Since I've had children, making an advent calendar has been on my to do list.
Four years down the track I've finally done it! Christmas day is over in a flash - an advent calendar gives you the chance to enjoy the anticipation of the big day and this one can be easily filled (and refilled) with special treats and suprises...
Four years down the track I've finally done it! Christmas day is over in a flash - an advent calendar gives you the chance to enjoy the anticipation of the big day and this one can be easily filled (and refilled) with special treats and suprises...
There isn't really whole lot to this project. It's just repetitive - you have to do the same thing 24 times!
You'll need
You'll need
- Five metres of twill tape
- 8.5 - 9 metres of bias tape - I took the simple approach and bought mine
- Red fabric
- Something to make the numbers - I used my Silhouette and white heat transfer vinyl, but you can use whatever takes your fancy!
- Cut a rectangle 12cm x 15cm
- Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and use a plate/cd/cup/whatever is close at hand to round off the bottom corner.
- Voila! Now you need to cut 48 of them out of your fabric
Fold on the line you have drawn and press. After you have done this sew a row of stitching 1cm from the folded edge. Repeat 23 times!
If you want to applique a number onto the front of your pocket - now is the time to do it! We'll now call these pieces the front pocket.
Next, take one front pocket piece and one back pocket piece. Place them wrong sides together. Take your bias tape and pin it to the curved edge of the back of the pocket. Pin through the bias, the back and the front pieces of the pocket.
Next, take one front pocket piece and one back pocket piece. Place them wrong sides together. Take your bias tape and pin it to the curved edge of the back of the pocket. Pin through the bias, the back and the front pieces of the pocket.
This is what the front of the pocket looks like at this stage...
There should be numbers on the front of the pocket at this stage, but I put mine on later!
Sew the bias tape on, using a 1cm seam allowance.
The next thing you need to do is flip the unsewn edge of the bias tape to the front of the pocket and pin carefully.
Sew the bias tape on, using a 1cm seam allowance.
The next thing you need to do is flip the unsewn edge of the bias tape to the front of the pocket and pin carefully.
Sew as close as you can to the inside edge of the bias tape. Repeat 23 times! Phew!
You should have 23 pockets that look like this...
You should have 23 pockets that look like this...
Now you're up to the easy part! Take your twill tape and iron it in half length wise like this -
Sandwich and pin the pockets between the two edges of the twill tape.
Leave about 15cm at the beginning and the end of the tape so yo can hang your bunting. I left a 5cm gap between each pocket - but it's really up to you. Because you need 24 pockets you end up with a super long piece of bunting. I ended up making two 12 pocket pieces of bunting because I think they'll be easier to hang in my house.
Sew along the length of the twill tape close to the edge of the pockets. All of your raw edges should now be enclosed in the twill tape.
There - you're done! Fill your pockets with treats and have a very merry Christmas!
Sew along the length of the twill tape close to the edge of the pockets. All of your raw edges should now be enclosed in the twill tape.
There - you're done! Fill your pockets with treats and have a very merry Christmas!
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