DIY advent calendar

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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. 

Machine embroidered numbers on the pockets

I machine embroidered the days on each pocket

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.

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.

Organize them horizontally

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. :)

Added length and width to the solid piece of fabric to sew the pockets on to.

Measure from the bottom row of the pockets to see how much room you want.

Flip pockets wrong side up and stitch along the open edge.

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. ;)

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.

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. 

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.

Make sure the stitching is nice, you will see this line.

Pin to hold the loop together.

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 

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

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