How to make a crochet advent calendar
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How to make a crochet advent calendar

Hook up a special crochet advent calendar that will bring joy to the family year after year!

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Matt Spiers

Published: October 10, 2024 at 2:35 pm

Everyone loves an advent calendar, and we love them even more if they’re made from crochet! Why not learn how to make a crochet advent calendar with our lovely tutorial.

This house-themed crochet advent calendar pattern by Sarah-Jane Hicks (a.k.a. Flo and Dot) can be used again and again, making it a more sustainable choice than buying a new calendar each year.

Plus you can put whatever gifts you like in your daily pockets, such as toys or healthy snacks… although we’d still like chocolate in ours please!

It’s also mostly made with simple double crochet stitches, so is great for crochet newbies who can try out some fun new techniques and stitches on the cute embellishments!

The best (non-crochet) advent calendars

If you don’t quite have time to hook up an individual advent calendar for each member of the family, you could always treat them with one of these amazing Lego advent calendars instead!

How to make a crochet advent calendar - what you need to know

Measurements and tension

This crochet advent calendar wall hanging measures approx 56 x 42cm (22 x 16½in), and although tension is not important for this project it may affect the amount of yarn required.

Other notes

The main panel of the advent calendar crochet pattern is worked in rows, and all other parts are made separately and sewn into place at the end.

When the pattern tells you to use any colour, you should use any colour except red and white, as these are used for the Main Panel and Door only.

How to finish your advent calendar pattern

We’ve used a small length of wooden dowling to hang our calendar from, but you could equally hang it from a curtain rail or even pin the calendar up if it’s not too heavy.

Special stitches used in this homemade advent calendar

This advent calendar crochet pattern is written in UK terminology, but if you’re unsure of any of the stitch names or are used to US patterns, you can find a full list of helpful information in our abbreviations and conversions guide.

To make the spiked dc stitch: Insert hook into stitch in the round specified, yrh (yarn round hook) and pull the loop up to the height of current round, yrh and pull through all loops on hook.

This pattern also uses some basic embroidery stitches and french knots. If you need any help with these, check out our guide on embroidery stitches for beginners.

Shopping list

Ready to start making? Here’s some handy links for everything you’ll need for this advent calendar crochet pattern!

You deserve a festive treat too!

You’re probably making this crochet advent calendar for someone else, so why not treat yourself too this year with a yarn advent calendar - after all what could be better than getting a craft treat every day!

Start by making the main panel of your crochet advent calendar

Step 1

Using White, chain (ch) 96.

Row 1 (RS) Double crochet (dc) in second ch from hook, dc in each ch to end, turn. [95 sts]

Rows 2-70 Ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch throughout), dc in each stitch (st) to end, turn.

Fasten off.

Step 2

Now we’re going to change colour and continue making the roof of our house panel.

Join Red in first st with a slip stitch (ss).

Rows 71-72 Same as Row 2.

Row 73 Ss in first st, ch1, dc in next st, dc in next 92 sts, turn leaving final st unworked. [93 sts]

Row 74 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.

Repeat Rows 73-74 another seven times. You should end up with 79 stitches on your final row.

Fasten off.

Make four loops for hanging your homemade advent calendar

Step 1

With Right side (RS) facing, join White with ss in first st at top-right corner of roof.

Row 1 (RS) Ch1, dc in first 10 sts, turn. [10 sts]

Rows 2-14 Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.

Fasten off.

Step 2

*Skip the next 13 sts of roof and join white in the next st. Rep Rows 1-14 of Hanging Loops; rep from * twice more (so you’ll have four loops in total).

Fasten off.

Step 3

Fold the Hanging Loops in half so the sts from the final row line up with the top of the roof at the wrong side. Using the tail, sew into place.

Free crochet advent calendar pattern loops

Now let’s make the pockets for those all-important gifts!

Step 1

Using any colour, ch13.

Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook, dc in each st to end, turn. [12 sts]

Rows 2-12 Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.

Fasten off.

Step 2

Using any colour (except red or white), sew the numbers 1-23 onto the Pockets.

Step 3

Using any other colour, embroider a cross over seventeen pockets. You can use the image as a guide.

Free crochet advent calendar pattern

Every house needs a door - let’s make yours.

Step 1

Using Red, ch13.

Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook, dc in each st to end, turn. [12 sts]

Rows 2-22 Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.

Fasten off.

Free crochet advent calendar pattern door

It’s time for those little extra details! First we’ll make the hearts.

Step 1

For these smaller shapes, we’re going to use some more stitches, such as half treble crochet stitch (htr) and treble crochet stitch (tr).

Using any colour, ch2.

