TGIFF: Sew Seasonal Advent Calendar

Why yes, it’s me again so soon. I wanted to share a little bit more about the Advent calendar so I didn’t have to make the Sew Seasonal linky post too long! This project was a labour of love. Emphasis on labour. I haven’t been well the last couple of weeks – nothing major, but enough to knock my sewjo levels down motivationally and creatively. I only finished the last of the paper pieced blocks on Wednesday! I also had no idea how to construct it all, and ended up making it up as I went. Thankfully, it worked!

Wednesday night saw me sew the rows together. I had originally planned on doing it in a Christmas tree shape, but 1) it was going to be too big, and 2) I needed a quicker finish! So five rows of five blocks it was. I then (very) lightly quilted them onto some batting.

I used a 2011 Spotlight Christmas fabric that I’ve been hoarding for something special for the backing of the rows – sew it on to the top edge of the rows, flip to the back and top stitch down to look like binding.

I used a Lecien Christmas fabric for the bottom layer of the top. The top backing? Background fabric? I added 1.5″ extra height so that you could get into the pockets. I then totally just guesstimated how to sew the rows on as pockets. In the end, it worked out like this:

1. Align the bottom left corners of the row and backing. Sew the seam between the first two blocks (in the ditch), but don’t sew into the “binding” – this makes it easier to get into the pockets.

2. Scootch the left hand edge of the top row over approximately 1/2″ – 3/4″ depending on how big you want the pocket opening to be and sew. Repeat for each other seam between the blocks.

3. Once you’ve done that, sew the bottom edge down. I ended up with suprisingly few puckers, probably due to how many layers you’ve got going on. Plus, you’ll be hiding that bottom seam when you sew it all together anyway, and you won’t even notice them.

9pm last night…

Once you’ve finished this for all your rows, now you get to join them all together. Layer the bottom edge of one row with the top edge of another right sides together and sew. Open and repeat until they’re all sewn together.

Because the pockets add so much sturdiness to the Advent calendar, and to reduce layers, I decided to not put any batting between the top and the backing. I simply “quilted” in the ditch along the bottom of the pockets to keep the back from sagging, as well as around the 4 outer edges. Add a machine-sewn binding, and I was done! At last!

For the back I used another 2011 Spotlight Christmas fabric. I love how it’s Christmassy without a hint of red. My husband’s a fan of these prints too – win! The kids were very excited to see it this morning, and it was very wise of me to keep it out of their reach. Once it’s stocked tonight, it would’ve been impossible to keep their curious hands out of it!

And while you’re thinking Christmassy – check out what everyone else has done with the Sew Seasonal blocks! Today is the last day to get the patterns on sale – Ornamental rotary cut blocks and the Christmas paper pieced blocks.

Linking up to TGIFF at Making Rebecca Lynne, Richard and Tanya Quilts, Crazy Mom Quilts, Fabric Addict.