Sewing an Advent calendar is really fun with our Bubble Advent calendar. And the result speaks for itself. In this tutorial, we will show you step-by-step how it's done.
The most important things at a glance
- With this tutorial, you can quickly sew an Advent calendar yourself
- We call it the Bubble Advent calendar because of its eye-catching design
- You don't need a pattern
- It can be sewn from fabric scraps
- Here you can find even more ideas on the topic of Sewing for Christmas!
- Sewing level: easy
- Sewing time: 1 - 2 hours
The best part of the pre-Christmas season is definitely the Advent calendar. It makes the wait for Santa Claus sweeter for every child, and many adults too (do you already know my tutorial on how you can sew magical Christmas stockings?). And the most beautiful ones are the homemade, or rather, self-sewn Advent calendars.
It doesn't always have to be those pretty 24 little bags. After all, there isn't always time left alongside household chores, children, and work for such a time-consuming project. In this tutorial, Eve shows you how to quickly and easily sew a pretty Advent calendar for yourself and your loved ones. Completely without a pattern.
READING TIP: Sewing and crafting Advent calendars
YouTube video: Sewing an Advent calendar
What do I need to sew an Advent calendar?
Non-stretchy fabric is best for this project. Simple cotton woven fabric, poplin, or canvas are perfect (and inexpensive). If you haven't worked with these fabrics before: Don't panic! Just read my post on sewing cotton fabric. Then you'll be perfectly prepared for this project.
By the way, you can find particularly beautiful Christmas fabrics and decorations* in Simone's Etsy shop!
Here is a small fabric overview for guidance. It can help you decide on a suitable fabric.
| Fabric type | Info | Processing | Notes & Tips | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | - easy to iron - simple processing - the classic |
- fabric edges should be finished | - sew with a size 70 or 80 universal needle | Order cotton* |
| Poplin | - versatile all-rounder - easy to iron - simple processing - firm weave |
- fabric edges should be finished | - sew with a size 70 or 80 universal needle | Order poplin* |
| Canvas | - canvas is a fabric woven from strong yarns - quite robust and easy to iron |
– slightly firmer and heavier - slightly stiffer material – seam allowances and several layers of fabric are slightly harder to sew for the sewing machine and for sewing beginners |
– a good, sharp pair of fabric scissors is very useful – sew with a size 80 universal needle |
Order canvas* |
You will also need these materials
- Ties for closing, approx. 6 m (Christmas ribbon or waxed cotton* are great!)
- Decorations as needed
- Sweets for filling
- matching sewing thread*
- suitable sewing needle
- Pins* or fabric clips*
- Ruler
- Textile marker*
- Scissors*
- Thread snips*
- Sewing machine
How big will my Advent calendar be?
This advent calendar won't be large. But it will be long. That is because it is a tube with many small compartments. And the longer the tube, the more you can fit inside. You should, however, cut at least 2 m of fabric. Then just a small nail in the wall and you're ready to hang your Christmas calendar.
How much fabric do I need for my advent calendar?
That depends on whether you want your advent calendar to be made of one fabric with a motif, or if you would like to combine fabrics. Patchwork, for example, is very suitable for this. In that case, you could also use fabric scraps.
Ultimately, you will need a piece of fabric measuring 25 cm x 200 cm. It can be a little longer, but not shorter.
What capabilities must my sewing machine have to sew an advent calendar?
You need a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch. Use a universal needle. I prefer a size 80. For very slippery fabrics, a walking foot could be helpful. Perhaps your machine is already equipped with one. One example is the IDT system from Pfaff or the Smart Feed of the JUKI UX8 (click here for the test and review of the JUKI UX8!)
READING TIP: Test review JUKI DX7
Let's get started!
Conclusion: Christmas is just that quick!
Our bubble advent calendar is not only quick to make, but it is also truly magical. What I especially like about it: you can easily adapt it to your home design by choosing fabrics and ribbons in matching colors.
By the way, you can easily adapt the advent calendar not only in terms of color but also in terms of size. Here you can let your creativity run wild. We wish you lots of fun and a wonderful pre-Christmas season.
Happy simple sewing,
Sabine & Eve

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