A fun way to personalise your advent!

Over the years, I've made many different advent calendars for families around the world to enjoy. To make them even more special, I offered a personalised option to add a name or two, or family name, across the base of the advent. I especially loved making these as the recipients were always so excited to receive their very own keepsake advents! 

This year, I put together an exclusive kit to sew your own pocket advent, with the option of personalising the calendar using machine applique along the base with a bonus kit which includes fabric for the letters, a contrast fabric, Bond-a-Web and interfacing. 

Here are the main steps, but you can download my free tutorial at the end of this blog post. First I print out the name and trace out the letters onto the paper side of a fusible web interfacing like Bond-a-web. I give a few font suggestions in my tutorial as well as guidelines on size and printing out.

Then I fuse the Bond-a-web interfacing to fabric and hand cut around each letter, before peeling off the paper backing and ironing them in position on a contrast fabric panel.

If you're using more than one name, make sure you are happy with the letter placement before fusing in place. You want to give enough space above and below the words for your seam allowance when attaching the panel to your main advent.

The letters are then machine stitched in place using a plain or decorative stitch.

The finished panel is then attached to the base (or even the top) of your advent panel, before proceeding to add wadding and your backing fabric.

I have applied this technique to many different fabric advent panels over the years. Here are some previous examples of personalised advent calendars to offer you some stitching inspiration!

You can add an individual name in all caps or lower case. Choose a font that is simple, non fussy and thick enough to cut out on fabric.

Feature a family surname (especially if that family is expected to grow!)

Use a plain background with decorative fabrics for the letters, or a decorative background with plain fabrics. Make sure there is enough contrast to make the letters stand out.

You can even add a few names, just by reducing the size of the letters. But be warned, the more words you add, the longer it will take you to cut out and stitch down those letters!

Fancy having a go? If you already have your fabric advent panel, you can download the full tutorial below. Or grab one of my Advent Calendar kits to make one just like mine.