Hi everyone! I'm Jann, from Newton Custom Interiors, where I blog about home decor, sewing and DIY projects. I'm thrilled to be a part of Deby's Seasonal Sewing Series! Today I'm going to share with you a tutorial for sewing a Christmas tree advent calendar.
This advent calendar is based on one that my mom made for us when we were growing up. She also made one for my family when my husband and I were first married, which is pictured below.
I can remember when I was young, being excited to put an ornament on the tree every day from December 1st until Christmas.
Since my daughter has two children of her own now, I decided it was time to continue the tradition and make one for her family too. She is not into the traditional red and green Christmas colors, so I made hers in the colors she decorates with for Christmas. This is her Christmas tree from a couple of years ago. All white with touches of gold and silver. Beautiful.
Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
I do want to say that I made this advent calendar harder than it needed to be by deciding to do an overlay for the background. I couldn't find a gold felt that was the right color, so when I found the glitzy overlay fabric, I decided to go for it. Unfortunately, it needed to be glue basted at each step. So, if you decide to do the calendar with two felts, it will be much easier, and you can skip the steps involving the overlay.
Finished size: 20″ wide x 26″ long
Materials:
3/4 yards of felt for the background
3/4 yards of felt for the tree
3/4 yards of overlay fabric – optional
You will need a little bit of felt for the two pocket strips, you'll probably have left over from the tree or background.
24 hooks from hook and eye sets
24 small ornaments
1 ornament for the top of tree
24 large sequins
Thread to match fabrics
Clear polyester thread
Fabric glue – optional
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
5/16″ dowel rod
4 yards gold trim for edges of background and for hanger
1 1/2 yards of trim for tree garland
Snowflakes for background – optional.
Instructions:
1. Cut felt background fabric at 20″ wide x 27 1/4″ long.
2. I you are not doing an overlay, skip to step 6 . If you would like to do an overlay, cut overlay fabric at 22″ wide x 29 1/4″ long. Here's a picture of the overlay fabric that I used.
3. Serge edges of overlay fabric. Lay fabric face side down, and lay background fabric on top. Turn edges of overlay fabric 1″ to the back side, and glue baste.
4. Miter the corners of the overlay fabric.
5. Sew all the layers together by top stitching 1/2″ away from all four edges.
6. Cut out two pieces of felt for the ornament pockets at 1 1/2″ x 19″.
7. Lay the bottom strip 1/2″ up from the bottom of background (face side). Center the strip, so that there is 1/2″ from each side edge. The second strip should be place 1/2″ up from the bottom strip. I glue basted the side and bottom edges (top edges need to be left open for pockets).
8. Mark where the individual pockets will be. Each pocket will be 1 5/8″ wide and 1 1/2″ long.
9. If you would like to add the numbers 1-24 on the pockets, this would be a good time to do that. Mine were a last minute addition, so I did them after the calendar was finished. (Not the best time to be painting on the fabric). I marked my numbers first with a marker that fades when water is added to it, then I used a very small brush and painted the numbers on. I then removed the blue marker that still showed.
10. Sew the outer and bottom edges of the pocket strips, and then each individual pocket.
11. Make a 1 1/4″ rod pocket at the top of the background piece.
12. Sew gold trim around four edges of background, 1/2″ away from edges, using a zig-zag stitch. Because of the slinky overlay fabric, I had to glue baste my trim on first.
13. Make a tree pattern, and cut out the tree felt fabric.
14. Glue the garland trim to the tree with a hot glue gun. Stringing it in whatever design you would like.
15. Mark where you would like the ornaments to be on the tree, and then hand sew the hooks onto the tree.
16. Hot glue or hand sew the large sequins over the top of the hooks.
17. Glue baste the back side of the tree to the front side of the background piece.
18. Hand sew the tree to the back ground using the clear polyester thread. You could probably use fabric glue to apply the tree, but I wanted to make sure to stitch all of the layers together, so I did hand sew the tree edges to the background.
19. Hot glue the star for the top of the tree.
20. Optional step – hot glue snowflakes to the background. I used a snowflake garland that I cut up into individual snowflakes.
21. Cut the dowel rod at 21″ long. I painted the two ends gold to finish them.
22. Insert the dowel rod into the rod pocket. Attach the gold trim for the hanger.
23. Place a small ornament into each pocket.
Enjoy your new Christmas tree advent calendar!
Hi! I'm Jann Newton, and I blog about home decor, sewing tutorials and DIY projects at Newton Custom Interiors.
