Royal curtains recycled into Christmas stockings

Sewing bee member Andrea Middlemiss said it had been an "honour" to work on the fabric from the Royal Family's private home at Sandringham

Curtains that once graced the windows of a royal retreat have been turned into Christmas stockings to be auctioned for charity.

Drapes from Sandringham House in Norfolk have been recycled into 25 stockings by a sewing bee group.

Its members meet at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, where charity The King's Foundation is based, which will get the money raised.

Sarah McClymont, 31, lead tutor with the bee, said: "Being given the opportunity to work with such historically significant fabric was a real honour for them and they are so proud of how the stockings turned out."

Each stocking has taken six hours to craft

One stocking will be given to King Charles III as a Christmas present, while the other 24 will be auctioned for the charity.

The King's Foundation provides opportunities for people to learn practical heritage skills and focuses on sustainability.

Ms McClymont said the bee's latest project "demonstrates The King's Foundation's commitment to craftsmanship, responsible design, and sustainable fashion and textiles".

"We hope that whoever is lucky enough to win one of the stockings at auction will pass it down as a family heirloom to be treasured for decades to come," she added.

Andrea Middlemiss and Christine Wilson said they did not know how to sew before joining the group

Members of the group spent six hours crafting each stocking, using hand embroidery, piping and seam-matching skills.

Christine Wilson, 72, and Andrea Middlemiss, 63, from the nearby town of Cumnock, had never sewn before joining the group.

Retired finance officer Ms Wilson joined when the bee was first set up, and cafe worker Ms Middlemiss signed up six months later.

"Over the years we've done a lot of different ideas, and we've learned so much from the tutors," said Ms Wilson.

"They've been excellent. It's a great community-based organisation."

Her friend, Ms Middlemiss, said she now knows how to make dresses and jackets, and described the latest commission as an "honour".

The charity auction is open until 17:00 GMT on Friday 12 December.