Thank You!

We are incredibly thankful to the many, many individuals and churches that generously provided gifts for the children, teens, and adults of the San Carlos Apache Nation. Each small gift was a reminder that they are loved. Over 400 Christmas Stockings were stuffed and distributed through Arizona Reservation Ministries! People from across the United States lovingly stitched large stockings. Others provided requested items from our wish lists or sent gift cards so that ARM staff could purchase items to make sure everyone received an equitable and usable gift.

We are blessed to have on hand many extra Christmas Stockings for stuffing in 2007! However, we still need seamstresses—now more than ever! Women from Chandler Christian Church, in Arizona, added small blankets to their stocking donations. Several children received these blankets along with their stockings—they were a huge “hit!” In Native culture, blankets are given, and received, as a standard gift at birthdays, retirements, etc. We will need many, many creative donors to provide over 400 blankets by Christmas of 2007!

So that all are similar, we ask that each blanket measure 45" x 60" and be made of fleece. How you choose to create that blanket is entirely up to you! The volleyball team from Morristown High School, in Indiana, created fun fleece blankets, that were much-appreciated, simply by "tying" the fringe cut along the edges. We hope that many groups will have fun with this project, and that each and every child, teen, and adult that is in need will receive one in 2007.

(Click on any picture to see a larger version.)

Calling all seamstresses!

Although we have the majority of stockings needed for 2007, we will need well over 400 fleece blankets! The dimensions need to measure 45" x 60", the fabric needs to be fleece. From there, let your creativity by your guide! All we ask is that the fabrics be teen- or child-friendly!

Arizona Reservation Ministries Christmas Stockings Instructions

Would you like to help us by making Christmas Stockings? Below are the instruction and patterns you'll need. Feel free to download the pattern for our Christmas stockings! They are typically constructed of a cotton/poly blend of Christmas fabric. Others have arrived made from corduroy, velveteen, etc. We’ll need nearly 750 stockings in 2006…YOUR help would be appreciated! If you'd like, you can download a set of the instructions and patterns for the stockings. (Adobe PDF file).

All seams are ½ inch. Press fabrics as you go. There will be a cord run through the casing at the top of the cuff to tie the stocking into a bag.

Each stocking will consist of the following fabric pieces:

• 2 stocking pieces

• 1 contrasting cuff piece

• 1 cord, 1 yard long

Please refer to the pattern below for cutting the pieces.

1. Stitch the stocking pieces right sides together, leaving the top open. Clip if necessary and turn.

2. With right sides together, stitch cuff into a tube, leaving opening as marked. Top stitch seams flat.

3. Turn hem twice, ¼ inch each time, and top stitch. If you have a serger, serge hem, then turn once, ½ inch, and top stitch.

4. Stitch cuff onto stocking, right side of cuff to inside of stocking, seam of cuff to the back seam of the stocking. Turn cuff out and over right side of stocking (it should be right side out now, and the seam should be hidden inside the casing). Top stitch the cuff down to the stocking, just below the opening, so it makes a casing to run a cord through.

5. Tie the cord to a large safety pin and feed it through the casing and back out the opening. Tie knots in each end of the cord so it will not unravel, but DO NOT tie the two ends of the cord together. They will be tied together when the stocking is filled.

6. Pick up the next stocking and repeat!

A couple of tricks I found in my 2 years directing this project for my church:

• A work party to cut out the stockings is a lot of fun, and it is easier to do the cutting assembly-line style, and have a lot of people helping. Even some of the men might get involved—ours did!

• Cutting the cuff fabric in long strips, sewing it together, then cutting the right length for cuffs works well and saves fabric. Just lay out the fabrics and use a rotary cutter, cutting across the width of the fabrics. You can do several layers at a time, and have someone on a sewing machine or serger putting them together right there.

• Bundle the stockings by 10’s or 20’s to be sewn by people at home, and hand them out in bags. Keep a record of who you gave them to, and when. And note when they return them, and how many they returned, if not all at once. This method worked best for us, but some groups have had success with big work parties, so do what works for you.

Thank you for helping with this project. Have fun, and may you be richly blessed by our Lord.