing a top thrifted by Goodwill that you may not see yourself wearing again. This might be your sign to upcycle it into something new, like a Christmas stocking. Can’t part with any of your beloved clothes just yet? Goodwill stores are full of racks filled with great options to choose from and rehome.
If you are interested in DIY-ing a stocking, check out some quick steps below to get you started before you make it your own.
Use scrap paper or a paper bag to stencil out the stocking shape you want. Cut out the shape in the bag that you will use as your template.
Use a marker to draw an outline on your shirt or sweater around the paper template you cut out. If you’re making a stocking, using a shirt or sweater could be beneficial since you’ll have two sides once you’re done cutting. Using sharp scissors, cut around the drawn template — make sure you’re cutting through both sides of the shirt at once. Then, using a needle and thread, sew around the stocking to bring the sides of the material back together. Leave the top of the stocking open.
Then comes the fun part — decorate to your heart’s content! I tried my hand with loved ones’ initials here, but this is the opportunity to get creative. As you’re walking the aisles of Goodwill, keep this in mind too; you might find some cool patches or patterns you just can’t pass up.
Happy Holidays!
