Nutmeg
11-07-2005, 11:15 AM
I have threatened to do this many times here at Amity's and while I posted it at Sewing Mamas I thought it only fair to post it here too, for I got the idea here :)
Doing my best with an unhelpful keyboard and a sick kid :couple: . Just promise you'll post the finished product so I know it's worth it LOL
My mother made us one in 1973, (she wrote it on the back!) and my sister Laurel and I always fought over who got to fill up the pockets and who put one up each day. I was so thrilled when she went off to college and I had it all to myself LMAO. I think this was from Good Housekeeping, but I'll call her to make sure. She made them for all of my cousins, only one of which still use theirs.
Today we will make the background, tree, and pockets.
When done it will look something like this:
http://sewingmamas.com/albums/album194/nutmeg011.jpg
STEP ONE GATHER YOUR MATERIALS
My mother used regular olde felt, no wool content. She said that because it was a famil heirloom, she didn't think wool would be a good idea (moths). Do whatever you want however LOL
You'll need:
Felt
red: 24 inches by 36 inches for background
green: 16 by 18 for tree
white: (you can also use iron on white numbers, my mom did this for my cousin's calendar)
Other felt: other scraps of felt, in black, yellow, white, brown, pink, light green, blue, light blue,
pom-pom trim that matches the red felt 24 inches
green thread
red thread
dowel and ribbon to hang it. ours is painted red
ribbon for hanging it up. Ours has some of that red acrylic yarn I always had bows made from LOL but I'm sure any ribbon will do.
small sharp scissors
fabric tac
repositional spray glue
STEP TWO CUT OUT YOUR CALENDAR
Cut red felt to 24 x 31. Sew trim to the bottom of rectangle with red thread. This will help cover the raw felt edge.
Fold the top over one inch, and sew a pocket where you will insert the dowell when you are done. Don't insert it now LOL
STEP THREE CUT OUT YOUR TREE and TRUNK
Take your green felt, fold in half the long way (when I was teaching we called this 'hot dog fold'). Draw half a Christmas tree, with 7 branches. You may want to practice using paper first. Like this:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/papertree/Treedraw.GIF
Cut the trunk using the same method using the brown felt
Sew on the tree and trunk, layering them so the tree lays over the trunk. Place the top of the tree about three inches from the sewn edge of your dowel pocket.
You can first secure with spray glue of pretty much any kind as this won't be washed. Sew around the tree with green thread and the trunk with brown thread. Leave a scant edge around both, no need to tuck edges.
STEP FOUR ADD YOUR POCKETS
Each pocket measures the length of the calendar (24 inches) and is 2 inches high. You need two of these strips. Don't glue these down. If you need help keeping it straight while sewing use Pins (Yea I never use them either but in this case you'll need to)
Place the first strip 1.5 inches from the bottom of the calendar. Sew a straight line at the bottom of the strip and up on each side to keep it in place.
Place the second strip 1.75 inches from the top of the first strip. Sew a straight line at the bottom of the strip and up on each side to keep it in place.
I'd use a disappearing pen for this part. Use a ruler and measure out 12 even pockets on each strip. Sew them using straight lines. They should each measure 2 inches exactly.
STEP FIVE ADD YOUR NUMBERS
Here you have some creative liscense. You can use small iron or stick on felt numbers. I know my mom was irritated with how long it took to cut out all of the numbers. (made an impression, I was only 3 at the time LOL) If you think the reciepient will treasure it, cut out the numbers. If you think they'll look at it for a year or two and it will get lost then use stick ons.
I made a template of numbers by printing out numbers 1-24 on my printer using Times New Roman. Make them so they fit well on your pockets, you may need to print out a few. When you are satisfied, use your small scissors or an exacto type knife to cut them out of the paper. Lay them on your white felt and cut out each number.
Glue each number on the correct pocket using fabric tac glue.
You're done for today! Please post questions while I run tea and bread to Sickie upstairs. :hug
THANKS!
