They start appearing in the shops earlier and earlier each year, but for us crafters this is just the inspiration we need to get started on our own DIY advent calendars!
Here on Gathered we’ve got lots of tutorials to teach you how to make an advent calendar using a variety of skills. We have everything from pretty papercraft to simple sewing and even some amazing knit and crochet calendars!
Read on to see them all, or use the links below to jump to the craft type you’re looking for:
- Advent calendar DIY kits
- Papercraft DIY advent calendars
- Sewing DIY advent calendars
- DIY cross stitch advent calendars
- How to make an advent calendar in crochet
- How to make a knitted advent calendar
What is an advent calendar?
From simple card calendars where the doors open to reveal a picture, to classic advent calendars with daily chocolates, or even modern specialist calendars that are filled with all sorts of expensive goodies, advent calendars come in a wide range of styles.
Advent calendars are traditionally used to count down the days to Christmas. In the Christian faith ‘Advent’ marks the period of waiting for the birth of Jesus, known as the Nativity.
While the Advent period officially starts on the first Sunday of Advent which can fall between November 27th and December 3rd, most modern advent calendars start from the 1st December and run up to the 24th or the 25th.
While advent calendars have their origins in Christianity, nowadays they’re used by both religious and secular people to add a bit of excitement leading up to Christmas day.
Most advent calendars you will come across will have a Christmas theme, but plenty of other faiths have their own countdowns and calendars. Of course you can get creative and customise any of our DIY advent calendars to suit your own celebration.
For example, you could make a calendar made up of eight days to commemorate the Jewish festival Hanukkah, or Muslims can increase the days to mark the 29 or 30 days of Rammadan.
Whatever your reason for buying or making a DIY advent calendar, they’re generally used to educate children and prepare them for an upcoming special day or event.
What are the benefits of a DIY advent calendar?
Making an advent calendar yourself means that you have complete control of what’s inside!
Many DIY advent calendars have pockets or compartments for you to insert your own chosen daily gifts, meaning you can really customise it to your recipient. This makes it far more special and unique than a shop-bought calendar.
This is particularly useful if you want to include healthier snacks for kids, or ensure your calendar won’t contain anything that could trigger allergies.
Or you can skip the sweet things altogether and insert gifts that will encourage daily creativity or small toys to keep little ones busy in the lead up to Christmas.
They can also make a heartfelt and even romantic gift for a loved one. You don’t have to spend a fortune on gifts to put inside – simply write a special message or poem for each day to show them how much you care.
However, the main reason that we’re so passionate about DIY advent calendars is their sustainability! A handmade calendar can be reused again and again each year, in fact they often become treasured family heirlooms. After all, what could be more magical than having your own custom calendar to open!
Advent calendar DIY kits
We’ve got plenty of creative ideas and patterns for making your own DIY advent calendar, but there’s also an ever-increasing selection of DIY advent calendar kits available to buy.
These are a great option for if you want to get making straight away, as you don’t have to worry about sourcing all of the individual materials.
They’re also a great way of giving yourself a pre-Christmas crafting treat, which you can then gift to a loved one!
- Check out the top DIY advent calendar kits on Gathered
How to make an advent calendar – 11 projects to try!
DIY Papercraft advent calendars
1. Free hanging envelope DIY advent calendar
Our first free DIY advent calendar project is so simple and can easily be made out of items in your craft stash.
Using our simple template, fold 24 cute little envelopes and decorate them however you like.Make them out of patterned paper, decorate with drawings or stickers, or keep them plain for a minimalist calendar to suit a stylish home.
The biggest question is what will you put inside the daily envelopes? A heartfelt message, a daily affirmation, or maybe just a cheesy joke to fill the lead up to Christmas with laughter!
- Make this Free hanging envelope DIY advent calendar with Gathered
2. Free book-style DIY advent calendar tutorial
This book-style advent calendar features folded card boxes (complete with lids) that allow you to include a sweet little gift for every day of your calendar.
The use of mountboard (or really thick card) means that you can display your calendar like an open standing book. You can also use your favourite patterned papers to make your calendar, but if you don't have any to hand we’ve got loads of free patterned papers that you can download and print at home.
- Find this Free book-style DIY advent calendar tutorial on Gathered
Don’t forget to send a card
Christmas cards have got to be the ultimate festive papercraft project. If you’re looking for inspiration you’ll find over 50 Christmas card ideas here on Gathered.
DIY sewing advent calendars
1. Free easy sew Christmas tree advent calendar pattern
If you’re looking for a fun DIY advent calendar for your little ones to enjoy, then this Christmas tree calendar is bound to go down a treat!
It’s a relatively simple project that keeps stitching to a minimum, so great for those who are relatively new sewists.
As well as numbered pockets for their daily gifts, the felt decorations on the tree are attached with velcro, meaning kids can have fun rearranging them.
- Try the Free easy sew Christmas tree advent calendar pattern on Gathered
2. How to make an advent calendar out of fabric
Fancy a Christmas sewing pattern to get really stuck into? Then try our tutorial on how to make an advent calendar out of fabric and make your own hanging house.
