Count down to Christmas one pocket at a time! 🎄 Make the 12 Days of Christmas Countdown Calendar!, by Shabby Fabrics on YouTube. 1 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Cut twelve pocket squares at 4 x 4 inches, one calendar front at 16 x 22 inches, one backing piece the same size, and fusible fleece to match the front.
Fuse the fleece to the wrong side of the calendar front with a hot, dry iron, following the instructions on the fleece packet.
Fold each pocket square in half with wrong sides together, press, then topstitch along the folded top edge so the pocket holds its shape.
Lay the front panel flat and mark three rows of four pockets with chalk and a ruler, keeping the rows evenly spaced and 1 inch in from the side edges.
Add a number to each pocket with fabric paint, iron-on vinyl or applique, then let the paint dry or press the vinyl before you sew.
Pin each pocket in place and stitch around the sides and bottom with a quarter inch seam, backstitching at the top corners for strength.
Place the front and backing right sides together, sew around all four edges with a half inch seam, and leave a 4 inch gap at the bottom.
Clip the corners, turn the calendar right side out through the gap, press it flat, and slip stitch the gap closed by hand.
Fold a fabric strip into a hanging sleeve or add two buttonhole loops at the top, then slide a dowel through and tie on a ribbon.
Fill each pocket with a small gift, chocolate or folded note, and hang the calendar where it will be seen every day.
Tips and common mistakes
Prewash and press all fabric first so the calendar does not shrink or pucker after its first wash.
Keep pins and your rotary cutter away from your fingers and always cut away from your body.
Backstitch at the top of every pocket, since that is where the fabric pulls hardest when you fill it.
Test fabric paint or iron-on vinyl on a scrap first to check the colour and heat setting.
Questions
How big should the pockets be?
A 4 inch square pocket holds a small chocolate, a folded note or a tiny gift. Make them 5 inches if you plan to fill them with bigger items.
Can I make this without a sewing machine?
Yes. Backstitch or running stitch by hand with a strong thread, and use fusible web to hold the pockets in place while you sew.
How do I hang the finished calendar?
Sew a sleeve across the top back and slide a dowel through it, or add two ribbon loops at the corners and hang them on a hook.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
