Fabric Advent Calendar Tutorial + Ornaments to Sew

You can sew a fabric Christmas ornament in about 30 minutes, and a full fabric advent calendar in about 5 hours. Advent starts on Tuesday, December 1, 2026 (24 pockets, one for each day from December 1 to 24), so aim to finish by Thanksgiving weekend.

How do I sew fabric Christmas ornaments?

Most fabric ornaments follow the same steps: two shapes, right sides together, a small turning gap, stuffing, and a loop for hanging. The Christmas Ornaments pattern comes in two sizes, Mini and Classic, and takes about 30 minutes per ornament once you get going.

Cut two pieces for each ornament. Felt is easiest because the edges do not fray.
Fold a 6 inch (15 cm) piece of ribbon or cord in half to make a hanging loop. Pin it between the layers at the top with the loop pointing inward.
Sew around the edge with a ¼ inch (6 mm) seam allowance, leaving a 1½ inch (4 cm) gap for turning.
Clip the corners and curves. Turn right side out and push out the points.
Stuff lightly with polyester fiberfill. A little goes a long way.
Close the gap with a ladder stitch so the stitches do not show.

Make 12 in one evening by cutting all shapes first and sewing them in a chain, one after another, without cutting the thread between them.

What about cone trees?

The Cone Christmas Trees pattern makes small standing trees in three sizes (Small, Medium, Large) and takes about 60 minutes. They are a good way to use up festive prints. A set of three in different sizes looks lovely on a mantel or table.

How big is a fabric advent calendar?

The Advent Calendar is a wall hanging with pockets, rated intermediate, and takes about 300 minutes (5 hours). Plan it over two or three evenings. Here are the pieces you should expect with any pocket calendar:

A backing panel, usually 1 yard of fabric or less.
24 pockets (some people make 25 with one for Christmas Day).
Number labels, which can be fabric, felt, or iron-on.
A hanging loop or dowel at the top.

Check the pattern page for exact measurements, as they depend on the design.

What should I put in the advent pockets?

A pocket is roughly big enough for small items. Ideas that fit well:

Wrapped chocolates or candy canes
A folded note with a small task, such as "bake cookies"
Stickers, mini erasers or pencils for kids
Tea bags or a small hand cream for adults
A tiny ornament sewn from your own scraps

Test one pocket with your largest item before you finish sewing, so you know it fits.

Which fabrics work best?

For ornaments, use felt or quilting cotton. Felt does not need hemming and is great for beginners. For the advent calendar, use a stable cotton or a cotton and linen blend for the backing, because it needs to hold the weight of 24 small items. Add lightweight interfacing or a layer of batting if the fabric is thin.

Scrap fabric works well here, and you can find ideas in our guide to scrap fabric projects.

A simple timeline

When	What to do
This week	Print the pattern, buy fabric and fiberfill
Late October	Sew the advent calendar over 2 or 3 evenings
November	Sew 12 to 24 ornaments, a few at a time
Before Nov 30	Fill the pockets and hang the calendar

For more festive projects, see Christmas sewing patterns, including Santa and Elf Hats.

Make it with Sewzy

Each pattern comes as a letter-size print-at-home PDF, with an A0 file for a copy shop, plus a written step-by-step guide in the app. If a step is unclear, ask the AI sewing coach. Sewzy is iPhone only and costs $3.99 per week or $29.99 per year, with a 3-day free trial. Get Sewzy on the App Store.