Use a selection of your favourite fabrics to create this timeless design. We’ve also included some links to our favourite Christmas themed fabric if you fancy a little treat for yourself too.
The final door pocket on the 24th is larger than the other pockets, meaning you can add in an extra special gift for Christmas eve!
- Learn How to make an advent calendar out of fabric with Gathered
Stock up your seasonal stash
In need of some festive fabrics? Have a browse of our favourite Christmas fabrics.
3. Sew a stylish minimalist advent calendar
If you find all those candy canes and classic Christmas colours a bit kitsch, then maybe you’ll prefer this sleek and minimalist DIY advent calendar.
It’s surprisingly simple to make, with felt numbers attached to the pocket, which themselves are made in a clever way to keep stitching to a minimum.
The neutral design also means it can be used for both adults and children of any gender, but can easily be customised to celebrate other religious holidays by adding or subtracting the amount of pockets.
- Learn how to Sew a stylish minimalist advent calendar with Gathered
4. Sew your own advent calendar stockings
Combine your advent calendar with your Christmas decorations this year by making some adorable calendar stockings.
Crack out your favourite festive fabrics and stitch these sweet mini-stockings. Then all you have to do is add on some wooden numbers for each day (or you can always use felt or try using the numbers from our embroidery advent calendar).
Kids and adults alike will love waking up each morning and seeing what’s inside their stocking – it’s like Santa has visited every night!
- Why not Sew your own advent calendar stockings with Gathered?
5. Free advent calendar embroidery pattern
Here’s another DIY advent calendar that will stand the test of time!. The machine sewing required to make this calendar is pretty minimal, and the use of wooden dowels within loops of fabric makes it easy to hang.
But it’s all of the embroidered details that are the star of the show. There are some sweet little embroidered images to make, such as snowflakes, mistletoe, baubles and more.
You can also use the template to add embroidered numbers onto some of the other patterns from this list.
- Check out the Free advent calendar embroidery pattern on Gathered?
DIY cross stitch advent calendars
1. Cross Stitch Advent Stockings DIY
Can’t resist a bit of cross stitch in your craft projects? Then you’ve got to try our cross stitch advent stockings!
Using our stocking template, you can easily turn cute Christmas cross stitch designs into little stockings that you can insert little treats into. Make a whole set for each day of December and hang them in a row for the ultimate crafty advent calendar!
- Discover our Cross Stitch Advent Stockings DIY on Gathered
Have a cross stitch Christmas
Getting cosy with a bit of cross stitch is one of the best ways to spend the Christmas holidays. Treat yourself to one of these fabulous Christmas cross stitch kits and settle in for some seasonal stitches.
How to make an advent calendar in crochet
Free crochet advent calendar pattern
Making an advent calendar out of yarn might not be your first thought, but if you’re a dab hand with a crochet hook then we’ve got a must-make pattern for you!
This amazing crochet advent calendar is a beautiful design that will be adored year after year. Fortunately, the main components of the calendar are made entirely out of simple double crochet stitches, meaning even relatively new crocheters will be able to make it.
The mini pockets are decorated with embroidered details and little crochet motifs, and are just about big enough to slip in some tasty little treats. Just make sure they’re wrapped securely – you don’t want chocolate melting on your precious crochet!
- Hook our Free crochet advent calendar pattern on Gathered
Crocheters love Christmas
Grab your hooks and get ready for a yarn-filled Christmas! We’ve got so many Christmas crochet patterns for you to try here on Gathered.
How to make a knitted advent calendar
1. Free pocket advent calendar knitting pattern
Here’s an advent calendar that has all the charm of festive bunting. This knitted advent calendar will look fabulous strung along a wall or above a fireplace (although you’d need a very large fireplace to fit the whole month on).
While the pockets are quite small and appear quite simple, you’ll get to try some fun techniques like Fair Isle and Swiss darning.
- Start knitting your Free pocket advent calendar knitting pattern from Gathered
2. Free bell advent calendar knitted wreath pattern
If space is limited in your house and you don’t have the room for a big wall hanging calendar, then perhaps you’ll prefer this adorable knitted wreath.
It not only makes a fabulously festive wreath, but doubles up as an advent calendar too! Each of the little bells are attached to the wreath using snap fasteners, so you can take each day off on the countdown to Christmas.
And don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the treats – each bell is the perfect size for containing spherical chocolates!
- Make the Free bell advent calendar knitted wreath pattern from Gathered
Not crafty? Here’s the next best thing!
We appreciate that not everyone has the time to create epic hand-crafted calendars, but if you want to gift a calendar and encourage creativity at the same time, you can’t go wrong with a Lego advent calendar!
Show you care with crafts
Making your own DIY advent calendar for your friends or family is a thoughtful way to start the festive season. While you can get shop-bought advent calendars for not too much money, they don’t compare when you consider the thought, time and effort that goes into making a custom calendar yourself.
Make this year a Christmas full of crafts
From creating your own Christmas crackers to making brilliant baubles, you’ll find loads of Christmas crafts on Gathered.
