Hello!
When I asked my Christmas Question a few days ago several of you requested an Advent Calendar How-To. I opted for a pocket advent this year as I like the way they take over an entire wall with something Christmassy. This will go well in the dining room while the Stocking Advent I made a couple of years ago can sit nicely on the mantle. This is an easy project but one that may take a few evenings so I wanted to get it up early to make sure you’ll have enough time to finish it if you decide to take the plunge and make it.
To make the white felt backing
I used 2 pieces of white felt sewn together to give it a nice thick background from which to hang.
- Cut out 2 pieces of felt, measuring 102 cm by 67 cm.
- Pin & then sew these two pieces together, sew 1 cm from the edge of the fabric, don’t forget to leave a gap so it can be turned the right way out.
- Once sewn, cut triangles from the corners and then turn it the right way out.
- Hand sew the open gap closed. I also ironed it flat to give it a neater finish.
For the 24 advent pouches
I decided to have 23 smaller pouches and then 1 larger pouch for number 24.
- Starting with the smaller pieces of felt – Cut 23 felt rectangles, at 9 cm by 6 cm. These will be the front rectangles and they will have the numbers sewn on to them. I chose to have my rectangles in a bright blue colour.
- Also cut one larger piece at 23 cm by 15 cm, this will be the front of your large pocket and have the number ’24′ on the front of it.
- Sew the numbers on to these felt rectangles. I decided to use sequins & beads for my numbers for numbers 1 to 23.
- To sew the sequin and beads for the smaller pouches, thread the sequin followed by a bead and then go back through the sequin so the bead is looped on to the thread. The bead will hold the sequin in place. There is no need to tie a knot after each sequin – just move on to the next one and tie the knot at the end of each number. If you are unsure of sewing freeh-hand then draw the numbers on to the front of the pockets first and sew on to the shape of the number.
- For the large number 24 I used thick wool to mark out the numbers and then on the wool I sewed larger beads & sequins.
- For the red pouch backs, cut out 23 rectangles at 10 cm by 9 cm and 1 larger one at 25 cm by 19 cm.
- Position the red felt rectangles where you want them on your white felt base. Pin these in to place and then sew.
- I decided to use the sewing machine to secure them into place as it gives a nice padded effect to the calender but you can sew on by hand.
- Once the red rectangles are all sewn on, you can position all your rectangles with the numbers sewn on to them on the advent.
- Once positioned where you would like them – pin into place.
- To sew the pocket fronts on to the calender I used a simple running stitch using white embroidery thread. I made the stitches quite small & tight on the 23 smaller pouches but used bigger stitches for the large pouch.
Once all of the pouches are sewn on you then need to add tabs to the top of the advent calender so you can hang it on the wall. I decided to hang my advent on a wooden broom handle as this will help keep the shape of the advent and it won’t buckle when loaded with presents! I decided to paint my wooden pole in bright blue to match the colour of my advent calender. If you do choose to paint your pole, make sure it is thoroughly dry – you don’t want to get paint on your advent!
To make the ribbon tabs
- Cut 4 tabs from your choice of ribbon each measuring 17 cm.
- To secure the ribbon tab to the advent, fold the ribbon in half & place the ends 1.5 cm over the top side of the advent. Pin into place.
- Position all 4 ribbon tabs where you would like them to be, mine were placed 10 cm from each corner and above the edges of the large 24 pouch.
- Using the white embroidery thread, I sewed 4 small stitches on to each ribbon tab to secure it in place.
- When all 4 ribbons are sewn in to place you can then thread the advent on to the pole.
Finish by tying a longer piece of ribbon to the pole so you can hang your advent, mine was approx 70 cm
And then fill it all up. I haven’t decided on what will finally go in to the pockets of my advent but it will be along the lines of chocolate, small toys, decorations for the tree…that sort of thing.
This is a very ‘child-friendly’ advent. My kids loved the bright colours, the soft materials and the bold stitching. They were too young to actually do the sewing, of course, but the project appealed to them and they kept wanting to touch it. Good to know!
Ah, Ian’s back!
Hmmmm, yes, I told you they wanted to keep touching it.
That is Ned’s wee hand. He kept trying to pick off the sequins. Not great as they do take time to sew on.
And there’s Nye. She just went right for it with both hands and grabbed.
There is some danger when crafting with kiddos around as they may well decide that they are perfectly within their rights to get wholly involved. And then of course it’s up to you to tell than that this isn’t actually the case and they may have to wait until they are a little bit older. At which time you immediately become the bad guy……..
….and get the ‘look’.
As you can see I got the ‘look’. I hope to be fully recovered at some point in the near future.
Thank you so much for reading today. I hope you like the project and are looking forward to the rest of my Christmas projects for 2011.
I love you. Have a fantastic day.
Cherry x
************************************************************
Join my Facebook page!
Feel free to add me to your links list. Here it is ! - http://www.cherrymenlove.com/
Facebook – Please feel free to join my page
Twitter – please feel free to follow me
Related posts:
Lovely!
