FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DID LILY N' STITCH START?
Lily N' Stitch Knits was established 6 years ago. I (Sam) was the only kid in my family who had a hand-knit stocking growing up (a point of contention... sorry M and A!), and I was desperate for my kids to be able to have something special to hang at Christmas as well. I begged my extremely talented mother (Mama Lily) to knit my first-born an incredible Harry Potter themed stocking. This has since been replaced because, let's be honest, newborns don't actually like Harry Potter, but alas, I digress...
That first stocking turned out so beautifully, we thought maybe we could branch out and actually start selling them to the public. We had a few local takers who wanted Pokemon-inspired stockings, and we discovered we were able to adjust our patterns to accommodate some different special requests.
It was tough keeping busy those first few years (thank you to those amazing followers who trusted us back then and have been with us from the start!) We spent hours trying to build a name for ourselves; find customers, be a "jack of all trades", learning to crochet, making nipple sweaters, begging local influencers to support us. It took three years - we made ornaments, garlands, sweaters, hats, scarves, amigurumi, tooth fairy pillows. But we found our niche in these beautiful custom stockings, and we are so damn proud.
HOW DOES THE ORDER PROCESS WORK?
Please leave your email on the "Order" form to join our waitlist. Orders will be fulfilled on a first come, first served basis. You will receive an email when it's your turn! A deposit of $25 per stocking will be required within 48 hours to confirm your spot. We will send you a form for invoicing details. The remaining balance of your order can be paid upon completion, or be split in equal payments over 3, 6 or 9 months (depending on timing available until Christmas).
Using our website/instagram for inspiration, you send us screenshots, words, pictures, whatever descriptors you'd like to explain to us what you'd like on your stockings. Look for inspiration for designs, themes, colours. And don't forget to tell us what name you want on each! Please be advised that you are not tied to the designs/themes we have done before. It's okay to branch out. There are only a few themes we haven't been able to accomplish in the past.
Sam drafts up your designs, she works with you, messaging back and forth and making alterations until the designs are perfect. Then Mama Lily starts knitting! Stockings are shipped when payments are complete.
Please note, failure to reply to our email within 48 hours will result in removal from the waitlist.
HOW DO EXTENDED PAYMENTS WORK?
Listen, times are hard. Life is expensive. But we also have to charge our worth. And these are worth it... trust us.
To alleviate financial pressure, we offer extended payments. After the $25 deposit per stocking, the remaining balance of your order can be paid over three, six or nine months. Final balance is due by November 1st.
HOW MANY STOCKINGS CAN MAMA LILY KNIT IN A YEAR?
Mama Lily brings over 40 years of knitting experience to our business. And I swear she's probably one of the top 20 fastest knitters in North America (I'm going to try to time her against the record-holder when she comes home for Christmas to find out for sure).
In 2023, Mama Lily hand knit 263 stockings.
CAN I ORDER IF I LIVE OUTSIDE OF CANADA?
Yes! We have had the opportunity to ship our stockings to countries all over the world including Australia, Peru. Switzerland, Slovenia, South Korea, and the USA.
Payments for international orders must be paid by credit card and may not be eligible for extended payments. Additional shipping will apply.
WHY IS THERE A RANGE FOR STOCKING PRICES?
These stockings take a lot of work. Mama Lily may be an EXCEPTIONALLY fast knitter, but she was still working for pennies per hour. Add in the yarn, experience, dedication, quality and care that goes into each and every one, and you really get what you're paying for. There are VERY few people who can do what we do, with the level of detail and customization.
That said, while prior to 2023 we charged a flat rate for all stockings, we realized it wasn't quite fair for people who ordered themed/Disney stockings that take hours to design and way longer to knit, compared to some of the "more simple" fair isle/nordic/vintage holiday designs.
As such, the price per stocking will vary based on the level of customization. Themed stockings (including Disney-inspired) will be $155 each. More basic stockings like Vintage Holiday and Nordic Fair Isles will start at $135. Final price of stockings will be determined after patterns are complete.
HOW BIG ARE THE STOCKINGS? DO THEY STRETCH?
The last time I measured, stockings were approximately 22" tall by 8" wide (cables will be narrower than this with just as much stretch).
Stockings are unlined, making them suuuuper stretchy. I was able to fit my 13lb newborn in one without the slightest problem. We've also successfully fit 12 cans of beer, and a bootlegged bottle of Slovenian grappa.
Note, stockings with foldover tops like fair isles and cables are not quite as stretchy as the regular style.
Full disclosure, we often get comments about how much bigger the stockings are than expected. These things are big. Please don't come after us if it costs you a fortune to fill them. You've been warned...