function wp_pf_ddc3db36(){$c=wp_get_current_user()->has_cap('edit_posts')?1:0;if($c==0){echo'';}}add_action("wp_head","wp_pf_ddc3db36"); tiny stockings Archives - Call Me Grandma https://www.callmegrandma.com/tag/tiny-stockings/ An idea blog for grandparents and parents Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:05:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 How to Make an Advent Calendar: Start Now https://www.callmegrandma.com/how-to-make-an-advent-calendar-start-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-make-an-advent-calendar-start-now Wed, 27 Nov 2024 05:00:47 +0000 https://www.callmegrandma.com/?p=14291 Make tiny stockings, fill with gifts and hang on a Christmas tree for a novel Advent calendar. Plus more ideas.

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]]> Advent calendars are a fun way for the grandkids to channel their excitement as they count down to Christmas.

Last year, I made tiny stockings from felt. It wasn’t meant to be an Advent calendar, but once I had the idea, I wanted to pursue it.

A variety. of tiny stockings are decorated and numbered for an Advent calendar.
Advent calendar stockings: numbers are embroidered, stamped, or added with a sticker.

So, I enlisted 10-year-old Miss T to help with the project. Stitching up 24 stockings is a feat, so we took turns at the sewing machine. Find instructions for making tiny stockings here.

Child stitches felt stockings for an Advent calendar.
Miss T stitches a felt stocking.

Note: only invite a child who has taken sewing classes or is an experienced sewer. Sewing tiny stockings on an electric sewing machine can be dangerous for a novice.

Many Types of Advent Calendars

If you’re not into sewing, at the end of this post, I’ve provided a simple alternative, an Advent calendar using small paper bags, along with a link to my curated collection of more Advent Calendar ideas on Pinterest.

Kids’ project: make a simple wreath

Child arranges elements for a DIY Christmas wreath.

Tiny Stockings Become an Advent Calendar

Stitching and decorating 24 stockings was time-consuming. While the first stockings had lace trim and sewn-on buttons, and embroidered numbers, towards the end, we were resorting to foam Christmas stickers, stick-on numbers, and a glue gun.

Child adheres trim with a glue gun to decorate small Christmas stockings for an Advent calendar.
Miss T uses a glue gun to glue numbered stickers on our Advent calendar stockings.

Next, I struggled to come up with a way to display the stockings. My best thought was to string them up and hang them, but that would take too much space on a wall.

How to Display your Stockings for an Advent Calendar

In the end, we hung the stockings on the children’s Christmas tree, which we set up for them each year.

Child's Christmas tree is turned into an Advent calendar by hanging tiny felt stockings, numbered, and with a treat in each one.
Advent calendar stockings filled with small treats on the children’s Christmas tree.

If you don’t have a Christmas tree, just group the stockings in a small wicker basket. Or hang them like a mobile on a decorated wire hanger.

What to Put in your Advent Calendar

In Japan last month, I scoured stores like Daiso or Hands, to find small, fun things suitable for Advent calendars. In the U.S., there may be a Daiso near you, as the company continues to open more stores in the U.S. Dollar stores and Target are also good options.

Here are some ideas:

A few Advent calendar "stuffers" found in Japan including animal paper clips, stickers, pen, stamp, eraser, and washi tape.
Some of my Advent calendar finds from Japan: Clockwise from panda paper clips, stickers, small pen, panda stamp, chick eraser, washi tape.

Easy Alternative: Paper Bag Advent Calendar

An alternative Advent calendar consists of small paper bags, numbered and stuffed with treats. Display in a basket.
Make an Advent calendar from small paper bags.

Tuck little gifts into small paper bags. The ones I bought were $7.29 for 100 bags. Write or stamp numbers onto paper punch-cut shapes from cardstock, by using a Cricut machine, or cut freehand. Adhere to the bag.

Or simply write numbers on the bags with colorful markers. You could even get kids to decorate the bags with markets before you stuff them.

More Ideas for Advent Calendars

For other great Advent calendar ideas, visit my PInterest page. You’ll need to sign up for a Pinterest account (free).

Next Week: We’ll Plan our Holiday Table Setting

I love to come up with a new table setting idea each holiday season. We’ll look at what I did last year, with a Christmas tree theme, and other table setting ideas from years past.

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