24 of the best DIY advent calendar kits and ideas

Give this Christmas a handmade countdown with our favourite DIY advent calendar kits and ideas. Let's face it it's never too soon to start the holiday season craftathon. In this post, we've rounded up our favourite kits to buy and free patterns to make. We've filled this post with every type of DIY countdown a maker could dream of – you'll find pop-up cardboard kits, wooden advent calendars, fabric advent calendar panels and advent calendar boxes– plus we've popped in a few free projects for DIY calendars too if you're looking for a daily dose of creativity in the run up to Christmas. So pop on some Christmas carols and enjoy a festive craft session!

Having handmade decorations in the run-up to Christmas is one of my favourite ways to make the festive season feel a little more unique and personal (plus it's a huge Christmas trend this year), and we are big on the Christmas traditions in my house. We deck the halls early and the first day of advent is a big deal. There are lots of DIY advent calendar projects out there for all makers – whether you're not really a crafter but just want to try your hand at making a family heirloom, or you've got a craft stash overbrimming and are quite happy to tackle more advanced DIYS.

If you're ready to tackle a DIY advent calendar we have all the ideas you need, from complete DIY advent calendar kits to fabric and paper varieties to make at home. Read on and pick your favourite. You might also like our sister guides to the best yarn advent calendars, wildlife-themed advent calendars and non chocolate advent calendars.

Main image © Yuliya Kashirina

Best DIY advent calendar kits and ideas to make at home

Sew them, fold them, decorate them – which of these DIY advent calendar kits will you get making this December?

• Buy it now from Etsy

Needle and Ned Ltd we salute you, this is a beautiful DIY advent calendar and it comes with 5 star reviews from fellow makers on Etsy. You get a printed tree fabric advent panel, pockets and loop. Your finished calendar will measure 60 cm high and 55 cm wide, the panels are designed and printed here in the UK (so you'll need to leave a little longer for delivery if you're based overseas).

• Buy it now from Etsy

The only crochet kit in this round up, it's the perfect choice for yarn lovers. Make your own calendar completely suited to your taste with Wool Couture Company. You can personalise the kit by choosing your four colours and select whether you need a crochet hook!

• Buy it now from Not on the High Street

If you're looking for a really unique DIY advent calendar, this personalised hanger, completed with your family name is a great idea if you're not up for days of crafting but like the thought of hanging individual gifts from the pre-punched holes! Each hanging comes topped with a festive cityscape design and includes 24 cut holes for you to tie gifts with string. It's made to order out of natural birch wood.

• Buy it now Etsy

We absolutely love the Nordic-style vibes of this cross stitch Advent Calendar, featuring all sorts of Christmas motifs from one of our favourite traditional cross-stitch brands – Historical Sampler Company. It comes with Zweigart fabric, a computer printed black and white chart and DMC pre-sorted stranded cotton. Finished size is 27cm x 27cm and you can choose between a kit with 16 count aida or a Luxury Gift Box with 16 count aida.

• Buy it now from Etsy

Simply pop up these red and white candy stripe boxes and fill them with sweets and little treats – one of the easiest DIY advent calendar kits in this round-up, we love the modern, merry and bright design and gold foiled finishing touches. Why not hang them from your tree? Each kit includes 24 boxes & 24 number stickers plus red and white butchers twine.

• Buy it now from Etsy

We can never resist a Scandi Christmas project, and this makes your own wooden advent calendar ticks so many of our boxes for the perfect make. Once complete, each of the drawers pulls out so you can add whatever you like.

Of course we've got our own DIY advent calendar projects here on Gathered, if you'd rather make your own from your own stash, head to our pair of tutorials for how to Make your own advent calendar at home.

• Buy it now from Etsy

This really sweet idea is giving us the urge to drink hot chocolate and curl up by a warm fire wearing some Fairisle knitting. One of several papercraft kits in this collection, your advent village comes ready for you to cut and assemble, complete with 50 festive activities to place in your houses for each day of the festive countdown! Make your own advent calendar village by adding your own family traditions onto the blank activity sheets provided, or add your favourite sweet treats.

• Buy it now from Etsy

Pop-out each of the individual silver star-shaped advent boxes, assemble, and fill with sweets and little treats. A beginner-friendly make with no previous craft experience, these little advent star boxes would look lovely displayed in a large glass jar or hang them from your tree.

• Buy it now from Not on the High Street

It is hard to put into words how excited we are to learn that Make & Mend has released a stitchmas Calendar! Their 12 days of Stitchmas kit comes complete with a set of envelopes that are filled with a different stitchy pattern every day. Embroider each design and create a garland of Christmas decs for your home.

