Sewing to the Moon
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

​Pattern Reviews, Easy Projects, Tips, & Sew-a-longs 

12/1/2019 2 Comments

DIY advent calendar

Sewing an Advent Calendar sewing to the moon blog

Are you itching to do some holiday sewing? This advent calendar is a quick-ish sew if you want to whip up a fun Christmas item now! Get some stash busting done too.
Tools needed:
  • rotary cutter or scissors
  • ruler
  • 1/4 yard of a few different fabrics or scraps
  • 1/2-3/4 yard of sturdy solid fabric for the front and back. (duckcloth, canvas, denim, etc.)
  • Matching thread
  • Iron on numbers, cutting machine with HTV vinyl, or template for sewing them on, if you don't embroider them. 
  • All the sewing notions and a machine
  • A piece of 1/2" wooden dowling and twine for hanging. 
Pockets for a handmade advent calendar
Machine embroidered numbers on the pockets
diy advent calendar christmas stash buster
I machine embroidered the days on each pocket
Make an advent calendar this holiday season. Sewing to the moon blog
I chose Christmas fabrics similar in color, grabbed them and started cutting. I liked the size of my phone, so I used it as a pattern. Find something around the house that is the size you want, and use that as a pattern template.

​My phone measures 6.5" by 3". I added 1 inch to the width and length for seam allowances to make rectangles. Fold them in half RTT (right sides together) and stitch with a 1/2" seam. Sew the sides only. Leave the bottom open, clip corners, turn out, and press flat. 

**If you decide to sew or embroider the numbers on, do this before sewing the pocket together. If you use vinyl or iron-on numbers, you can add the numbers after the pockets are sewn and turned.
Use a phone or other rectangle as a pocket template for the advent calendar
Using my phone for a template
After you have your pockets made, lay them out and switch around until you decide which assortment you love the best or go crazy. I liked the taller version better.
Sew up an advent calendar DIY
Organize them horizontally
DIY advent calendar to use up your fabric stash
Or Vetically
I did this part backward, sorta. After laying the pockets out, I cut my fabric for them to be sewn on to. I measured the size of all the pockets equaled and added 2" on each side. 5" to the top and 2" to the bottom. This allowed for seams and the top to get turned down and stitched to create the large loop for the wooden doweling.
I worked from the bottom up, sewing the bottom row of pockets first. You do what works best for you. :)
Advent calendar how to DIY holiday sewing project
Added length and width to the solid piece of fabric to sew the pockets on to.
Making an Advent Calendar for christmas DIY sewing
Measure from the bottom row of the pockets to see how much room you want.
Sewing a christmas Advent calendar
Flip pockets wrong side up and stitch along the open edge.
Making an Advent Calendar for Christmas DIY sewing project
I sewed the second row 1/2" above from the top of the first row. You decide your own spacing.
I decided to sew the bottoms of all the pockets on first. Then, flipped them up to sew the sides. As you can see, I used pinking shears to keep the edges from raveling. This whole project was on the fly and meant to be fun, without overthinking.
As you can tell. ;)
Picture
Sewing an advent calendar as a fun quick fabric stash buster
I worked from the bottom until there was too much fabric. Then, I switched to the top and worked towards the middle pockets.
Be sure to backstich at the start and end of each pocket side. I also add extra stitching at the top where little hands will reach in and out to discover the treasures inside.
Fun sewing project for the holidays. Make an advent calendar.
Lay the pocket side RTT on top of the backing fabric.
Laying the fabric pieces right sides together, sew a 1/2" seam allowance all around. Leave a 4"-5" gap at the top for turning. 
DIY sewing advent calendar
Leave an opening for turning
Clip the corners and trim thread tails. Turn out and top stitch around the whole calendar. 
Decide how big of a loop you need for your wood doweling to slide through, pin and stitch to create the loop.
DIY sewing project for christmas holiday
Make sure the stitching is nice, you will see this line.
advent calendar sewing project
Pin to hold the loop together.
Sewing to the moon advent calendar
Slide the doweling through. Tie string or twine on each end with a double knot.
You're done! Yay!!! 
What are you going to fill the pockets with? Who is going to use the advent calendar? Little ones or big ones? I've listed some ideas below of what to put inside for all ages. Wrapping each item would make it extra fun and keep wandering eyes from peaking. 
  • chapstick or lipgloss
  • nail polish
  • fruit snacks
  • Small fruits such as cuties oranges 
  • Movie theater ticket
  • Handmade coupons
  • small packs of beef jerky
  • cash
  • $5 giftcards
  • hair elastics or barretts
  • small lego sets
  • toy cars
  • ear buds
  • usb stick
  • crayons
  • packs of nuts
  • hot cocoa packet
  • socks
  • soft gloves 
DIY advent calendar for Christmas. Easy sewing project for the holidays
These are just a few ideas, the sky is the limit on fun little treasures. 
Are you going to make an advent calendar? Or make one as a gift? Let me know in the comments below.

Well, I'm off to go buy some items to fill the calendar with. If you think of other ideas, please share those in the comments below too. The more ideas, the merrier!

Happy Holidays!!
Annette

Follow me on Social media to see what I'm upto. 

Sign up for my monthly newsletter

Subscribe to Newsletter
2 Comments
Maureen
12/5/2020 10:25:05 am

Hopefully I will get some ideas (simple) just like the advent calendar thankyou

Reply
Annette
12/7/2020 08:19:01 pm

Hi Maureen! Yes, let me know if you make one. I'd love to see it. This year I wrapped up a few new things including a tea light candle, false eyelashes, mascara, a small bag of candy, a DIY ceramic ornament paint kit, hand lotion, and a few other items. Everything was from the dollar store. I try to vary items and keep it inexpensive for my 4 kids. Happy sewing and thanks for stopping by! :D

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hi there, I'm Annette and I love eating and sewing. I usually have a cup of coffee or tea with me, but not next to my machine because I'd probably spill it. I am the reason we can't have nice things.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018

    Categories

    All Beginner Sewists Butterick Pattern Fabric Storage Garment Sewing Gertie Patterns Holiday Sewing Machine Cleaning Me Made May Sewing For The Home Sewing Hack Sewing Machine Sewing Organization Sewing Swimwear Sewing Thoughts Simple Sewing Simplicity Patterns Vintage Notions Vintage Patterns Vintage Sewing

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly