Three ways to crochet a countdown
Advent calendar patterns fall into distinct types, and choosing between them decides how much work you are taking on. Pocket calendars are a crocheted panel or a set of small pouches attached to a hanging, each holding a sweet or a note; they are the fastest and the most reusable. Stocking or bunting calendars string twenty-four small shapes along a cord, so you can make one a day if December arrives before you are ready. Amigurumi calendars are the ambitious option, with twenty-four small figures that assemble into a nativity, a village or a forest scene.
How long it really takes
Be honest with yourself about the calendar. A pocket calendar can be completed in a weekend or two. Twenty-four small stockings are perhaps twenty minutes each once you have made the first three, so a fortnight of evenings. Twenty-four amigurumi figures, each with pieces to sew and faces to embroider, is a months-long project, and one that is far more pleasant started in July than in the last week of November. If you begin late, make the panel and fill it with shop-bought treats this year, adding crocheted figures over following years.
Yarn and hooks
- Cotton DK for pockets and numbers, because it holds a crisp edge and does not stretch under the weight of contents.
- Aran or worsted acrylic for speed and easy washing, and a good use of scraps.
- Small amounts in many colours, which is what makes advent projects so useful for stash-busting.
- A hook a size smaller than the ball band suggests for amigurumi, so stuffing does not show through the fabric.
- Metallic or sparkle yarn in small doses for stars, baubles and trims.
Numbers, hanging and structure
Numbering is the detail that decides whether the finished calendar looks handmade or homemade. Embroidered numbers in backstitch are neat and quick, crocheted appliqué numbers are bolder, and small fabric or wooden tags avoid the problem entirely. For hanging, a wooden dowel or a length of driftwood through a crocheted casing keeps the top edge straight, and a firm cord holds twenty-four filled pockets without sagging. Block the finished panel so the rows sit square before you attach anything.
Techniques you will use
Almost everything here is built from double crochet worked in rows or in the round, with simple increases and decreases. Pockets are usually rectangles sewn onto a backing panel, so the only real skill is keeping your row count identical across twenty-four of them; count as you go rather than measuring. Amigurumi figures add the magic ring, invisible decreases and a little embroidery for faces. If you have made a granny square and a small toy, you have all the skills you need.
Filling it, and making it last
Small chocolates are traditional, but a crocheted calendar is reusable, so many people fill the pockets with folded notes, activity suggestions, tiny toys or craft supplies. Keep the contents light: a pocket panel is only as strong as its stitches. Store the calendar flat or rolled, never crushed, and give it a gentle hand wash after a few seasons if it has been handled by children. Label a small bag with the ornaments so nothing goes missing between Decembers.
Crochet advent calendar questions
When should I start? For a pocket calendar, early November is fine. For twenty-four amigurumi figures, start in the summertime.
What yarn is best? Cotton DK for structure, acrylic for washability and speed. Both work well.
Is this suitable for a beginner? Pocket and bunting calendars are, since they repeat one simple shape. Amigurumi needs magic ring and invisible decreases.
How much yarn will I need? Small amounts in many shades rather than large quantities, which makes it an ideal scrap project.
Can I make it over more than one year? Yes, and it is a good approach: make the hanging first, then add ornaments each season. See more Christmas patterns.
