Felt Calender - moral support thread!

[tricot39]

Hi
i need some moral support and motivation to finish a PAIR of advent calenders. I actually started in January! I am not too far off finishing but i have run out of steam! Anyone want to join in/show me how it's done/get me motivated to finish before December!!
Thanks!

I am making a version of this:
inchmark.squarespace.com/inchmark/category/advent-calendar

Those are lovely! The decorations are particuarly fantastic and I would love to make one that just had the decorations on.

I am going to do one with buttons, sequins and beads corresponding to the day sewn on the front. I like the embroidered numbers though.

They look great Coldcomfort. Do keep one back for your own kids! (I'm guilty of similar with my poor kids who see lovely bunting/bags etc going off to others when it's them that inspired me to make the things in the first place).

Thanks! Well you know that saying, 'cobblers' children go barefoot'- so true. Poor DS1 has been asking for a quilt and I need to make him one before he decides the last thing he wants is a hand made quilt...!

Ethelb I thought embroidered numbers would be quicker/easier than cut-out ones but I'm really not sure. They use a lot of thread, not to mention time!

Oh no, oh no, oh no....I clicked the link and I'm in love.

Count me in.

I may not finish till 2015 but I'll get there.

Where did you get your felt from tricot?

I've got so many other Christmas makes on the go, from cross stitch to silver art clay. I'm driving DH mad .

Flubba and Coldcomfort......I'm in awe of your talents

Aw thanks ShoopShoop

I know, there's just so much cool stuff out there to try, isn't there?!

shoopshoop welcome on board!
I got felt from sellers on ebay. Definitely not top quality stuff but good enough for my purposes. If you want really thick stuff i know of one shop in islington where you could get a limited colour palette - at a price! Anyway one of the sellers also did a decent bundle of embroidery threads which has been very handy and there will be lots left over for other projects.

Inspired by coldcomfort i made a couple of russian doll ornaments this evening. So only 3 more designs to go.......

This thread is helping. A pair of mittens and a pair of father christmas' hats completed this evening. Just one more design to finish and then i can get on to the finishing.....

Oooh well done tricot - sounds really good! I'll be ordering my felt this weekend. I printed off the numbers from Purl Bee the other day so am slowly getting ready to start!

Well done. I found my downloaded number sheets the other day. I didnt use them in the end as my transfer pencil wouldnt work on the felt :(
So i went freehand a bit wobbly and it looks a bit rustic! I am hoping it adds to the charm.
Think i will have a go at a poinsettia flower for the last pair tonight. I can't quite believe i am heading for the final straight....

Go, go, go! Good work tricot - yours will be so gorgeous!

Thanks. I am heartily relieved to be getting to the end bit, even though that could take a while! I am somewhat relieved that all the ornaments will fit on the tree - I had been worrying that I had got my scales wrong. However I laid them all out for the first time tonight (see my profile for a picture) and they seem to work Ok - apart from the white numbers showing up too well on the yellow felt pockets..... but overall it is looking very good! Just got to keep going!

Shoopshoop - I found my receipt and I think I got quite a few of my supplies from the felt fairy - who has a website and an ebay shop.

I also found my original notes. My backing sheets are 900mm high x 500mm wide. The tree is 475 tall with a base width of 400mm. Pockets are 70mm square - I arranged mine in 4 rows of 6 and used 6 colours. Too late I saw another Purl Bee calender which had square pockets and then another square overlay on the top in a contrast colour which looked fab and probably strengthens the construction, but would add a hell of a lot of sewing as I wanted to keep all mine hand stitched for the look of it.

Anyone have any views on how to hang them? I was thinking dowel through tabs on the top, but the felt curls a little after storage. I could add another dowel at the bottom or go with some lead weights/sausage string style which I have leftover from our curtains. Bit worried that the lead might be a bit heavy tho.....

Looking good (although tiny pics!)

I've hung mine on tabs through a dowel at the top (9mm), and then ribbon attached to either end of the dowel (on the outer side of tabs), but my fabric hangs heavily so I don't need a bottom weight. I wouldn't think a thin dowel would be sufficient in weight, and a thicker one might look odd (unless you could incorporate it into the back without it being seen?)

Tricot looking good! You must be really pleased you're in the home straight!

Thanks for the suggestion of the Felt Fairy. I put in an order over the weekend - I got the 4" rainbow pack with all 70 colours, and then got larger squares of the colours I want to do the pockets in. I just need to work out what colour to do the background in, and buy felt for that and the tree. Exciting! .

Did you embroider the numbers on the pockets? I was thinking of using waste canvas and cross stitching them (as I'm useless at embroidery)....what do you think, would it work?

Sounds good. It took me a while to figure out what i needed in felt colours and a few batches of buying. I used quite a bit of red so you might want to get some extra over the 4" square with your other orders to save on postage.

I wouldn't say that i am strong on embroidery but i think i managed a passable wobbly chain stitch for the numbers. Glue would work too tho - as long as you got one that was "dry" and didn't soak into the fabric. The felt fairy might be able to advise on that if noone else here knows.

How are you getting on tricot - is the end in sight yet?!

i have to sheepishly admit that i have stalled again after my recent burst. i need to get back on the case. what about you?

How are you getting on shoop?

coldcomfortheart your quilts are stunning!

Aargh!! I have still not done the finishing touches. Someone give me a kick up the backside please!!

I came back to this as I have just been bought a beautiful new sewing machine by my lovely Dh, and I have two boys. Their advent calendars are a little bit girlie now so am doing new stockings this year and hoping to do new advent calendars for next Christmas.

Come on, am waiting to see the finished product!

Pickled thanks for kicking me too this morning I've got to finish decorating, then do some gardening, but I want to sew this evening. coldcomfort your quilts are beautiful.

Right !
Will get some more of the.finishing done tonight!