Are you looking for a sustainable and attractive advent calendar that is easy to make?
This calendar, made of jute fabric and macrame yarn, makes each of the 24 days a little moment of anticipation.
Thanks to its simple, natural materials, it blends effortlessly into Scandinavian, rustic, or modern interior styles while maintaining a timelessly festive feel. This advent calendar is therefore a wonderful highlight of the pre-Christmas season year after year.
Even if you want to make an advent calendar, this simple idea is ideal for you:
Materials list
-
Jute fabric(sold by the meter/roll)
Guideline: 1 m width × approx. 1.5 m length is sufficient for 24 bags in mixed sizes. -
Cotton macrame yarn(3-5mm) - approx. 20-25m total
(per bag ~30–40 cm + some for hanging) - 24 wooden clothespins
- Numbers 1–24 (cardboard, stickers, stamps, paint pen or wooden tiles)
- Scissors, ruler, pen
- For hanging: branch, dowel, curtain rod (wood looks nice)
- Optional: Zigzag scissors or lighter to prevent fraying, string lights
Cutting – Sizes at a glance
Choose the size that best suits the contents:
- S (15 × 15 cm):Sweets, tea bags, mini goodies
- M (20 × 20 cm):Socks, travel-size cosmetics, small toys
- L (25 × 25 cm):bigger surprises
Tip:Draw a cardboard template in sizes S/M/L. This will allow you to quickly cut out 24 pieces.
Step-by-step instructions
1. Number brackets
Label or stick stickers on the clothespins with 1–24 and let everything dry thoroughly.
2. Cut the jute to size.
Cut 24 rectangles to the desired size.
To prevent fraying: Cut with pinking shears or very carefully singe the edges briefly.
3. Fold and tie a small bag.
Place the contents in the center of a piece of jute.
- Bring all four corners up to the center.
- Cut 30–40 cm off each bag. Decorate it and wrap it twice around the top of the package to tie it closed.
- Now make a tight double knot and leave two ends hanging.
4. Suspension
Cut the macrame hanging cords to size. Adjust the length of each cord so that the desired number of bags can be attached. Tie the macrame cords side by side to a branch or a (round) rod.
5. Secure the bags
Now attach all 24 bags to the strings using the clips. Arrange the bags in a row or in a random order.
6. Decorate
The Advent calendar can be decorated with a delicate string of lights, small baubles or twigs.
Advent calendar filling ideas
- Chocolate, spices, nuts, homemade cookies (wrapped in wax paper)
- Mini soaps, bath additives, lip balm, hand cream
- Vouchers: Movie night, cookie baking, games night, winter walk
- Candles, cookie cutters
- Beautiful sayings, puzzles, QR codes for favorite songs
Tips for a beautiful result
- Tone-on-tone:Natural jute + natural-colored macrame creates a calm, Scandinavian look.
- Food:(open sweets) first pack in a paper bag, then in a jute bag.
- Boho look:Comb out the macrame ends after knotting – decorative fringes.
- Reusability:After Advent, store the jute flat, roll up the yarn, and collect the number clips in a box.
- Safety:Use only LED string lights and keep a distance from candles/heat sources; in households with children, ensure a safe height.
Conclusion
Here, simplicity and natural appeal are key: macrame, jute, and wood – these materials combine to create a beautiful DIY advent calendar that you can fill and decorate individually. You decide on the size and design, giving the pre-Christmas season your own personal touch.
After December 24th, store everything neatly, and you can reuse the materials next year. This way, a small DIY project becomes a lovely Advent ritual: personal, durable, and repeatable for many years.
