| Like to make your own advent calendar you can | | | | an x every 2" on the top line of your square. |
| hang on the wall and fill with your own special | | | | Place your compass on the midpoint (at the 4" |
| treats for the kids? How about making your own | | | | mark) and extend it so that it exactly touches |
| Christmas stocking to hang by the fireplace, or | | | | one of the outer edges. Now use your compass |
| make your own gift bags for all those Christmas | | | | to draw a semicircle from one side to the other. |
| presents? In this article I'll show you how you can | | | | Then retract the compass so that it exactly |
| easily sew these at home, and for a fraction of | | | | touches one of the 2" marks, and draw a |
| the price you would pay at the shops. | | | | semicircle from one side to the other. Cut out the |
| | | | | middle and you now have a bag handle! |
| Advent Calendar | | | | Don't cut it out yet! We still have to add on seam |
| This advent calendar is basically a rectangle of | | | | allowance to the left and right sides and bottom |
| material, with 25 pockets sewn on (all numbered | | | | so we can attach the side piece which will join the |
| of course) that you can hang on the wall and fill | | | | two larger pieces together. |
| with special treats and sweets for the children. | | | | Draw a line ½" out from each of the left and |
| Suitable Fabrics & Notions | | | | right sides and along the bottom. This is your |
| For the backing fabric you need something fairly | | | | cutting template. To see a diagram of this, see |
| thick to take the weight of the treats that will be | | | | the author resource box at the end of this article. |
| placed in the pockets. | | | | Fold the bag fabric in half, right sides together. Pin |
| I actually recommend felt for the backing, for the | | | | on your bag template and cut out. |
| pockets and for the numbers 1 to 25 (denoting | | | | Now fold out the remaining fabric flat, and cut a |
| the countdown to Christmas). The beauty of felt | | | | long rectangle 24" by 4" (this allows for a ½" |
| is you don't need to hem it as it doesn't fray. Try | | | | seam either side). |
| getting 3 different colours – say green for the | | | | To Make Up |
| backing, red for the pockets, and white for the | | | | If you are going to decorate your gift bag with |
| numbers. | | | | Christmas cut-outs, do it now before we |
| We'll also need 2 pieces of thin wood for the top | | | | assemble the bag. The cut-outs can either be |
| and bottom of the hanger, and some string or | | | | machine sewn, hand sewn, or attached with craft |
| rope for hanging. | | | | glue. |
| How Much Fabric to Buy | | | | To make the bag, take the long rectangular piece |
| For the backing fabric, you will need one piece, | | | | of fabric and, with right sides together, pin it to |
| 50" tall by 22" wide. This allows for a 3" hem to | | | | the front of the bag. Sew. Now attach the back |
| fold over your wood and stitch. If your wood is | | | | of the bag along the other edge (right sides |
| wider than this, then you will need to get a longer | | | | together) and sew. |
| piece of fabric. | | | | Turn the right way around, and you're done! |
| Each pocket is 4" square, and we need 25 of | | | | |
| these. So you will need 20" by 28". | | | | Christmas Stocking |
| We will allow 3" square for each letter. So you will | | | | Home made Christmas Stockings can be |
| need 15" by 15". For a template of the numbers, | | | | personalised for each family member – why |
| see the author resource box at the end of this | | | | not involve the kids in making and decorating |
| article. | | | | them! |
| Please note, these measurements do not allow | | | | Suitable Fabrics & Notions |
| for any hemming as I am using felt, however if | | | | The sky's the limit for Christmas stockings. Some |
| you choose to use a different fabric which | | | | beautiful fabrics include velvet and velveteen, faux |
| requires hems, then you will need to add on a | | | | fur, plush, as well as patterned cottons and |
| seam allowance for both the height and width. | | | | ginghams. Search through the remnant bins, or |
| To Make Up | | | | just check out all the red fabrics at your local |
| For the preparation work, all you need are pins or | | | | fabric shop. |
| tailors chalk, a ruler, the number templates and | | | | You may also want to get some white faux fur |
| your scissors. No pattern required! | | | | as a trimming for the top of your stocking, and |
| First of all, cut out your 25 pockets. You can use | | | | some fabric for Christmas cut-outs to decorate |
| a ruler and tailors chalk to mark guidelines for | | | | the stocking. |
| cutting. If you don't have tailors chalk a white | | | | What does look nice is a contrast trim with each |
| coloured pencil will do the trick! The pockets are all | | | | child's name on it. |
| 4" by 4". | | | | How Much Fabric to Buy |
| Now cut out and pin your numbers to the number | | | | The stocking basically consists of one rectangle 6" |
| fabric and cut out. | | | | by 14" and a square 6" by 6". You'll need two of |
| To attach the numbers to the pockets you can | | | | these for each stocking, so, including a ½" seam |
