Hanmade in Cornwall

Hanmade in Cornwall

Friday 30 November 2012

Hanmade Advent Calender

Here it is!
I am really pleased how this turned out. And am looking forward to enjoying it this year with our daughter.
Each number is a pocket and in the pocket will be a mix of christmasy things that we will get up to or a small chocolate!
 
So lets get started....
 
Get together;
 2 pieces of fabric for the front and back
scrap pieces of fabric for the numbers and pockets
ribbon
embroidery thread
wooden rod
 
I printed out numbers 0-9 on card and cut them out. Then draw around them the wrong way round onto fabric and cut them out. This took abit of time, but worth it.
Cut out 25 small pieces of squared fabric.
Start arranging the numbers onto your squares. I didn't always put them into them in the centre. Sew into place - this is where you can start getting creative and use different stitches hand or machine.
Have fun with this bit!
 

Use different embellishments on the pockets; ribbons, buttons, lace etc
Arrange them into place on your bacjing fabric.
Cut out 25 white squared fabric. These will be the back of your pockets.
Place them facing each other, pin in place.
Sew around the edges leaving a small gap at the bottom. trim the corners. Then turn the right way round. Use closed scissors to push out the corners. Press.
They look so cute!
Push the opening inside and press.
Lay them ironed out onto your fabric.
 
Pin them into place. Make sure you leave space inbetween the pockets to the sides and below and above to be able to use the pockets.
Sew around the sides and botton leaving the top part open. Pay extra attention to the bottom part where the gap is. Make sure you sew close to the edge.
Next part is the embroidered stitching at the top.
Print out the words you want from your computer. making sure they aren't too big! Make sure they are a good thickness so you can see them through the fabric.
Put the words onto a windor/ door and stick the fabric over the top in the right place.
Copy the words onto the fabric. This worked really well.
Then use a back stitch onto the words.
This looks really good and fun to do.
 I put 4 red ribbons in the top to loop some wood dowl rod through.
So cut 4 pieces of ribbon.
Measure them into place onto the top part of the the fabric, equal space between them. 
Put the backing fabric and put over the top (so the fabrics are inside out)
Pin the fabric paying attention to where the ribbon is.
Sew around the edges of the whole piece of fabric leaving a gap in the bottom.
 
The picture above is the fabric turned inside out stitched all around with the small gap in the bottom.
Then turn it round the right way.
Press all the edges.
Pin closed the gap.
I then put a red thread into my machine.
Stitch all the way round of the calender. this gives a nice border but importantly closes the opening at the bottom.
 
Attach a wooden rod for the top.
 
A close up look at the pockets.
 
 
 
 
Some of the stitched numbers.
 
Now that it is made you need to put some nice things into the pockets...
I made some small cards/ tags and wrote some activities that we might do;
*make some ginger bread men and decorate
*go and see the christmas lights
*go to chirstmas party
*make some christmas decorations with friends
*wrap some christmas presents
*potato print some christmas cards for friends
*put up the christmas tree
and the list goes on, be as creative as you can depending on the age of the person who will take the tags out.
I also put a few chocolate coins in every now and again.
 
 
And its DONE!
Hooray!
I hope you enjoyed reading this.
I had fun making it, I think it looks good.
I hope you are inspired to make one too.
Have fun!
 
 * Happy December!! *
 

3 comments:

  1. A great project and the tutorial is clear and inspiring! Enjoy opening the pockets!

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  2. This looks so cute! You continue to inspire me to try new crafty things!

    -Kristi

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  3. Thanks Ruth, we are definetly enjoying the pockets. Its great because we can change them from year to year.
    Thanks Kristi craftyness is always good!

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