Last weekend, while chatting with the sales woman at the Viking machine area at my local JoAnns, a woman stopped to ask a question. She was looking for someone who could make a Christmas stocking for her. The last gift you'd received from her mother was a pair of country style, crazy patch Christmas stockings. Her mother passed away sometime after the holidays so they were a treasured keepsake. While decorating the house this year, she was able to find only one of the stockings. Both she and her husband frantically searched without luck. Her husband suggested that she find someone who'd be willing to make a substitute in a similar style.
By the time this young, partially deaf woman related the story the story to us, she was fighting back tears.
Neither the sales woman or I sewed for anything but our own pleasure, family, friends or charity and only had suggestions on where else she might go to ask.
When she showed us the stocking of raggedy edged plaids, I told her, that if she was willing to trust me with the remaining stocking, that I would see what I could do for her, and she agreed. I'm currently working, in bits and pieces, on a plaid rag quilt for Project Linus, so have the plaids close at hand.
Did a tracing of the general outline, scanned the pieced front inorder to get the correct angles, examined it closely to seen how it'd be constructed and sorted through my fabrics.
The stocking was fully lined with a thin spong batting layer, no exposed seams except for the rag edge crazy patch and a fold down cuff. I had to substitute felt for the batting layer and used unbleached musling for the lining in place of the thinner, cream colored fabric in the original.
Tuesday, I called and left a message on her answering machine to let her know I'd made the stocking (actually made 2 slightly different fabrics for her to choose between). Called me back when she got home from work and couldn't wait to see it. Got directions to her house a couple of miles away and was there within a few minutes.
The expression and tears on both her and her husbands faces when they saw the stockings, made me especially proud. They hugged me so tight that I thought I'd have bruises. Hadn't put a price on the stockings and left it up to them. I'd made them something they thought priceless as a substitute for one that was treasured but missing. That in itself was justification for my time and materials and their payment I thought generous.

Will upload a picture of all three once the grandkids school Christmas pagents are over. From tomorrow through the day school lets out for the holidays, I'll be driving out of town and in several different directions to attend them.

Sorry, I have a tendency to be a bit long winded.

Would love to hear stories from others about items you've made as gifts, donations or sold, that, for some reason, made them especially proud.

Awwwww ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))) You are soooo awesome!!!!
What you did goes beyond words...... you are such a wonderful and special person!!! That is one of the grandest gestures that I have heard in a loooong time....to go to these lengths for a stranger!!! You are going to be blessed 10 fold for giving these two people such joy!!! ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

What a precious gift you made for them!!! That was so giving of you!!! You are an awesome person! Doing this for a complete stranger!!!

What a wonderful thing for you to do. Thanks for sharing this touching story. :-)

That is a true Christmas story. Thank you.

What a blessing you are to those people!! That was so good of you to make the stockings for them. Well done!!

Wonderful act of kindness you showed. That is the true meaning of Christmas! Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures when you can post them! :thumbup:

So touching, it always feels sooo wonderful to do something nice for someone who truely appreciates it, good for you!!

Well I certainly can't say it any better than Amma did. You are amazing and that story brought tears to my eyes. God bless you!!!

That was a touching thing to do! Proud of ya!

I'm sitting here with a huge smile on my face and a warm fuzzy feeling. Girl, you not only made the couple happy, you have given everyone who reads your story and everyone you tell it to the same happiness. Its the gift of your unselfishness in your time, labor and supplies for strangers... :-D As they say, the gift that keeps on giving.....kudos to you!

What a lovely gesture. Sounds like you truly made their day!

You are special! That story did make me shed a tear/

A beautiful story. What a generous spirit you have!

I was asked in November of 2007 by a member of our church if I could knit a Christmas stocking for a new member of her family. The elderly aunt who had knit all the other stockings had died and noone was available to take over. It ws a challenge (she supplied the pattern), as I had never done that style of knitting, but it worked out well. I had no idea what to "charge" so I asked them to make a charitable donation in an amoung they felt reasonable to a charity of their choice. They were tickled.

What an amazing gesture of kindness, generosity and love that was. Those people will remember you in their prayers forever for the happiness you brought to them. That's the true meaning of Christmas. May you be blessed always for this .

:thumbup: Tears are being swept away...
Yes Virginia their is a Santa.....
God Bless you, the true meaning of Christmas shines on.!

Oh, my! That bought tears to my eyes too! My favorite Christmas story is O'Henry's "Gift of the Magi" which embodies the spirit of selfless giving that is Christmas. Your story is just that...I think that is now a new favorite, right up there with O'Henrys.
God Bless your kind heart!

I'm excited to see the pictures!

What an awesome story. Those are the things that keep my faith in humanity going...random acts of kindness. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

I think sandpat spoke my sentiments- what a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it. Again proves what generous, thoughtful people quilters are!

Your kind and loving act for a relative stranger will come back to you ten fold. You have embodied the true spirit of christmas. You should be proud of yourself, we all are.

That is wonderful. You made their Christmas complete. As my mom always said, you got roses on your soul. What a great gift to two strangers.

That is a beautiful story....I always find myself thinking that it touches me more than it touches someone else to do those acts of kindness..and that was totally RAndom...well it appeared to be anyway...I don't believe in random.

Glad to hear someone else had a similar experience. Thank you for sharing your story and the true meaning of Christmas.

Here is a picture of the stockings. The one in the center is the original I used to make the substitute replacement. The woman had indicated that the missing stocking had star appliques on the cuff so the two on either side are the ones I made.

WOW!!! You did an amazing job of replicating their missing stocking!!! You are awesome :D:D:D

What a great story! Thanks for sharing!

Oh--I just saw the stockings--that is one amazing job!! WOW!! No wonder you're so pleased!! :-D :-D :-D

That was a great story. And you are so wonderful to help them out. The stockings are Beautiful.

How wonderful of you.

What a great story!
It's wonderful when strangers just step in to help.

Yesterday I was a a discount store. This woman is standing in front of me at the register with some Christmas cards for her grandbabies. She was frantic because she was explaining how she couldn't believe how late she was in sending them out. The cashier rang her up and as the lady went into her wallet, she was horrified to find she only had a couple dollars. She asked the cashier if she would hold the cards until she ran home to get the money needed. I couldn't see this woman running home and then back for something that was just $7. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the extra money needed to pay for her card. I thought the cashier was going to bust into tears. I told the lady that I would pay for her purchase and she can just "pay it forward" later. By the time the lady left the store, 3 of us were in tears. Made my heart feel good. The cashier says....you don't see people doing that anymore. I agreed, you don't. The woman buying the cards had to be in her 80s and I just couldn't let her go and come back.

Ok after reading both stpries I am TEARING up!! I miss my grandma!!!!! you guys are so great for doing these small things that mean so much to someone else!!

how cool is that :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

The funny thing was....the lady reminded me so much of my mom. Maybe that is why I did it.

What a thoughtful thing you did for that couple.

Oh gosh...the stockings are really pretty and you did an awesome job with the replacement!

Terri...you big ole softie....good for you and the nice lady! :D

Ellie,

This is a wonderful gift you have received for your kindness. Beats any other gift. Thanks for sharing.

Merry Christmas All.

That family now has two wonderful memories to relive.
Thank you for the warm fuzzy feelings. You too Terri.

The stockings are beautiful, what a great thing you did!!!

Tlmhi, that was very nice of you too, I would have done the same thing, Quilter's are the best to giving. Merry Christmas everyone.

Wow such a wonderful thing to do and such beautiful stockings. They will now have two stockings to treasure for always!
Terri such a nice and warm thing to do!
Hugs
April