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Watch the video: Bucilla Felt Stocking Kit Overview and Tips by Plaid
Holiday magic, one stitch at a time. If a Bucilla felt stocking is on your crafting list, this video walkthrough removes the guesswork—what’s inside, when to cut, which needle to use, and why sequins must be cup-up. Consider this your friendly companion from unboxing to personalization.
What you’ll learn
- How to inventory a Bucilla felt stocking kit and use the full-color reference, color key, and stitch key
- Smart prep: sorting floss, cutting felt pieces only as needed, and separating strands
- Which needle to use for appliqué vs. beading, how to place felt, and when to stuff
- The essential “cup up” sequin tip and a smoother path to personalization
- Practical checks to avoid overstuffing and misaligned layers
Unboxing Your Bucilla Felt Stocking Kit: What's Inside? Bucilla has been crafting holiday keepsakes for over 150 years, and it shows in the thoughtful kit components. You’ll find a full-color reference of your project—keep it nearby while you work to see the big picture as pieces come together.
Essential Kit Components Start by spreading everything out on your table: needles (an appliqué needle and a beading needle), colorful floss, pre-sorted sequins and beads, and pre-stamped felt pieces with part numbers. The pre-sorted embellishments save time, and the numbered felt reduces guesses during assembly.
Understanding Your Reference Guides Flip over the full-color reference to the color key. This guide lists stitch symbols, floss colors, yardage, and how many strands you’ll need for various steps. Keep it alongside the stitch key—clear diagrams show the types of stitches you’ll use so you don’t have to memorize them.
The stitch key is your visual translator. When a symbol appears on the design chart, the stitch key helps you match it to the correct technique. If you’re newer to embroidery, take a moment to trace a few practice stitches on scrap felt before jumping in.
You may also find chipboard in your kit—hold onto it. The host notes it can be handy in some projects, whether for stabilizing or as a temporary work surface for small parts.
Additional Supplies You’ll Need You will need a few extras not included in the kit: a sharp pair of pointed scissors for precise cuts, polyester fiberfill for dimension, paper plates to corral your sequins and beads, plus a ruler and straight pins. Paper plates act like shallow trays so tiny pieces don’t roll off mid-stitch.
Pre-stamped, numbered felt sheets are a standout feature—no tracing required. Each shape is clearly outlined and labeled, which helps with both cutting and placement later.
Pro tip - A sharp, pointed pair of scissors is worth it for clean edges on curves and corners.
Quick check - Polyester fiberfill adds that charming “puff” to character elements, but a light touch is key—more on that in Stuffing.
Getting Started: Floss & Felt Preparation Sorting Your Colorful Floss Your floss arrives as a bundled rainbow. Untangle and sort by color, then refer to the color key for how many yards are called for in your specific design. A little organization here saves a lot of time later.
Watch out
- Mixing similar hues is easy. Keep each color in its own small dish or bag and label with the color key number.
Smart Cutting of Felt Shapes Resist the urge to cut everything at once. The host emphasizes cutting pieces only as they’re called for in the step-by-step instructions. This preserves the part numbers, keeps your workspace tidy, and prevents confusing lookalike shapes.
From the comments
- Some crafters asked about seam allowance. The video doesn’t specify a seam allowance around pieces; one viewer reported their instructions say to cut just within the marked outline. If your kit’s instruction sheet differs, follow its guidance.
Separating Floss Strands for Stitching Each floss length contains six strands. Separate only what you need, when you need it, guided by the color key and step-by-step instructions. Separating everything at once can lead to tangles and mismatched strand counts.
Sidebar thought
- If you also do machine embroidery, you may already have tools like a magnetic embroidery hoop. While this hand-stitched stocking doesn’t require machine tools, your organization habits from machine work can be a big help here.
Mastering Stitching & Embellishments Using the Right Needle for the Job The kit includes two needles with distinct roles. The appliqué needle is for stitching felt pieces together and for many embroidery stitches. The beading needle is finer—use it to attach beads and sequins. When in doubt, the beading needle should slide easily through beads; if beads catch, you’re likely using the appliqué needle.
Quick check
- Appliqué needle: stitching felt pieces and many embroidery stitches.
- Beading needle: attaching sequins and beads.
Perfecting Felt Placement and Stuffing Position cut felt pieces according to the design chart. That chart shows you exactly where each numbered piece lands on the stocking, so take your time with alignment before stitching. Straight pins can help keep small parts from shifting.
When stuffing, less is more. Use polyester fiberfill sparingly to create dimension without distorting shapes. Overstuffing can misalign edges and make it difficult for layers to meet cleanly.
Appliqué, Embroidery, and Sparkling Sequins For appliqué, stitch the new piece only to the felt layer directly underneath it. Do not stitch through the stuffing or the bottom stocking layer. This keeps the puffy shapes puffy and the stocking flexible.
