Scandinavian Advent Calendar

Yarn support for this design was provided by Lion Brand Yarn.

I waited as long as I could to start sharing holiday ideas this year, but we knitters and crocheters know that if we want to make something in time for the holidays, we’ve got to get started early. The Scandinavian Advent Calendar is a beautiful way to crochet a handmade keepsake and build a family tradition for years to come. Even better, the Scandinavian Advent Calendar is great for crocheters at almost any skill level! This pattern uses mostly single crochet stitches and features basic embroidery stitches for a handmade, homey look, ideal for Christmas crafting.

Get an inexpensive, printable, ad-free PDF of this pattern here, and a kit to take the guesswork out of making your own here. 

Making the most of your advent calendar

Inspired by beautiful holiday decor found in Scandinavia, the simple, geometric trees and matching cross-stitch numbers of the Scandinavian Advent Calendar let you crochet a statement piece for holiday decorating. Once you’re done, you can fill each of the 24 pockets with candy and other surprises to build anticipation for Christmas Eve.

And don’t think Advent Calendars are just for kids! This year, I’ll be wrapping up my years-long ornaments of Christmas series with my 21st through 24th ornament patterns, so you can fill each pocket with the name of a different ornament and do one of two things. One, challenge yourself to make all of the ornaments of Christmas throughout the holiday season. Or two, you can hang one new ornament each day leading up to Christmas to add colorful, handmade touches to your Christmas tree. These are just a couple fun ideas to try, but feel free to get creative and incorporate your own traditions too! :)

Scandinavian Advent Calendar Kits!

Hold on to your Santa hats! The Scandinavian Advent Calendar is also available as a kit from Lion Brand Yarn. I’ve been meaning to start making some blog patterns available as kits for awhile, and the holiday season seemed like a great opportunity. Even if you don’t want to tackle making your Scandinavian Advent Calendar this year, put this colorful kit on your gift wish list. With a kit, you know you’ll get exactly the yarn you need to make this project, no guesswork required. PS: Kits are 35% off this week! Check it out! 

Get an inexpensive, printable, ad-free PDF of this pattern here, and a kit here.

Scandinavian Advent Calendar – Crochet Pattern

Skill level: Easy

Supplies
8 skeins Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton in Sky (Clr A)
2 skeins Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton in Grass (Clr B)
1 skein Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton in Ecru (Clr C)
1 skein Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton in Red (Clr D)

US G (4.25 mm) hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Progress markers (optional)
2, 24-inch dowels (0.5 to 0.75 diameter recommended) for hanging (optional)

Abbreviations & Terms
RS – right side
Clr – color
ch – chain
sts – stitches
sc – single crochet
WS – wrong side
rep – repeat

Notes: The upper part of this advent calendar includes some basic intarsia colorwork. Intarsia crochet involves working multiple colors of yarn in segments across a single row to form large segments of color without the need for carrying yarn at the back of your work (i.e. stranded colorwork).

Basic embroidery stitches (cross stitch, running stitch and basting stitch) are used to number and seam the finished calendar together. A running stitch looks like a dashed line, and a cross stitch looks like a small X. Basting stitches are quick, temporary stitches that are used to tack items in place, but they are later removed from a finished project.

Gauge & Dimensions: 18 stitches x 23 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet stitch with measurements taken after wet blocking. Finished calendar measures approx. 24 inches (60.1 cm) wide x 48 inches (122 cm) tall after wet blocking and seaming. Each pocket is approx. 3 x 3.5 inches (7.5 x 9 cm).

The Pattern

Calendar Body
row 1. (RS) Using Clr A, ch 109 sts. Starting in second ch from hook, sc 108.
row 2. (WS) Using Clr A, ch 1 (counts as sc), turn. sc 107.
rows 3-114. Rep row 2.
rows 115-258. Using Clrs A-D, follow the Trees Chart provided using sc sts and the intarsia colorwork method.
rows 258-288. Rep row 2.

Break yarn and draw tail through to secure. Weave in all ends. Wet block using pins to achieve straight edges and finished size (24” x 50”).

Calendar Pockets (Make 24.)

row 1. Using Clr A, ch 15 sts. Starting in second ch from hook, sc 14.
row 2. Ch 1 (counts as sc), turn. sc 13.
rows 3-17. Rep row 2.

Break yarn and draw tail through to secure. Weave in all ends. Wet block using pins to achieve finished size (3” wide x 3.5” tall per pocket).

Finishing
Once calendar body and pockets are blocked and dry, cross stitch one number per pocket on to your 24 total pockets using the charts provided. Note: Each single crochet stitch equals one rectangle in the chart provided.

Using a running stitch, seam numbered pockets in an evenly-distributed 6 by 4 grid onto the lower (light blue) half of your calendar body. Optional: To ensure even placement, use scrap yarn in a contrasting color to baste your pockets into place before seaming.

Fold over each end of your calendar body so there’s enough room for a dowel to be inserted. Baste your folds into place and use running stitches and yarn Clr A to secure each end, forming casings for your dowels. Weave in all remaining ends. Insert dowels into top and bottom casings. For storage and to avoid wrinkling, calendar may be rolled up like a map.

Pattern Charts

Download the Trees Chart & Pockets Charts (for cross-stitch numbers) here.

Don’t forget! You can get an inexpensive, printable, ad-free PDF of this pattern here. And a kit to make your own here. 

Yarn support for this design was provided by Lion Brand Yarn.