Nativity Advent Calendar Pattern and Tutorial

This Nativity advent calendar is made of felt and tells the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. The printable pattern and tutorial are included here.

Guess what I did last night? My mom brought over the advent calendar she made years ago and I traced all the pieces to make a pattern for all of you who have asked for it! Yay! Are you excited?!

I love it. I love that it tells the story of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem to be taxed. I love pulling out the little plastic baby Jesus on Christmas morning. I love the  handmade charm. And now you can make one for your family too!

Not only is this advent calendar special to me because I grew up with it, but I recently received an email from the original creator’s daughter. What a small world we live in! Carol Ann Thompson first made this calendar in 1965 for a church craft night in Rexburg, Idaho. Since then the pattern has spread around the country and somehow my mother ended up making one too. Thank you, Carol, for a beautiful calendar! I am honored to share the pattern here to continue the tradition of beloved craft ideas being passed from one creative woman to another.  

Step 1: Print out the pattern pieces so they fit on a normal piece of paper. Just right click on the images at the bottom of this post to save them to your computer.

Step 2: Cut out all the small felt pieces using the photo above for a color guide. One of the palm trees needs to be flipped over so it leans the opposite direction. Look at the photo and that will make sense.

Step 3: Freehand cut the numbered felt path. If you don’t have a long piece of felt, you could cut it from several smaller pieces and just glue them close together so that the seams aren’t noticeable.

Step 4: Glue Mary, Joseph and the donkey together and line the back side with the fusible webbing. This is the piece that moves along the path each day, so the webbing helps it be stiffer and sturdier. Add a strip of Velcro to the back. Make sure it’s the scratchy side so it can grab the felt.

Step 5: Cut out letters and numbers. Type up the words and numbers on the computer, print them out, then use them as pattern pieces or cut the letters and numbers out of craft vinyl using a Silhouette or Cricut machine. Or you could probably buy pre-cut letters at a craft store. It depends on your budget, skill levels and tools available. My mom freehanded the numbers shown by cutting rectangles the same sizes, then forming those rectangles into each number or letter. She’s incredibly artistic.

Step 6: Place all your smaller pieces on to the background piece and get them the way you want. Then glue ’em all down.

Step 7: Fold the top of the felt over to form a pocket for the dowel. Or use a long strip of extra felt or fabric. Carefully glue just the edge down. Make sure you don’t glue in too far or the dowel won’t slide through!

Step 8: Glue ribbon to the top and bottom edges. Or leave them plain. That works too! This is totally decorative, so it’s optional, but I do think it finishes the wall hanging off nicely.

Step 9: When all the glue is dry, slide the dowel through the pocket on the back and tie the twine onto the edges that stick out.

Step 10: Add a piece of Velcro (the scratchy side) to the little baby.

And that’s it. You are done! This project comes together pretty quickly. Just watch your favorite show while you cut out all the felt and you’ll be done in no time!

Like this project? Pin it so you don’t forget it!