Round 1 (RS) 6dc in second ch from hook, ss to beginning (beg) dc. [6 sts]

Round 2 2dc in each st around, ss to beg dc. [12 sts]

Round 3 Ch2 (counts as st), tr in next st, 2tr in next st, (tr, htr) in next st, 2htr in next st, (htr, tr) in next st, ch1, (tr, htr) in next st, 2htr in next st, (htr, tr) in next st, 2tr in next st, tr in next st, ch2, ss in final st. [20 sts, 1 ch-1 sp]

Round 4 Ch2 (does not count as st), dc in first st, 2dc in next st,dc in next st, 2dc in next st,dc in next 5 sts, (dc, ch1, dc) in ch-sp, dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, ch2, ss in st at base of beg ch-2. [24 sts]

Fasten off.

Step 2

Using turquoise, sand or dark blue, sew six French knots around the top of Heart.

Step 3

Using any two colours held together, embroider a star over the centre of Heart.

Now just repeat steps 1-3 to make three hearts in total.

Free crochet advent calendar pattern heart

Now let’s make two stars

Step 1

Using any colour, ch2.

Round 1 (RS) 6dc in second ch from hook, ss to beginning dc. [6 sts]

Change to any colour.

Round 2 Ch1, 2dc in each st around, ss to beginning dc. [12 sts]

Change to any colour.

Round 3 Ch1, (2dc in next st, spiked dc in next st from Round 1, skip next st on current round) 6 times, ss to beginning dc. [18 sts]

Round 4 Ss in space between 2dc, *(2htr, ch2, 2htr) in spiked dc, ss in space between next 2dc; repeat from * around, ss in beginning ss.

Fasten off.

Step 2

Using any colour, sew a French knot in the centre of each point.

Repeat steps 1 & 2 so that you have two stars.

Let’s hook up some leaves – eight to be precise!

Step 1

Using any colour, ch8.

Round 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook, *htr in next ch, tr in next ch, 3tr in next ch, tr in next ch, htr in next ch, dc in final ch, ch2 **, turn to work into opposite side of ch, dc in next ch; rep from*to**,ss to beg dc to join. [18 sts, 1 ch-2 space]

Fasten off.

Step 2

Using yellow, pink, jade, purple or mustard, embroider French knots or small straight stitches onto leaves.

Remember to repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have eight leaves in total.

Free crochet advent calendar pattern leaves

Nearly there, just two toadstools to make (there’s not mushroom left!)

Step 1

Using any colour, ch2

Round 1 (RS) (Dc in second ch from hook, ch2) 3 times, ss to beginning dc. [3dc, 3 ch-2 sps]

Round 2 Ch1, *dc in dc, (dc, ch2, dc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice more, ss to beginning dc. [9 dc, 3 ch-2 sps]

Round 3 Ch1, *dc in first 2 sts, (dc, ch2, dc) in ch-sp, dc in next st; rep from * twice more, ss to beginning dc. [15 dc, 3 ch-2 sps]

Fasten off.

Step 2

Using any colour, embroider French knots onto the toadstool. Repeat steps 1 & 2 until you have three toadstools.

Now you just need to finish your crochet advent calendar

Using the image as a guide, sew the pockets, door and decorations to the main panel. Using any two colours held together, embroider stems below the toadstools.

Weave in all ends and voila – your crochet advent calendar is complete! Now you just need to fill those pockets with lovely things and the countdown can begin!

What to put inside your crochet advent calendar?

If you ask us you can’t go wrong with chocolates, but you’ll want them wrapped so they don’t melt all over your lovely crochet. You could replace them with healthy snacks (did everyone else get a satsuma in their Christmas stocking?) or small toys and games. If you’re making for your beloved, include a handwritten note to make them smile on every day of December.

But what about if you want to include slightly larger gifts? For example, you might make one of our favourite Christmas crochet amigurumi patterns? That’s where a good ol’ fashioned Christmas stocking will come in handy!

Hook up a Christmas stocking today!

Much like this advent calendar crochet pattern, you don’t need to be a crochet expert to hook up a classic stocking. Why not try our free Christmas stocking crochet pattern – get started today and you’ll still have time to make one for each member of the family!

Free_Christmas_stocking_crochet_pattern

More Christmas crochet to start today

Matt Spiers

Digital Assistant, Gathered

Matt Spiers is a crochet artist and designer who has been overseeing Gathered's crochet section since it's launch. He previously worked as Digital Assistant for Simply Crochet magazine and is our in house video editing pro. What started as a hobby a decade ago led to Matt developing a passion (and then a career) with crochet. As well as still regularly writing and designing for Simply Crochet magazine, Matt is a crochet artist in his own right, having displayed and created crochet installations at festivals and fibre events across the UK.
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