Written by Cuddle® Ambassador Patricia McCartney
Enjoy the Christmas season with this whimsical advent calendar. Place a special treat in each pocket for that special person counts the days away until Santa comes.
Supplies Needed
Walking foot for your sewing machine
Fabric needed
¼ yard of C3 Ice (lt green) mountains
Before starting this project, you will need to put together the placement map by matching the registration marks.
Sheet A matches Sheet B
Sheet C matches Sheet D
Then AB will match the CD
Once the map is done you will need to trace it onto the Timtex, using a permanent marker. This will show you where to place the pieces as you do the calendar.
To create the main part of the calendar, I started with the blue fabric and made paper patterns and cut the shape I needed. Next, I cut the pattern for the next piece and pinned it to the Timtex. Using a satin stitch, I sew it down. I continued until I had completed the background of the calendar.
Using the pattern sheet, trace the different parts onto the fusible web. Cut around each piece leaving a little extra so that you can cut out on the trace lines after ironing to the fabrics. (Make sure that you fuse to the back of the fabric). The patterns are reversed so that when iron on they will be correct. I fused the snow pieces to the background using synthetic setting on my iron and a damp pressing cloth. Once they were in place, I stitched them down with a satin stitch.
Preparing the pockets is the most time-consuming part of the project. Cut out 25 pieces of white fabric using the Template. The pocket is wider at the top so that when sewn down ii sticks out. You want to make sure that you trace the numbers off the sheet provided so that they will be correct when you fuse them on to the pockets. (You could also buy ¾”” stick on numbers if you don’t want to cut them all out)
Now that all the pockets are numbered, you will want to lay them out however you want to place them and pin to secure them. I used a satin stitch and my stiletto and sewed each pocket down. You may change your to however you want. I placed mine like the penguin was sliding from one side of the slope to the other going back and forth.
Next step is to trim the calendar and apply the binding. I cut 2 – 2” strips and iron in half long ways. I sewed them onto the front of the calendar and folded to the back. I added the fabric to the back of the calendar, holding it in place with pins and sewed the binding done by hand. This gives a finished look and hides all the seams on the back of the Timtex.
(You can sew down with the machine and add a decorative stitch for embellishment)
I added a 1” grommet at the top for hanging but if you prefer you and sew a ring to the back.
The last step Is to make the penguin that will be moved every day. Trace each piece off the penguin sheet onto the fusible web. Iron on to the scraps of fabric and fuse onto a small piece of the Timtex. Now that the penguin is assembled, trim around it. Attach to clip to the back. I used Alien tape, but you can use fabric glue or hot glue.
Project sewn and written by Patricia McCartney