My two girls, 11yrs & 9yrs have asked me to make them one and fill it with lots of chocolate. Thank you for the inspiration.
Good evening, can I ask do you sew the first squares (in your case the red ones) through the double sided white felt? or do you sew them onto just one side i.e. before you sew the white sides together.
Many thanks
This is so pretty. I can’t believe its this time of year and I haven’t done any crafting for Christmas! You have inspired me to get a move on.
Hi Cherry: It’s so beautiful! the color combination is great! But that “look” wins the first place!
My mum made her own calendar, for my son and the toys and candies are so big that they don’t fit in the pockets! Well, he is her only grandson at the moment!
love
Verónica
LOVE this project! I purchased some needed supplies yesterday, but had many on hand already. I cut everything out last night and am ready to start sewing the sequins.
I’ve always wanted an advent calander, and didn’t like the idea of buying those cheap throwaway cardboard ones with the terrible chocolate inside. My boys are at just the right ages to really enjoy it this year too.
Thank you for writing, photographing, making and sharing such a wonderful project. I know the work that goes into it, and it is very much appreciated.
Your children are going to have such a wonderful Christmas this year! They are at that sweet age where everything will be closely examined, especially sparkly, lighted objects.
Enjoy every precious moment, Cherry!
Marilyn (in Dallas)
The look made my giggle! I actually received marks out of 10 from my 11 year old son Oscar the other day. As a teacher I do find it hard at parents evening so he told me to zip it and listen which I duely did. I received 8/10 which I can tell you took some getting over! One Mummy firmly in her place
Don’t forget some recipes too Cherry for those of us who are looking to you for foody ideas. I am having hundreds on Boxing Day and want something ” I have prepared earlier.” Or something quick. Must be tasty and don’t care if it’s hot or cold.
Not a great crafter I have to admit but am awe inspired by how much you do and how beautifully. It will be such a joy for your children growing up in that atmosphere at Christmas times. I want to eat Anais too.
Ian the robin. Perfect. My brother in law calls everything Steve and my friends have a miniature schnauzer called Colin. Brilliant.
Love the calendar Cherry and looking forward to your next Christmassy post already.
Take care,
Bex. x
Oh. OH I love your ideas! So creative and just so warming to the heart
I printed out your gift giving chart and have been using it – so helpful! And, it helps me save money, which is good if you’re like me and tend to spend large quantities without thinking.
I love Anais and want to eat her.
Ah, the “Look” – we call it the “stink eye” around here. My 3 year old granddaughter gives it to one and all when she’s crossed!
Love the advent calendar.
Stink Eye. LOVE that! Cx
Looks lovely! Like your choice of colors!
What might be fun at this stage for the twins is to make the numbers in different tactile things they could touch. This is quite lovely for older children but what fun is getting The Look now? I fear for you when she reaches the pre-teen phase!
Vicki, my mum says I’m reaping what I sowed. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Cx
Oh I love this post. The advent calendar is beautiful, but not sure if I can make it as have made so much stuff and spent so much money in hobbycraft recently I think my husband will have a fit if I spend more money in that shop. Also am loving the ‘look’. I get that from my son too, but it’s usually a proper big frown. Maybe we should all start a wall of ‘The Look’ photos.
Have a nice day xx
Oh that looks great, I would love to make that as a family advent calendar.
‘The Look’ is great, I’m getting lots of them at the moment from my daughter. Especially when I dare to say ‘no’!!
Cherry, I have to say I’m loving the Christmassy posts. Your present lists are already in full use in my house. I can’t wait to see what’s next. Thank you
I will definitely be making this!! Thanks Cherry
Hi Cherry,
This is a lovely calender and not too difficult to make. Can I cheat and glue on the sequins? I know how to attach them with the beads but I just know that I’ll never find time to sew all of those numbers! Also I think I’ll have to find some old scrap materials to make mine out of, that way it will keep the cost down.
Thanks for sharing : )
Oh yes, glue away. No hard and fast rules with this one! Cx
I also made a little stitched note to attach on the back, with a message for my girly and the year I made it.
You can see mine here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8100824@N06/3004958576/in/photostream
On Sunday I got my copy of Making magazine, and had to chuckle as I read your column. I was cooking chicken for lunch and had some cranberry sauce nearby, the smell made me feel so festive, and on the telly I had the Doris Day film ‘on moonlight bay’ on!
really made me smile to read you talking about Doris films as I sat reading your words!
have a glorious day, hope you are recovered from The Look!
x
Looks wonderful! Unfortunately I don’t have the time to complete one this year before Christmas but will definitely keep in mind for the future! I can’t wait to see more of your Christmas projects
This is great! My mum made Oscar an Advent calendar for this year which I must share on the blog sometime, but I will bookmark this for another year
I actually only have 4 craft projects planned for this year as Oscar takes up a lot of my time and I have things I have to make for new arrivals next year too, but again I shall still look forward to seeing your craft projects and bookmarking them for next year!