Recently, I was asked to teach a class for Craftsy - Custom Bedding - Decorative Shams & Bolsters. So Sew Easy readers enjoy a discount on my class!
Im thinking about using errings that has lost its partner for ornaments.
I would use tiny stars for the calender
Time for some shine! Buttons and beads, maybe even some old jewelry…
Great tutorial. I think little tiny gift bags with little pieces of chocolates inside would be cute to use
Love it! I’ve always loved Advent calendars!!
With wire cutters cut off the backs of fancy thumb tacks and glue on the thumb tack heads to the advent calendar.
Thanks for sharing the advent calendar. and for the chance to win.
Thanks for sharing this Pam. I have been working with tiny beaded quilts so I will make tiny ornaments out of beads I think. Thanks for this opportunity.
Would love to win thread to help sew all the projects on my table. thank you.
I’ve used Coats & Clarks threads since I first started sewing at about 13 or such. I’ve always been very satisfied with the results! Thanks for a chance to win!
that is awesome.. maybe I need to make some for all my kids
I have some very tiny ornaments that I have collected through the years that would be perfect for this
This is a great idea. Think I’d make one with lots of bead embellishments since I’m into beading. Would love to win the thread!
I like the cute shaped buttons you can find in Christmas shapes to make tiny ornaments…
I really like this advent calendar — no candy! I think some old hoop or hook earrings might work really well. Thanks for the giveaway
I have a strand of vintage garland beads that the string broke. I would use pretty gold thread and make individual ornaments. I love this great post!
I would love to make this for my dad and his wife with little charms representing their hobbies and interests!
I always plan to make an advent calendar, but the time gets away from me. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would use charms from a charm bracelet.
Thanks for the tutorial…You make it look so easy!! I think my 8 yr old granddaughter would like to help make this. Gonna give it a try.
This is such a sweet idea!!! I’d make ornaments like cookie cutter designs as ginger bread men, bells, candy canes etc
I love the tree idea! I would put tiny colored crystals on it.
Thanks Pam!
Great pattern! I would like to use all the cute “sewing and quilting” charms.
Thanks Linda! A great way to make it with your own twist.
A friend has asked me to make an Advent Calendar, and I had no idea where to start! Now I do! Thanks!
Great Carrie! I’m glad the tutorial will help. I would love to see it when you’re finished.
I have some charms of all things Christmassy like trees, robins, penguins, snowmen, etc. They will be great on this calendar.
Val, your charms do sound like they would work great for the ornaments! I love all of these ideas of using things that you already have and love.
Thanks for the giveaway! Fingers crossed!
Good luck Becky!
I think little tiny red green and white buttons would make cute decorations or I could also see little silver and gold beads or snowflakes 🙂
Susan, all great ideas!
Stunning and you made it look so easy!
Thanks Deb! If it wasn’t for the glitzy overlay fabric, it would have been easy. But, I’m glad I spent the extra time to make the way my daughter wanted.
Love this! It reminds me of something my mom made when I was little. (A very long time ago). I would get any tiny ornaments or make some out of beads. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Bonnie!
I like little stars!
Tiny stars
old watch parts. My husband repairs watches and I think the gears are very cool. Kind of like a steam punk Christmas tree
Now I like the idea of that VERY much! One of the best things about this project – you can change out the ornaments from year to year to keep it fresh and fashionable.
Barbara, I like this idea too! Very unique, and special to your family.
Really cute, reminds me of the chocolate advent calendars, but lower calorie! Nice family tradition.
Thanks Heidi! Yes, you gotta love lower calories, but not as much fun! (Spoken by a true chocolate lover).
I love to crochet and I would make tiny ornaments out if thin thread and use Swarovski crystals (for bling) and pearls. I may have to make two as a new heirloom for my girls!
Paige, that sounds beautiful! I would love to see yours too!
I would add tiny bells to it also 🙂
Karen, cute idea!
This is so great, in the middle of getting ready to make one now… love it
Thanks Darla! I would love to see how it turns out!
I would use either little charms or very small buttons, there are so many to choose from now a days. 🙂 thanks for this awesome giveaway!
Sunny, either would work great for the ornaments!
Very nicely done!
Thanks Janet!
I would use earrings I get at the thrift store and garage sales to make the ornaments.
Linda, great way to keep the cost down.
I love this – it’s the pretties advent calendar I’ve ever seen!
Anna, thank you! I’m glad you like it!