Quick and Easy DIY Faux Wooden Stocking Hack Tutorial

DIY Faux Wooden Stocking Hack Tutorial

I am a consummate DIY re-creator…if I see something I want, but cannot afford or find, I set about making my own version. When I first saw this image of antique wooden sock forms used as a stand in for stockings in Country Living Magazine in 2011, I knew that I would be re-creating some DIY Faux Wooden Stockings for my mantle. I have been using them for six years now and I still love them.

I started my research by Googling wooden stockings and quickly found out they are called stocking stretchers. I printed a few images to use as a guide for drawing the shapes and I was off to gather my supplies. I think my Wooden Stockings re-creation is fab…and so very affordable…see what I did below.

Wooden Stocking Knock Off Project Tutorial

This project will be created with foam core board because it cuts like butter with a sharp craft knife. I thought this thin 1/4″ foam core material would make a very convincing replica of the wooden sock forms used in the Country Living photograph. It would be light weight plus sturdy and rigid enough to look like the real thing.

I am going to make my stockings match my blue and silver decor by doing a simple pickling and whitewashed finish on them. Pickling or whitewashing techniques simply serve to lighten the color of the wood. Both allow you to brighten wood without hiding the grain pattern. I will be re-creating a grain pattern on the foam with paint pens and some blue and white acrylic paint.

DIY Faux Wooden Stocking Tutorial

Materials

Foam Core Board
Craft Knife
Round Cutting Template or small plate
Pencil
Woodgrin rocker
Acrylic Paint – blue, white
Blue Paint Pen
3″ Chip Brush (inexpensive natural bristle)
Artist Brush

Directions

1. First, I sketched the stocking shapes on the foam core board. I did not obsess about being perfect here…I just looked at the picture above and went for it. If you are a perfectionist, use some of your socks or panty hose as a pattern and trace!
2. I cut them out with a craft knife. I followed a circle cutting template for the curves. (see below) You could also use a cup or plate. It made it really easy to get clean lines.
3. I established some grain lines with a a woodgraining rocker and light blue acrylic. I went over some grain lines with a paint pen to make them darker. I did not obsess about the grain either, as nature is not perfect. So I just drew what I thought looked like grain. I even put a few knots in for good measure. Let dry.
4. I brushed some watery blue acrylic paint along the established grain lines to mimic the grain of the wood. I allowed this to dry a few minutes.
5. I dry brushed some white acrylic paint randomly over the surface to dull the blue back and give it a pickled appearance. And wiped it back with a soft rag.
6. I threaded a needle with strong clear jewelry thread. You could use fishing line also. I ran it in and out of the top of the stocking and tied it off to create the hanger. I placed a dot of glue on the back to secure the thread to the back of the stocking. I also wanted to keep it in place so it didn’t tear the foam board.
7. I mounted them under my mantle.

Here is the result in the morning sun.