Been hoarding your favourite festive fabrics and now you need something to sew with them? This gorgeous free fabric advent calendar pattern it's easy to sew and you can then fill each pocket with little treats!

• Buy it now from Etsy

Rather than a full kit, this is a printed fabric piece that features beautiful Forest Friends Advent Calendar square panels by Dashwood Studio. The pockets feature Christmas animals and birds with metallic gold accents. It comes with instructions for how to turn it into your very own DIY advent calendar too. You'll need to supply the additional sewing stash to turn it into a finished calendar though – see full details of what's included in the Etsy listing.

This one isn't technically a kit but we couldn't resist including a shout-out to this really simple-sew advent calendar DIY project we have for you to make along at home. Give it a go if you already have a few sewing supplies ready to use. Learn how to make a fabric advent calendar right here on Gathered! For a more grown-up advent calendar make Anna Alicia's Scandi style advent calendar.

• Buy it now from Etsy

A super easy DIY, this ready-to-go advent calendar kit comes with 24 stockings and pegs. Simply hang them from a string above your fireplace, TV, or desk for a lovely simple me-made countdown.

• Buy it now from Etsy

We've been eying up Advent Calendar Panels to sew for years so this article is the perfect excuse to share a few of our favourites out there. This one is around 60 cm high by 50cm wide and is pre-printed with front, pockets loops and binding. It's printed on 100% woven cotton 160 gsm so a nice medium weight to hold your daily treats. It's designed and painted at Ned's studio in the UK and isn't too tricky to piece together as it comes with full instructions. Say hello to your next family heirloom.

• Buy it now from Etsy

Enjoy a daily DIY embroidery project with this fab kit by Nelly Makes Embroidery. You'll get 24 mini motifs which you can then embroider onto anything you choose. You'll get two embroidery needles, a mini hoop, a tips guide and all the thread you need.

• Buy it now from Etsy

Treat yourself or a crafty pal to this beautiful 100% cotton advent calendar by Dashwood Studios. Pre-printed, you simply have to stitch it up to make an heirloom Christmas craft project that you'll keep in the family for years and years.

Reach for yarn scraps from your stash and sew up Simply Knitting's advent calendar wreath DIY. If this advent calendar wreath doesn't take your fancy then head over to our knitted advent calendar with pockets tutorial instead!

• Buy it now from Amazon

Some of the kits in this round up come with everything you need, but we also thought it would be nice to include a blank canvas for those of you who have over-brimming craft cupboards in need of a project to use up all that stash! Take this basic cardboard advent calendar and decorate it with your favourite festive papers and embellishments!

• Buy it now from Amazon

The best kit in this collection if you're on a tight budget, we just think it's really cute! Make Your Own Garland Advent Calendar with this child-friendly craft kit. Each kit contains 25 paper bags plus stickers and string for you to decorate as you please.

• Buy it now from Not on the High Street

Your fluffy pets deserve to enjoy Christmas just as much as you. Pick up this dog treat advent calendar which comes with 24 delicious doggie treats and treat your pooch. You can reuse the kit year after year - just replace the treats!

• Buy it now from Etsy

24 days of stickers with gold foil? Yes, please! Why have we been waiting all our lives for this idea? Choose between loads of different colours like rose gold, copper, blush pink and more, then stick them to some DIY advent calendar envelopes.

• Buy it now from Baker Ross

Cuteness alert! Have fun with kids counting down to Christmas with this wooden Advent calendar tree – ready to decorate with découpage paper, acrylic paint or Deco pens. Simply decorate, paint and number the draws then fill with tiny treats!

Got loads of festive fat quarter projects left that need using up? Turn them into this sweet DIY advent calendar using Anna Alicia's free pattern here on Gathered. She shows you how to sew Advent calendar stockings and if you have spare fabric, thread and a needle you've basically got your own DIY advent calendar kit at home! If you need to pick up some new festive fabrics then check out our round-up of the best Christmas fabrics.

We hope you've enjoyed our DIY advent calendar round-up and are ready to make your own advent calendar for 2021. For some sustainable festive makes head over to our eco-friendly Christmas crafts round-up. We also teach you how to make a Christmas wreath from scratch!

For more festive makes, check out our favourite crochet Christmas decorations, free Christmas knitting pattterns, or follow our step by step guide to how to make a Christmas stocking.

Looking for more ways to keep kids entertained over the festive season? Check out our fun arts and crafts to do at home.