[i]If you can't wait or don't care for this one, I found some fun ones you may enjoy that are similar:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11305
http://www.janbrett.com/christmas_treasury_advent_calendar.htm
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/adventcalendars/a/bladventcollage.htm
Jesse tree crafts:
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM
If you want a more christian one, you could glean ideas here:
http://fashion-era.com/Christmas/christmas_advent_nativity.htm
Doing my best with an unhelpful keyboard and a sick kid :couple: . Just promise you'll post the finished product so I know it's worth it LOL
My mother made us one in 1973, (she wrote it on the back!) and my sister Laurel and I always fought over who got to fill up the pockets and who put one up each day. I was so thrilled when she went off to college and I had it all to myself LMAO. I think this was from Good Housekeeping, but I'll call her to make sure. She made them for all of my cousins, only one of which still use theirs.
Today we will make the background, tree, and pockets.
When done it will look something like this:
http://sewingmamas.com/albums/album194/nutmeg011.jpg
STEP ONE GATHER YOUR MATERIALS
My mother used regular olde felt, no wool content. She said that because it was a famil heirloom, she didn't think wool would be a good idea (moths). Do whatever you want however LOL
You'll need:
Felt
red: 24 inches by 36 inches for background
green: 16 by 18 for tree
white: (you can also use iron on white numbers, my mom did this for my cousin's calendar)
Other felt: other scraps of felt, in black, yellow, white, brown, pink, light green, blue, light blue,
pom-pom trim that matches the red felt 24 inches
green thread
red thread
dowel and ribbon to hang it. ours is painted red
ribbon for hanging it up. Ours has some of that red acrylic yarn I always had bows made from LOL but I'm sure any ribbon will do.
small sharp scissors
fabric tac
repositional spray glue
STEP TWO CUT OUT YOUR CALENDAR
Cut red felt to 24 x 31. Sew trim to the bottom of rectangle with red thread. This will help cover the raw felt edge.
Fold the top over one inch, and sew a pocket where you will insert the dowell when you are done. Don't insert it now LOL
STEP THREE CUT OUT YOUR TREE and TRUNK
Take your green felt, fold in half the long way (when I was teaching we called this 'hot dog fold'). Draw half a Christmas tree, with 7 branches. You may want to practice using paper first. Like this:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/papertree/Treedraw.GIF
Cut the trunk using the same method using the brown felt
Sew on the tree and trunk, layering them so the tree lays over the trunk. Place the top of the tree about three inches from the sewn edge of your dowel pocket.
You can first secure with spray glue of pretty much any kind as this won't be washed. Sew around the tree with green thread and the trunk with brown thread. Leave a scant edge around both, no need to tuck edges.
STEP FOUR ADD YOUR POCKETS
Each pocket measures the length of the calendar (24 inches) and is 2 inches high. You need two of these strips. Don't glue these down. If you need help keeping it straight while sewing use Pins (Yea I never use them either but in this case you'll need to)
Place the first strip 1.5 inches from the bottom of the calendar. Sew a straight line at the bottom of the strip and up on each side to keep it in place.
Place the second strip 1.75 inches from the top of the first strip. Sew a straight line at the bottom of the strip and up on each side to keep it in place.
I'd use a disappearing pen for this part. Use a ruler and measure out 12 even pockets on each strip. Sew them using straight lines. They should each measure 2 inches exactly.
STEP FIVE ADD YOUR NUMBERS
Here you have some creative liscense. You can use small iron or stick on felt numbers. I know my mom was irritated with how long it took to cut out all of the numbers. (made an impression, I was only 3 at the time LOL) If you think the reciepient will treasure it, cut out the numbers. If you think they'll look at it for a year or two and it will get lost then use stick ons.
I made a template of numbers by printing out numbers 1-24 on my printer using Times New Roman. Make them so they fit well on your pockets, you may need to print out a few. When you are satisfied, use your small scissors or an exacto type knife to cut them out of the paper. Lay them on your white felt and cut out each number.
Glue each number on the correct pocket using fabric tac glue.
You're done for today! Please post questions while I run tea and bread to Sickie upstairs. :hug
THANKS!
[i]If you can't wait or don't care for this one, I found some fun ones you may enjoy that are similar:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11305
http://www.janbrett.com/christmas_treasury_advent_calendar.htm
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/adventcalendars/a/bladventcollage.htm
Jesse tree crafts:
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM
If you want a more christian one, you could glean ideas here:
http://fashion-era.com/Christmas/christmas_advent_nativity.htm