Grab a meter of fabric, pop into your local haberdashery or craft shop, and pick up your supplies. Put on your favorite Christmas tunes, maybe pour yourself a cheeky mulled wine and get started on making one or both or these sew simple advent calender's. You will be able to use them time and time again creating special memories, fill them with sweet treats for children, dog biscuits for pets, or pop in lipstick or nail varnish for a lovely adult gift.
To make the ticking bags with log numbers , your will need
(scroll down for instructions to make the felt boot advent calendar.)
1 meter of fabric I am using some left over from a project but you can find similar here
1 roll of twine
1 packet of numbers
1 meter of ribbon
1 packet of pegs.
Matching thread or contrast thread, pins, tape measure, chalk and scissors.
Tips for beginners
Seam allowance 1 cm this is the distance between the edge of the fabric and the stitch line. You will find a series of parallel lines engraved on the needle plate of your sewing machine pick the one marked with the measurement you need and keep the edge of the fabric to this guide
RS = right side of fabric WS = wrong side of fabric.
Press = iron
Cut 24 x 16.5cm x 12cm rectangles from your fabric and .24 x 24cm of twine.
fold the top edge over for 0.5cm. fold again for 0.5cm. Press. And machine stitch into place.
fold the twine in half and pin into place 2cm from the hem you have just made, on the RS of your fabric. Pin.
Fold the bag in half as shown (RS together) and machine stitch the 2 raw edges.
Clip the corners.
Turn inside side out and press. repeat 23 more times until you have 24 bags.
Peel the protective paper from the back of the numbers and press into place.
Fill the bags with your chosen treats, Tie in a bow. Using the pegs, peg the bags on to the ribbon.
Felt boot advent calendar
1 x felt sheets will yield 3 pairs of boots I got mine here
pinking shears I got mine here
ribbon and pegs from
Sharpie pens from
Matching thread or contrast thread, pins, tape measure, chalk and scissors.
Tips for beginners
Seam allowance 1 cm this is the distance between the edge of the fabric and the stitch line. You will find a series of parallel lines engraved on the needle plate of your sewing machine pick the one marked with the measurement you need and keep the edge of the fabric to this guide
RS = right side of fabric WS = wrong side of fabric.
Press = iron
Download your template fee template HERE, and cut out 24 pairs of boots, using pinking shears, to get the decorative edge.
Stitch the boots together in pairs using matching or contrast thread. Line the edge of the boot to the edge of the foot on the sewing machine for a neat finish. Leave the needle in the sewing, lift the foot and move your work around to follow the edge of the boot.
I used these pens to colour the plain wood on the pegs. Fill the boots with treats, and peg onto the ribbon.
