WIP Wednesday - December 2nd, 2015 Hanging Advent Calendar with Tutorial

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

I have always loved little things - containers, miniatures, boxes, etc. I loved Advent calendars as a child. I still recall waking with anticipation and tiptoeing down the stairs. The small door to open or a small tissue-wrapped treasure brings me delight to this day.

Now that we have children of our own, I've looked forward to continuing this tradition in our own way.

We have a winter scene in progress, made with love by Daddy that we will continue to finish. And this year, I finally made a hanging fabric Advent Calendar.

I am so thrilled with how it came out, and proud I managed to carve out moment after moment to sew it together. Thank goodness for fabric stashes!

Now for the Tutorial:

*I don't really measure. I don't like ironing. I love things being a little wabi-sabi. If you prefer everything to line up and fit exactly, I recommend ironing, marking, measuring, and using a fabric cutting wheel and mat. *

I cut five sets of three 2"x15" strips of fabric. I then sewed each set of three strips, and topstiched the seams. In the above picture you can see the topstitch seams on the back of the diagonal piece. 

I then sewed a backing piece on each of the five sets and topstitched it down.

I sewed each lined strip onto a large rectangle (approx 15"x30") and then cut the rectangle into five strips. You can see the lines marked in pencil in the above photo. I sewed a 3"x30" strip of the same white backing fabric between each pocket column.

Using a piece of 100% cotton quilt batting on the back, I topstitched each of the white column strips. 

You can see the topstiching seams through the batting in the photo above.

A simple hem at the top and bottom, a few short ribbon pieces at the top, and I sent my husband out for a stick. 

This morning I tucked a small treat into each pocket. Yesterday I snuck in one for the 1st so we didn't miss a day. Thank goodness small children aren't offended by a mama who sometimes needs an extra day. 

I haven't decided what to do about the numbers. My favorite idea so far is to sew little "gift tags" and tie them onto each pocket, making the pocket itself look like a wrapped present. Any thoughts anyone?

What are you working on? What are you excited about attempting? What are you proud to be working on? Take a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link in the comments.

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