Buying guide for Best Christmas stockings
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Christmas morning is a special time, and the festivities usually all start with the Christmas stockings. These decorative elements are a holiday staple with their festive colors and images of Santa, trimmed trees, snowflakes, and other holiday favorites. On top of all that, they’re filled with toys, sweets, and small gifts, making them a treasure-filled delight for children and adults alike.
The choice of a stocking is often an aesthetic one, designed to appeal to personal whimsy or fit in with a decorating theme. As you shop, you’ll want to consider these and other factors, such as the material it’s made of, size, price, and even features like personalization or LED lights.
How to buy the best Christmas stockings
Size
It’s pretty simple: the larger the stocking, the more toys and other goodies you can fit into it. If stockings are the primary way your family members exchange gifts, consider choosing a larger size. While these stockings average around 18 to 20 inches long, they typically start at around 15 inches and can reach up to 28 inches or more.
Quantity
If you’re choosing Christmas stockings for a large family or a group, the cost can quickly add up. This is particularly true if you’re getting them individually. Fortunately, many of these stockings come as a set, allowing you to easily select two, four, or a dozen at a time. While two to four per set is fairly common, you should always double-check that you’ll be receiving the number of stockings you need before completing your purchase.
Design
While Christmas stockings are functional, a large part of their appeal is decorative. You can find them in a wide range of colors and decorated with familiar holiday designs such as reindeer, Santa, or snowflakes. If you’re trying to match your home’s seasonal décor with the right colors or designs, you’ll have any number of options available to you, often from the same retailer!
In addition to traditional design elements such as snowflakes, some manufacturers sell stockings with designs geared toward your four-legged “kids,” such as paws or bones. Some stockings also bear the likeness of characters, such as the Grinch, figures from popular movie franchises like Star Wars, and the logos of favorite sports teams.
Note that if you purchase a set of stockings featuring a variety of different designs, it’s important to check that you’ll receive all the designs shown in the product listing. Some sellers consider these sets as collections of random stockings, meaning you might receive a set in which several stockings have the same design.
Knitted Christmas stockings have a vintage feel. They’re also stretchy, so you can fit more presents in them!
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What features should I look for in Christmas stockings?
Fabrics
Christmas stockings are typically made from either natural or synthetic fabrics. Both types of materials can be produced as felt or burlap, knitted, or quilted.
Natural: Cotton, wool, or a blend of the two is often used to create these stockings. The lining might be made of cotton muslin with the outer layer made of soft cotton velvet or felt.
Synthetic: These materials include polyester for the lining and acrylic felt for the outer layer. Faux fur cuffs are often made of acrylic as well.
Loop
Any Christmas stocking you’re considering should have a loop at the top for easy hanging. The loop should be durable and firmly attached, particularly if you plan to fill the stocking with heavy gifts. The loop should also be large enough to fit over whatever hook or doorknob you plan to use.
Personalization
One way to clear up any confusion on Christmas morning is to choose personalized stockings. These have the recipient’s name right on the stocking, so everyone can clearly tell which one belongs to which family member. Some retailers offer the option of personalizing their stockings, sometimes with a choice of fonts. If you decide to take advantage of this, note whether it will add to the overall cost of the stocking and the shipping time.
Lights
Christmas stockings that include LEDs can add to the Christmas cheer. While not standard, stockings with LEDs are becoming more common. These lights are typically powered by a battery pack located inside the stocking. When ordering, note whether the stocking comes with batteries or if you need to supply your own.
DID YOU KNOW?
Christmas stockings date back to the 4th century when legend has it that Bishop (later Saint) Nicholas put gold coins in a stocking hung up to dry because he wanted to help a poor villager.
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How much do Christmas stockings cost?
Inexpensive
Christmas stockings start at around $10 to $20. In this range, you can find stockings with simple designs that are often made of thin felt. Inexpensive synthetics are common here, and these stockings tend to be both smaller (up to 15 inches) and come fewer to a set (up to four).
Mid-range
Christmas stockings in the $20 to $40 range are typically larger, averaging 18 inches long. These stockings usually come four to eight to a set and are often lined. Materials include both synthetic and natural fabrics.
Expensive
High-end stockings in the $40 to $70 range include the largest, 18 to 28 inches or bigger, and the most durable. You’ll typically find more stockings per set here, more elaborate designs, and special embellishments such as quilting. Personalization and LED lights are common at these price points.
Do you have lots of stockings to stuff? One way to save money is to buy small stocking stuffers in bulk.
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Tips
- Display your stockings. A great way to display Christmas stockings is to hang them from a mantel, banister, or other prominent location decorated with Christmas lights, garland, and other holiday décor.
- Forgo the wrapping paper. You can save a bit of money (and a tree) by not wrapping the gifts you put in the stockings.
- Consider using stocking holders. While you can hang your Christmas stockings in many ways, one of the best and easiest is to use decorative stocking holders that are specifically designed for the task.
- Choose unmatched stockings. Don’t feel compelled to get matching Christmas stockings. Some families like to give each person a unique stocking all their own.
- Store the stockings properly. Avoid storing Christmas stockings in plastic because this can trap moisture that can lead to mold or mildew. Your best option is to wrap the stockings in acid-free tissue paper and keep them in a clean, dry location.
FAQ
Q. What do I put in Christmas stockings?
A. While some families use these stockings as the primary way to exchange gifts during the holidays, most use them as a simple and decorative way to exchange small gifts. An orange in the toe of the stocking is traditional, with small toys, chocolate coins, unshelled nuts, candies, and small items like nail polish or winter gloves being common. What goes in a Christmas stocking will largely depend on the recipient.
One guideline you can use when deciding what to put in stockings is the so-called “five gift rule”:
- One item the person wants
- One item the person needs
- One item to wear
- One item to read
- One item to do
Q. Can Christmas stockings be washed in the machine?
A. While some are rugged enough to hold up in the washing machine without falling apart or shrinking, this is pretty rare. Most manufacturers recommend that the stockings be either spot cleaned or dry cleaned as needed. You should always carefully check the care and use information that comes with the stocking before trying to clean it.
Q. Is it better to choose a natural or synthetic stocking?
A. Most Christmas stockings are made of either a natural material like cotton or a synthetic one like polyester. While stockings made of polyester or acrylic can be less expensive, they can also be less durable than a stocking made of wool or cotton. This can be an important consideration for some, but Christmas stockings are usually stored away for most of the year and tend to take little abuse when they’re hung from the mantel. For these items, the overall appearance and size are probably bigger considerations than what they’re made of.
