Sewing: Advent Calendar

Day one in the 12 Days of Christmas Celebration 2014. It’s advent calendar time.

What I love about this project (and most of the sewing and DIY projects in this celebration) is that it’s black and white. So fresh. These numbered bags could help you count down to anything…a trip, a birthday, and not just a visit form jolly old St. Nick.

All of my fabric came from my scrap box – one of the many reasons it’s so awesome to keep a box of scraps.

What You Need

48 pieces (2 makes one bag) of fabric that measures 6 inches x 5 inches
matching thread
5-6 meters of ribbon
4-5 meters of cord or more ribbon
24 clothes pins
fabric paint
fray check
scissors

Step One

First – cut all of your pieces and then pin them right sides together, serge all around, leaving the top open.

Step Two

Now, fold the top in 1 inch (note, if you want to make an actual polished button hole, read down a few steps and decide before you do this step). Top stitch, making a casting for the ribbon – ensure your top stitching at least 5/8 from the top fold. Press.

Make all 24 bags – and press well.

Step Three

Cut your ribbon – if you want to tie a bow, cut each piece 18 inches, if you just want to tie them, like I did, cut each piece 14 inches.

Step Four

Time to test your fabric paint. I used scraps of each type of fabric to ensure the colour I was going to use would show up. The black fabric paint is hard to see in the photo on the dark grey bag, yet went the sun hits it, you can for sure see it. Plus, I wanted all the bags to have the same paint. You can always switch it up.

Step Five

Once you’re done testing the fabric paint, time to make the button hole. You can make an actual button hole, if you wish. Do this before you fold down the top and top stitch. If you’re like me and didn’t want to take the time, you can simply use fray check. Cut a little slit into the casting (just on the outside) about 1/2 an inch. Now, dab fray check around it and set it. This will prevent the fabric from fraying with wear and tear.

Step Six

Time to lay out your little bags. Fiddle around with them to be sure you like the look and the order they are in. Once you’re set on the order start creating your personalized font by using the fabric paint.

Time to display!

Hang them off the cording, using clothes pins, under your mantel. Put them on your tree. Hang them scattered around the house – either way, be sure to fill them up with treats!