This was a 4-day class given at the 1998 ANG Seminar in San Diego by Jean Hilton, who has always been Donna's stitching idol. The first piece she ever stitched beyond following painted canvases was Jean Hilton's Eureka, and she has stitched most of her other designs since then. To be in her class was a dream fulfilled. Donna also wanted to learn the new stitches Jean used, like the Interlocking Jessica Stitch, the Theresica Stitch, and the Humdinger Stitch.

Donna found this stocking great fun to do. She changed the shape of the foot and heel because she wanted more curves. As a result she had to add another area of stitches in the heel and do some compensating in the arch area. Donna says that it was the best class she has ever taken because each student was encouraged to use his/her own creativity in choosing colors and threads and in adding embellishments. Jean would say, "I used a Kreinik #8 round braid. Find something comparable in your stash and try it." Then if the student came up with something really great, she would call everyone over to see. Jean was pleased if the students wanted to do something different on her design. With the freedom she allowed and the guidance she gave, some gorgeous stockings were created that week, and every one was different. 

A classmate remarked "You're going to do a Christmas stocking in red and black? I've never heard of such a thing." But Donna had taken a class on judging and the teacher had stressed that you needed to do something on your piece to get the judges' attention. The color of her stocking accomplished that goal. The class joked that her black and red stocking should be given to a saloon girl. But Donna thinks it looks wonderful in her living room any season of the year.