Thumbs up for Santa Claus helping kids with the big countdown to Christmas. The magic of Christmas is the spirit of giving that makes us all Santa Claus. This permanent advent calendar can be filled year after year with small gifts of love. Learn how to make drawstring pouches to hold an amazing variety of small items.
Enlarge a drawing from a Christmas coloring book to applique to the calendar, or make a pieced strip to add. Get creative, but keep it simple. Try a different arrangement of sacks, with maybe a Christmas tree on the side.
Materials to Make 24 Sacks
Please note that the measurements given are for 6 columns of 4 sacks each. They can be rearranged as you like, and the lengths of the strips can be adjusted.
- 24 5" squares of quilting fabric
- 4 yards of 3/8" ribbon
- 12 yards of 1/4" craft ribbon
- A large tapestry needle
- 6 strips of fabric 3" x 18" for the columns of sacks
- 5 strips of fabric 2 1/2" x 18" for the vertical strips between the sacks
- 18 pieces of fabric 2 1/2" x 3" to finish between the sacks
How to Make the Sacks
- Fold and press 1/2" under on just one edge of the 5" squares of fabric. They will now measure 4 !/2" x 5". The folded edge is the top of the sack.
- Cut 2 pieces of 3/8" ribbon, 3" long for each sack. Fold one end of each piece of ribbon under. Sew 2 pieces of ribbon to each sack just below the folded edge of the sack, so that the folded edges of the ribbon meet in the center of the sack. Click the second picture below for a larger view.
- Sew a basting stitch 1/2" in from the remaining 3 raw edges of the sacks. Sew 3 separate basting lines, don't sew just one going all the way around.
- Cut an 18" piece of 1/4" ribbon for each sack. Thread the tapestry needle with the ribbon, and run it between the 3/8" ribbon and the sack. Secure both ends at the sides of the sack with pins. There will be a large loop of ribbon in the middle, this can be cut later.
Assemble the Sacks
Referring to the pictures below, mark the 3" x18" strips for the sack placement as follows:
- On the right side of the 6 strips draw 4 lines across the width of the strips at 1/4" from the bottom of the strip, 4 3/4", 9 1/4", and 13 3/4" from the bottom (4 1/2" intervals). These lines mark the placement of the bottom of each sack.
- Make 1/2" marks (mark only the seam allowances) on the right side of of the strips 3 1/2" above each of the lines. This marks the placement of the top edge of the sacks.
- Gather and sew the sides of the sacks so that the bottom raw edge is at the line, and the top edge is at the smaller marks. Gather and sew the bottoms.
- Sew the 2 1/2" X 3" pieces over the bottoms of the 3 top sacks in each column sewing on the sewing line on the back of the strip. Flip them, folding the remaining seam allowance under right at the top edge of the next sack down. Sew the folded edge.
Assemble the Advent Calendar
Sew the strips of sacks alternately with the 5 strips of fabric, using a 1/2' seam allowance. Add the desired amount of fabric all around, and the decorative applique. Quilt and bind as normal, taking extra care not to catch the ribbons. Cut the ribbon drawstrings. To prevent the ribbon ends from fraying, carefully pass them close to the side of a candle flame, or use a liquid product to stop the fraying.
Enjoy the Christmas countdown calendar for many years. From gumdrops and miniature chocolate bars to small animal figures and cars, the contents can change as the children get older. Jewelry, Bible verses, and special Christmas activities are only a few of the possibilities to fill the Santa sacks. Bring out your inner Santa every year.
Corinne Shibley - Corinne Shibley studied sculpture in art history and created her own sculpture on the way to a B.A. in Studio Art. "There's something ...
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