How to make an advent calender

Be creative with parcels labels and write a treat for the 24 pockets

And your sewing machine

Cut 22x 41 inches of red fabric Cut 22 x 36 inches of red fabric and batting

Fold and iron 1/2 inch then 2 inch for pockets , at top and bottom of the 41 inch red fabric

If using fabric scraps cut 24 pockets of 4.5 x 4 inches. If using full width fabric cut 4.5 inch strips in contrasting fabrics . .15 mt will make 10 pockets so use whatever combination you wish

Using the 1/2 inch seam allowance sew a hem along strips forming the pocket tops

Then cut into 4 inch pockets.

Print numbers from the computer and use in reverse. Trace onto Bondaweb

Iron Bondaweb onto felt and cut out the numbers

Select the order of the 24 pockets

Decorate the pockets as you wish

Find the centre of each pocket . Peel off the paper and iron the felt numbers in place , 1.5 inches down from pocket top

Sew each number to secure

Layer fabrics , Front ( 41 inch ) Batting and Back ( 36 inch )as shown . Tack or spray ( I used 505 ) layers together.

Spacing for pockets

Pin pockets in place using spacing shown on chart

Continue on all rows

Sew pockets in place

Bind right and left sides with ribbon down the full 41 inch length

Fold flaps at top and the bottom to the back ,pin and then sew in place forming openings for cafe rods

Stretch the opening of the narrower cafe rod . This prevents the extendable rod from sliding in on itself.

Slide a cafe rod into the openings at top and bottom . Cut a length of ribbon as a hanger