You get felt for the backing of the stocking in the kit. Yes it has to be sewn on the stocking to make it sturdy. Perhaps you have a friend with a sewing machine that can sew it for you. It shouldn't take long . I also put fusible fabric on the back of my stitching especially like a stocking that is going to be used. It protects the stitches on the back. Hope this helps.

Thank you ALL for so much helpful feedback. Cheers!

Yes look in your yellow page for the nearest tailor to do it for you. Good luck.

The instructions that are included make it really simple to assemble yourself. Texas Stitcher is right about the lining. I have made several and always put lining in them besides the fusible fabric to protect the stitches. You could actually sew it by hand if you use small applique stitches. That should be strong enough.

I've made several stockings. Even the ones for my careful elderly parents, who loved them, got a lining of Christmas fabric that was zipped in and could be unzipped for washing the lining. Sticky candy could ruin your hard work. I just figured out a way to add a zipper that went all the way around. It was easy, but took planning and a bit of patience. And always use fusible interfacing.

Nope, zipper went around the other parts, but I left the top just stitched, but stitched the lining separate,then I'd close that with little snaps (you know -- the kind you sew on) or thin strip of velcro. It worked great. I asked my hubby if he wanted a new one,.cross stitched with the fishing Santa and he said no, he likes the one I gave him 40 years ago, with handmade felt appliques and beads sewn on a store-bought stocking. And I realized again, sorting more stuff, that men are sentimental, too. They just have been taught not to show it much.

I certainly agree, the Christmas Stockings should be lined for sure. I never could understand, though, why a person would spend all that time stitching a stocking and then use felt for a backing...so cheap looking. I have found some lovely tapestry fabrics over the years to use for backing. Between the stitched stocking, the thickness of the lining and the tapestry, it is just perfect and they always hang beautifully. I prefer to look for my own patterns for stockings but on the few occasions I have used a kit, I just set aside the felt backing supplied for another use. I only put lightweight things in the stockings (gift cards, lottery tickets, etc) as I don't want them distorted from the weight.

If U were in my state I would have done it for you for a little cost. U still can do it yourself with your own hand.

Oh, Toosh! In my grandma's house, the tree had candles, not lights. They were German, actually Alsatian from Alsace Lorraine on the border of France. My grandpa was Swiss-German. Our stockings, my kids, my grandkids and my greatgrandkids stockings, all handmade, had to have in them: a tangerine in the toe, chocolate "gelt"/money (shaped like coins in gold tinpaper), ribbon candy, homemade divinity candy and a candy cane. No toys. The only weight was the little tangerine and our stockings made by my great grandma were a joy to see, with wool felt figures of dancing elves, a Scotty dog and covered with beads and a few sequins! They were a little less than half the size of stockings that I see now. They were just getting to the end of WWII, so I suspect they made them small because I remember the tangerine alone was always held as a special thing, rare and odd. How times have changed! My kids always treated their much bigger but handmade stockings with great care!

Texas Stitcher, and all,
Oh how great! I remember the chocolate cigarettes too! And I think we got tangerines because (my great grandma called them oranges in German) the oranges wouldn't fit in the stockings and my grandma always corrected her that they were called tangerines. She came to Canada when she was just a girl and they had a big farm in Ontario area. They used to go up there to visit, even when my dad was young, but not any longer.
They made beautiful quilts. She could make lace and embroider and crochet all the time. When she was very old, her crocheted afghans were no longer rectangular, but more like parallelograms. I still have two quilts, a very sweet embroidered block baby quilt and one she made with pieces of my toddler dresses as part of the pattern. She could field strip a gas stove down to its bolts, clean and reassemble it, told marvelous stories, taught both of us to sew very young and cuddled us so good. I still think of her letting us clean a chicken, or scold us so gently for dropping things down bthe laundry shoot. She was so strong physically. My grandma, her daughter, was sick with arthritis and she could lift her to go upstairs. They just don't make them like they did her generation! I have reduced Christmas, too. Gift cards for my brother and wife. Can't afford nieces and nephews and all their kids. I have kind of adopted a young man and his wife and they are excited to have a baby near Cchristmas, so I will do baby things next, I guess.
You have a good 4th too!