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Sewing & crafting an advent calendar

14.10.2019 by Sabine Schmidt

Adventskalender nähen & basteln

Sew & craft an Advent calendar: Easily sew yourself a beautiful Advent decoration. The pattern for these cute Christmas socks is free.

The most important things at a glance

  • Even sewing beginners can easily sew and craft this beautiful Advent calendar
  • You don't need much to turn a few fabric scraps and twigs into a wonderful Advent calendar
  • In the same style as these small Advent calendar socks, there is also a sewing tutorial for Christmas stockings in four different sizes
  • In this post, you will find an illustrated step-by-step guide for sewing and crafting the Advent calendar
  • Here you can find even more ideas on the topic of sewing for Christmas!

Christmas spirit is guaranteed:

Sew & craft an Advent calendar

This is how you can easily make an Advent calendar out of twigs yourself!

Sew & craft an Advent calendar: Introduction

You don't need much to craft a wonderful Advent calendar out of a few fabric scraps and twigs that will instantly conjure up festive spirit in your home!

It's just brilliant what you can do with a few fabric scraps, isn't it? For my folded fabric stars, I simply used fabric scraps in coordinated colors. The little decorative pendants and the fun gnome ornaments were also simply created from fabric scraps.

I sewed my little Advent socks from fabric scraps that contrast slightly with each other. But the contrast shouldn't be too harsh. For a base color, I chose a beautiful tartan*, which gives the whole thing an elegant touch. Together with gray, beige, blue, and brass tones, it becomes a harmonious whole. Add a few touches of red and green: Perfect! :)

An interesting contrast to this: the simple, untreated hazel twigs from which the socks are hung with jute twine*. I simply collected the hazel twigs while out for a walk in the woods.

If you live by the sea, you can also make the Advent calendar out of driftwood yourself.

Birch twigs also look very beautiful because they naturally have such a lovely white color that works with any color combination. If you can't find any nearby, you can simply order some online. I've included a link in the material list.

It's great, of course, if the Advent calendar matches the colors of your Advent wreath...

My tip: You can also spray the twigs with white or gold spray paint. Just be careful not to include too many colors. The more harmonious and reduced the design of your Advent calendar, the more elegant it looks.

This is because it is so small-scale and combines many textures. Too many colors and patterns make an Advent calendar look cluttered very quickly. :)

I have scattered a few birch bark stars around my Advent calendar, along with a festive motto and a few softly chiming bells. That's all it takes for me to really get into the Christmas spirit!

Reading tip: Sewing Santa boots

Materials needed to sew & craft the Advent calendar

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of twigs are best for making the Advent calendar?

You can take any twigs you like or find. They just shouldn't be too thick, yet remain strong and sturdy. I used hazel twigs, but birch twigs are also great and look really elegant.

What are the number stickers made of?

I used Texipap in rose gold. I cut small circles out of it, wrote the numbers 1 - 24 on them, and then glued them onto the little bags. If you like, you can also attach the numbers to the bags with small clothespins.

What did you use as a background for the Advent calendar?

I attached a large piece of pattern paper to the wall as a background for the Advent calendar.
It protects the wall and provides a great base for other decoration ideas!
Once you have hung up the calendar, you can decorate it with birch stars, bells, stars made of twigs, string lights, and whatever else you like.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Instructions 1 / 2

Step 1: Sew Advent calendar stockings

For each stocking, cut 2 outer and 2 lining pieces as mirror images. We sew one outer and one lining piece together along the top edge, close all around leaving a turning gap and sew on a hanging cord.

  1. Step

    Cut the pattern pieces

    For each finished stocking, cut two outer and two lining pieces, mirrored.

    Tip: The lining can be cut a little smaller than the outer fabric at the toe. That way the fabric won't bunch up in the finished little boot.

    Cut the pattern pieces
  2. Step

    Join the outer and lining pieces

    Pin one outer and one lining piece right sides together along the straight upper edge.

    Sew the straight upper edge with a straight stitch and 1 cm seam allowance.

    Sew the two mirrored pieces together at the upper edge in the same way.

    Open the seam allowance with your finger or press it open.

    Join the outer and lining pieces
  3. Step

    Sew the front and back together

    Pin the two prepared pieces right sides together. The opened seam allowances should lie exactly on top of each other.

    Sew all the way around the piece.

    Leave a turning gap of 3 – 4 cm in the lining as you sew.

    Sew the front and back together
  4. Step

    Trim the seam allowances

    Trim the seam allowance a little. If you use pinking shears for this, the fabric won't fray.

    Leave about 3 – 4 mm of seam allowance.

    Trim the seam allowances
  5. Step

    Turn right side out

    Use your finger to fold over the seam allowance of the turning gap by 1 cm, which makes it easier to close the turning gap later.

    Turn the stocking right side out through the turning gap and shape everything well.

    Tip: The handle of a wooden spoon or a chopstick won't damage the seams.

    Turn right side out
  6. Step

    Close the turning gap

    Fold the seam allowance of the turning gap inwards and pin it flush together with a pin.

    Close the turning gap close to the edge with a straight stitch.

    Close the turning gap
  7. Step

    Push the lining into the stocking

    Push the lining into the little stocking and shape everything well. The wooden spoon comes in handy again here.

    If you like, you can now fold over the top of the stocking.

    Push the lining into the stocking
  8. Step

    Sew on the hanging cord

    Sew a piece of jute cord onto the back seam so the little stocking can be hung up afterwards.

    Sew on the hanging cord

Instructions 2 / 2

Step 2: Craft an Advent calendar from branches

Using hazel or birch branches, you build a triangular frame from which the 24 stockings are hung. Pattern paper serves as the background, plus birch stars, little bells and fairy lights.

  1. Step

    Cut the sticks

    You need garden shears.

    Cut 6 sticks so that they form a triangle shape. The top stick is approx. 10 – 15 cm long and each of the next ones gets a little longer.

    Cut the sticks
  2. Step

    Join the sticks with cord

    Tie the sticks to each other with cord.

    Tip: Use a book to keep the spacing even.

    Join the sticks with cord
  3. Step

    Attach and number the stockings

    Attach the little stockings to the sticks and space them evenly.

    Stick the advent calendar numbers onto the stockings.

    Attach and number the stockings
  4. Step

    Add a background and decorate

    Put up a large piece of pattern paper as a background for the advent calendar. It protects the wall and is a great base for more decoration ideas.

    Hang up the calendar and decorate it with birch stars, little bells, twig stars, fairy lights and anything else you like.

    Now just add a festive saying and the countdown can begin!

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.