Christmas in July Blog Hop: Day 1

We're kicking off the Christmas in July blog hop with a tutorial to make an advent calendar using Nancy Halvorsen's Ho-Ho-Ho, Let It Snow collection!

Sometimes the fun of a panel is cutting it apart and using different sections to enhance a simple idea. Here, the panel sections alternate with rows of pockets ready to be filled with advent goodies.

You'll Need:

1 Ho-Ho-Ho, Let It Snow panel

½ yard dark teal print

3/4 yard light teal print

½ yard each red stripe and green stripe

¼ yard dot on white print

3/8 yard wavy stripe
Coordinating buttons from Just Another Button Company

27'' x 46'' piece of batting

1-1/4 yards backing fabric

Fusible web

Fabric marking pen

Trim the ''Ho Ho Ho'' panel section to measure 17-1/2'' W x 6-1/2'' H (approximately ¼'' into the green, past the light blue background)

Trim the ''Merry Christmas'' panel section to measure 11-3/4'' W x 8-1/2'' H

Trim the ''Joy'' panel section to measure 6-1/8'' W x 9'' H

From the dark teal print, cut (2) 3'' x 6-1/2'' pieces and (2) 3'' x 22-1/2'' pieces. Sew the short pieces to the sides of the ''Ho Ho Ho'' panel section and the long pieces to the top and bottom. (Some of these measurements are a little atypical; the dark teal borders help to make the panel sections the right sizes to fit with the pockets.)

From the dark teal print, cut (2) 1-3/8'' x 8-1/2'' pieces and (2) 1-1/2'' x 13-1/2'' pieces. Sew the short pieces to the sides of the ''Merry Christmas'' panel section and the long pieces to the top and bottom.

From the dark teal print, cut (2) 7/8'' x 9'' pieces and (2) 1-1/4'' x 6-1/2'' pieces. Sew the long pieces to the sides of the ''Joy'' panel section and the short pieces to the top and bottom.

From the light teal print, cut a 10-1/2'' x 22-1/2'' strip, a 9-1/2'' x 10-1/2'' piece and a 10-1/2'' x 16'' piece.

Sew the 10-1/2'' x 22-1/2'' light teal strip to the bottom of the ''Ho Ho Ho'' panel.

Sew the 9-1/2'' x 10-1/2'' light teal piece to the right side of the ''Merry Christmas'' panel.

Sew the 10-1/2'' x 16'' piece to the left side of the ''Joy'' panel.

Join the three sections together.

Layer the calendar top with batting and backing and quilt as desired. I used a 2''-wide diagonal crosshatch pattern. Reserve the remainder of the backing fabric to create the hanging sleeve.

From each of the red stripe and green stripe, cut a 7-1/2'' x 21-1/2'' piece, a 7-1/2'' x 14-1/2'' piece, and a 7-1/2'' square. 

Fold a 7-1/2'' x 21-1/2'' red stripe piece in half lengthwise, right sides together. Stitch both short sides using a scant ¼'' seam allowance. Turn right side out and press. Repeat with remaining stripe pieces.

Measure 5-3/4'' up from the top of the ''Merry Christmas'' dark teal border and draw a horizontal line. 

Position the raw edge of the longest red stripe piece on the line (shown in white below), with the rest of the red piece below. Pin in place and stitch, using a ¼'' seam allowance and backstitching at both ends. 

Press the red flap up and pin in place. 

Mark lines every 3-1/2'' along the red strip. Topstitch on each line, as well as along both short ends, backstitching at each end.

Repeat with the remaining strips as shown, using the following measurements to draw the positioning line.

Long green stripe piece: 1-1/4'' up from top of the ''Merry Christmas'' dark teal border.

Short red stripe piece: 6-1/4'' up from the top of the ''Joy'' dark teal border.

Short green stripe piece: 1-1/4'' up from the top of the ''Joy'' dark teal border.

Medium red stripe piece: 5-3/4'' up from bottom edge of quilt top.

Medium green stripe piece: 1-1/4'' up from bottom edge of quilt top.

Click here to download the pdf of the numbers. Trace the numbers onto the paper side of the fusible web. (I'll save you the figuring, as if you look closely below, you'll see that I initially counted wrong. You need eleven ''1''s, eight ''2''s, three ''3''s, three ''4''s, two ''5''s, two ''6''s, two ''7''s, two ''8''s, two ''9''s and two ''0''s.) 

Following the manufacturer's directions, fuse to the wrong side of the dot on white print. Cut out each number. Fuse the correct number onto the center of each pocket. You can measure if you like, but I just eyeballed it.

From the remaining backing fabric, cut an 8'' x 20'' piece. Press each short end in ½'', wrong sides together. Fold the piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Stitch down the long edge.

 Pin to the back of the advent calendar, matching the raw edges of the sleeve with the top raw edges of the calendar. 

Cut (2) 5'' squares from the remaining backing fabric. Fold each in half on the diagonal, wrong sides together. Position on the back of the advent calendar in the bottom two corners, matching raw edges, and pin in place.

Cut (4) 2-1/2'' x 42'' wavy stripe strips for binding. Bind the quilt, catching the raw edges of the sleeve and triangles as you stitch. Blindstitch the bottom edge of the sleeve to the quilt back so it lays flat.

Hand stitch coordinating buttons onto the panel sections.

Carrot nose and bird on the wreath

Star on the right tree

Star below the words

We're giving you the opportunity to win a fat quarter bundle of the Ho-Ho-Ho, Let It Snow collection! The contest is open through Tuesday, July 31st at 11:59 pm EST. All you have to do is sign up to follow our blog (see Bloglovin' and email options in the righthand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you are doing so. For a second entry, like us on Facebook and leave a comment letting us know you are doing so. Good luck! 

And be sure to stop back here each day through the end of July to see more holiday tutorials! Plus, join our Christmas cookie recipe exchange on Facebook!

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