| either machine stitch, hand stitch, or use craft | | | | allowance, you'll need a piece of fabric 14" by 15" |
| glue. | | | | per stocking. |
| Lay your backing fabric on a table and mark out | | | | You'll also need some matching braid to hang the |
| where the pockets are to be placed using pins or | | | | stocking, or you can make a hanger using the |
| tailors chalk. We will have 4 pockets across, then | | | | leftover fabric. |
| 6 down, and the number 25 pocket will be on it's | | | | The Pattern |
| own at the bottom (although feel free to change | | | | To make your pattern, you just need a piece of |
| this layout if you wish). | | | | paper, a ruler, and something circular to round off |
| Each pocket has a 2" gap around it. So the first | | | | the corners. (To see a diagram of this pattern, |
| pocket will be 5" down from the top of the fabric | | | | see the author resource box at the end of this |
| (remember we have allowed 3" for the wood | | | | article). |
| hanger to go through) and 2" in from the left. The | | | | Draw a rectangle on your paper 15" long by 7" |
| next pocket is 2" from the previous. To see a | | | | wide. Now draw a square touching the bottom |
| diagram of this layout, see the author resource | | | | left hand side of your rectangle which goes out |
| box. | | | | for 6½" and up for 7", then join it back on to |
| Pin in place, and then machine stitch along the left, | | | | your rectangle. |
| bottom and right sides. | | | | You should now have a shape that looks like a |
| Cut your wood pieces so that one is slightly | | | | backwards capital L. Now all you need to do is |
| shorter than your width (for the bottom hem, so | | | | round off the heel and toe of your stocking using |
| you can enclose it), and one slightly longer (say 1 | | | | something circular (or do it freehand). |
| 2" each side). Drill small holes at each end of this | | | | Fold your fabric in half with right sides together, |
| longer piece so you can thread through your | | | | and pin the stocking pattern to the fabric. Now |
| hanging string or rope. | | | | cut out. |
| When all of your pockets are attached, use your | | | | If you are making a contrasting trim for your |
| machine to sew the top and bottom hems, and | | | | stocking, you'll also need to cut out a rectangle |
| then insert your wood. You may want to close | | | | 13" long and however wide you want your trim |
| off the edges of the bottom hem if it is likely | | | | (plus ½" seam allowance). |
| that the wood could come out. You can do this | | | | To Make Up |
| by hand. | | | | If you are going to decorate your stocking with |
| Now attach the rope through the holes in the top | | | | Christmas cut-outs or appliqués, do it now |
| piece of wood and hang. And don't forget to fill | | | | before we assemble the stocking. The cut-outs |
| with treats! | | | | can either be machine sewn, hand sewn, or |
| | | | | attached with craft glue. |
| Gift Bag | | | | The same goes for your contrast trim. Any thing |
| It's simple to make a Christmas gift bag to delight | | | | you ant to attach should be done before we sew |
| friends and family, and it's reusable! | | | | it on to the stocking. |
| Suitable Fabrics & Notions | | | | To make the stocking, pin the two stocking |
| For the bag you need something fairly thick so | | | | pieces (right sides together), and sew from the |
| that it can stand on it's own without any gifts in it. | | | | top of one side all the way around to the top of |
| Again, I recommend felt. The beauty of felt is | | | | the other side. If you are not attaching a |
| you don't need to hem it as it doesn't fray. | | | | contrasting trim, turn over your top hem and pin, |
| If you'd like to decorate the bag with fabric | | | | remembering to insert the braid or fabric for the |
| cut-outs in Christmas shapes, you can use any | | | | hanger before you sew the hem. |
| fabric you like (again, felt is suitable for this). For a | | | | If you are using a contrasting trim, turn your |
| template of Christmas cut-outs, see the author | | | | stocking inside out so that the right side is now |
| resource box at the end of this article. | | | | facing you. |
| How Much Fabric to Buy | | | | Stitch the trim together at the ends so you now |
| The bag measures 8" across and 12" high, and | | | | have a circle of fabric. Place your trim inside the |
| you'll need two pieces of fabric for the sides, and | | | | top of the stocking with the right side facing |
| one piece 3" wide by 24" long for the side. | | | | towards the inside of the stocking. Match the top |
| Adding on a half inch seam allowance, we'll need a | | | | of your trim to the top of the stocking, and pin in |
| piece of fabric 13" by 24". | | | | place. |
| The Pattern | | | | Take your braid or fabric for the hanger, and |
| To make your pattern, you just need a piece of | | | | insert it where you want it between the trim and |
| paper, a ruler, and a compass (or something | | | | stocking with the open ends flush with the top of |
| circular with a diameter of 8" and another with a | | | | the trim and the stocking. Now sew around the |
| diameter of 4"). | | | | entire top of the stocking. Turn the trim right |
| Draw a square on the paper 8" by 8". Now place | | | | way around, and you're done! |