Embroidery symbols on the design chart will indicate where and what to stitch. Double-check each area so stitch types and placements match the chart. It’s better to confirm than to pick out stitches later.
The sequins-and-beads tip everyone needs: sequins have two sides—“cup up” and “cup down.” Place them cup up so the bead nests securely on top. This orientation holds the bead in place and creates a neat, sparkling finish.
Pro tip
- Use paper plates to separate color families of sequins and beads. This mirrors the kit’s pre-sorting and makes pick-up quick and clean.
Optional note
- If your crafting life also includes machine embroidery, you might be familiar with setup tools like fast frames embroidery or a dime snap hoop. Keep those in the machine studio; for this felt project, your best tools are patience, pins, and the right needle.
Adding a Personal Touch: Monograms & Names Utilizing the Personalization Template At the end of the instruction booklet, you’ll find a cursive alphabet template. Use it to stitch a name or monogram on the cuff. The instructions outline how to transfer and even enlarge the letters if needed to fit your stocking scale.
Tips for a Professional Finish
- Plan placement before stitching: lightly mark the centerline on the cuff to balance the name.
- Check spacing: if you’re enlarging letters, re-check how they sit together to avoid crowding.
- Stitch with the strand count recommended by the color key so lettering looks crisp and consistent.
From the comments
- Some crafters find instructions dense or symbol-heavy. The color key and stitch key are your anchors—keep them in view and mark off steps as you complete them to maintain momentum.
Why Bucilla Kits are a Holiday Tradition A Legacy of Crafting Memories Bucilla has been part of holiday traditions for more than 150 years, helping families create keepsakes they pull out year after year. The pre-stamped felt and pre-sorted embellishments are designed to smooth the journey from kit to mantel.
Support for Your Stitching Journey The host notes a customer service number is printed on the design chart if questions come up while you’re working. If your kit is missing paperwork, a brand representative in the comments shared that replacement instructions are available via their consumer advisory team or the Plaid contact page.
Note on availability and language Some viewers asked where to buy or how to view instructions in Spanish. The video references Plaidonline.com for exploring products. The video does not specify Spanish-language instructions.
Expert Tips for a Seamless Crafting Experience Organization is Key
- Keep the full-color reference, color key, stitch key, and design chart side by side.
- Cut only the pieces you need for the current step to preserve part numbers and avoid mix-ups.
- Separate floss strands on demand and label small dishes for sequins and beads.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
- Overstuffing: Add only enough fiberfill to gently puff shapes; too much can misalign edges.
- Wrong needle: Switch to the beading needle for embellishments—beads should pass smoothly.
- Stitching through too many layers: Attach each new appliqué only to the piece directly beneath it.
- Losing your place: Use the step-by-step checklist option in the instructions so you can stop and restart without confusion.
From the comments: real-world clarifications
- Needle roles: The video clearly separates appliqué and beading needles; if beads snag, swap to the beading needle.
- Cut timing: Multiple viewers wanted confirmation—cut pieces as they’re called for; attach sequins and beads later, after positions are set.
- Seam allowance: Not specified in the video; one commenter’s kit said to cut just within the outline. Follow your kit’s sheet if it provides specific cutting guidance.
- Missing components: The video doesn’t list replacement policies, but it notes the customer service number printed on the design chart for help.
A note for multi-craft makers If you also run machine embroidery sessions, some habits transfer beautifully—like staging threads, labeling trays, and batching similar steps. While this felt kit is entirely hand-stitched, your machine-side discipline still pays off. You might even have accessories like a hoop master station in your studio; channel that same planning here for a calmer, tidier experience.
Watch out
- Sequin orientation matters. Cup down will make beads wobble or sit awkwardly. Double-check “cup up” before setting the bead.
Quick check
- Before closing a seam or finalizing an appliqué, verify that no stitches have gone through the bottom layer. This keeps the stocking flexible and avoids puckers.
Optional crossover gear context Machine embroiderers often compare tools like magnetic embroidery hoops or brands of hardware for different machines (for example, enthusiasts discuss a brother embroidery machine setup). Those tools are unrelated to hand-stitched felt kits, but the shared mindset—good lighting, labeling, and step tracking—translates perfectly.
Final encouragement This project is beginner-friendly but detailed, so give yourself room to learn. Follow the color key and stitch key, cut felt only as needed, place pieces carefully, stuff lightly, and remember “cup up” for sequins. With steady progress, you’ll create a stocking that brings joy every year.
From the comments: community spirit
- Excited first-timers plan to make multiple stockings for family members and appreciated the walk-through.
- Some experienced crafters find the symbol charts small and dense; a magnifier can help. The checklist in the instructions is useful for tracking progress.
Bonus thought for tool-curious crafters If you enjoy exploring broader embroidery tools, you may have come across terms like embroidery machine for beginners or even specialty accessories such as dime snap hoop. They’re not needed here, but an organized workspace and clear checklists—habits common in machine embroidery—are secret weapons for felt kits, too.