I want to make this but need a sewing pattern

[ethelb]

missgioia.com/2008/12/frankincense-advent-calendar.html

I love it! But how would you make it? The blogger hasn't added a sewing pattern.

I think a shoe holder wodl be similar I would just have to scale down, but I can't find a pattern similar. Any ideas?

I am only an amateur at sewing, but it looks fairly simple to me?

Is that Hessian? It looks kinda dull imho.

One big backing sheet.

Sew strips on to be pockets, (fold in corners as needed), sewing joins as you go across. By hand. Buttons after that, probably not before.

Near here we have a workshop place where you can go to drop-in sessions to ask for advice & support about sewing projects. £8/session. Loads of creative ideas.

I would do it in a bright red fabric I think. I just really love the buttons. and the biggish pockets.

I don't think this is one big backing sheet. She has done it so that the seams of the strips for pockets don't show at the sides. How do you do that?

It looks fairly easy to me.

One piece for the back, one piece for the front, three hanging tab pieces, then strips for the pockets.

You would need to seam the pockets and hanging tabs first, put the front piece down first face up, tack the hanging tags on with the raw edge at the raw edge of the main piece so the loop in laying flat.

Put the pockets on face up and tack into place.

Put the backing piece on top of the assembled pieces so the front side is facing the pockets and the wrong side is facing upwards.

Sew round the two long sides and the top, turn the whole thing inside out, turn in the bottom seam to neaten and tack closed.

Carefully sew all round the edges about half a centimetre from the edge.

I would also use iron on interfacing to strengthen the fabric and stop it sagging when hung up.

@babes thanks. that's exactly what I meant. I could tell that it had been turned inside out at some stage but could not figure out where! And the stitching around the border now makes sense!

And presumably you would sew on the buttons afterwards?

The buttons on the pockets I personally would sew on before as you might find it a bit tricky putting your hand in the small pocket and manouvering the needle.

I would cut all the pieces out,seam the pocket pieces, lay it all out, mark where the seams of the pockets will be then sew the buttons on before sewing the pockets in place.

Good luck, and don't worry if you've got any other questions.

thanks babes! Would the interfacing go on all of the fabric or just aorund the seams? I haven't used it before.

Do you do this for a living btw?

Yes, I do it for a living! can you tell?

You need interfacing big enough to cover the whole piece.
You can buy iron on interfacing by the metre in light, medium or heavy weight from fabric shops or ebay. The one you need depends on the weight of the fsbric you are using. You cut it to size, lay your fabric face down, then put the interfacing on top, with the 'bobbly' side touching the fabric (as this is the adhesive side) and iron on.

I would put the interfacing on the back of the front piece as this has the extra weight of the pockets.