Christmas Advent Calendar Pillow with Santa Belt – Free Crochet Along Pattern

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This free crochet pattern is for Christmas Advent Calendar Pillow. This pattern is made using mostly basic crochet stitches as well as Mighty Stitch and Dishie yarn from WeCrochet. The pattern will be released in parts through a Crochet Along.

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It’s July, so let’s enjoy the celebrations and preparations for Christmas already, shall we? Personally, I could have Christmas all year long. I love the colors, the atmosphere, and the crochet patterns. It’s all so whimsical and romantic. Don’t you think?

So to join in with the Christmas in July preparations, how about a fun pillow with an advent calendar to “Countdown till Christmas” with a Santa belt the fun way? In fact, I published this pattern about 2 years ago as a fun Challenge. But it was only available for those who joined and not publicly available. Until NOW!

This fun Advent Calendar Pillow crochet pattern will be released in parts as part of a free Crochet Along.

Now, the important question is: Will YOU join and make this fun Christmas crochet pattern?

Crochet Along Details

The Crochet Along will be hosted in about 1.5 weeks. So it will officially start on July 19th when the first part of the free crochet pattern will be released. That means you have plenty of time to either order your yarn or look through your yarn stash and see if you have the right or similar yarn available.

This pattern also uses iron-on words. You do not have to use them if you don’t have an Iron-on cutting machine, like a Cricut Machine. You can easily embroider the words on or buy pre-cut iron-on letters.

Furthermore, this Advent Calendar Pillow requires a pillow as the name suggests. I purchased mine from Amazon. I have a direct link provided in the material list if you would like to get the same one.

Join the Free Facebook Group “Crocheting with Nicki”

Ideally, you’ll join my fun and amazing Facebook Group called “Crocheting with Nicki” as you will see lots of like-minded crocheters in there who will join this crochet along aside you. Everyone will post pictures of their yarn, materials, wips, and final results. Come join the fun in the group if you haven’t already.

Join the Email List to get Pattern Part Release Reminders

Furthermore, it is crucial that you join my Email List, as I will provide you with email updates when a new part was released.

IF you are already on my email list, NO worries. You do NOT have to sign up again. You are good to go.

More Crochet Alongs Right Now

Speaking of Crochet Along, I’m currently hosting a MULTI-MONTH Stitch Crochet Along in my membership. But it’s not a regular Stitch CAL. It will take you out of your comfort zone and challenge you. You will learn new stitches and also learn how to use your swatches and make a bigger project, such as a blanket. In addition, you will learn how to sew or crochet them together and add borders.

All step by step using full video tutorials done LIVE so you can ask questions and get all support you may need. The final project will all be ready in time for the Gift-Giving Season.

Combining stitches, techniques, and inventing new stitches mixed in with lots of laughter and humor is what The Crochet Club is all about. No more “my work is not good enough” or “it’s not perfect”. You will experience how to be the best crocheter you always wanted to be. Be proud of every stitch of your work.

Now let’s talk about what the schedule for this project is, shall we?

Schedule for the Advent Calendar Pillow Crochet Along

The Advent Calendar Pillow Crochet Along will be split up into three parts. The first part may take a bit longer, but no worries, the crochet pattern will not disappear after each part is released. You can take your time crocheting each part. But you can also follow the schedule to a T. It’s your choice.

• Part 1 will be released on July 19, 2021 – now available below
• Part 2 will be released on July 21, 2021 – now available below
• Part 3 will be released on July 24, 2021 – now available below

Of course, if you prefer to have the entire pattern already so you can get started now or you prefer an ad-free printer-friendly version, you can get the PDF below already.

Get the PDF of the Advent Calendar Pillow

So, let me now give you the supplies you need in order to crochet this cute pattern.

This pattern is also available as an ad-free, printer-friendly pdf pattern that can be purchased at the links below for only a small fee.

If you like this Christmas crochet pattern, you might like these also:

1. Santa Belt Tissue Box Cover
2. Santa Belt Ornament
3. Long Santa Hat
4. Santa and Elf Booties

How to make the
Crochet Advent Calendar Pillow Pattern

Materials you will need

• WeCrochet Mighty Stitch Yarn (208yd/100g), in these colors: 
  • Serrano (3 skeins)
  • Canary (less than 1 skein)
  • Black (less than 1 skein) 
• WeCrochet Dishie Yarn (190yd/100g) in the color Fiesta Red (1 skein) 
• 4.00 mm hook
• 6.5 mm Tunisian Crochet Hook
• scissors
• tapestry needle
• Iron or Heat Press with Iron table 
• Acanva Decorative Rectangle Throw Pillow, 16×26 inches 
• Iron-on patches for the letters and numbers (1 through 24 (each number is about 1 inch in height) and “Days Till Santa Comes”) can be found at Michael’s or on Etsy OR 
• Cricut Machine 
• Siser Heat Transfer Vinyl, Glitter HTV, in color Rainbow White (from Michaels) 
• Advent Calendar Numbers for Cricut Design Space (click to view) 
• “Days Till Santa Comes” for Cricut Design Space (click to view) 

Gauge

5 sc x 5 rows = 1 square inch for sc in row 
5 tss x 3 rows = 1 square in for Tunisian crochet 

Size

16×26 inches 

Stitches used in the pattern

Learn all the basic crochet stitches HERE

• sc = single crochet
• tss = Tunisian Simple Stitch
• sl st = slip stitch
• ch = chain
• sk = skip
• Running Stitch (Embroidery)
• Back Stitch (Embroidery)
• 5 single crochet decrease
• inc = increase
• Mattress Stitch

Free Written Pattern for the Advent Calendar Pillow

NOTES:

You can crochet each part separately from each other and then sew them all together at the end. Be aware that the pillowcase stretches when the pillow is inserted.

You can use a Cricut machine (plus the given cut-out designs for it) OR iron-on your numbers and letters using bought patches OR use the surface crochet or embroider the numbers and letters to the crochet.

ONLY the Numbers Belt needs a Tunisian Crochet Hook (as it’s a small piece, one could use a normal crochet hook as well). The rest requires a normal crochet hook.

Pillowcase

Be sure to have your pillow insert already so you can adjust the chain count if needed. Everyone’s tension is different, especially if you use different yarn!

Using the color Serrano, Ch 80

R1: starting from the 2^nd ch from the hook (going in the back bump): 1 sc in each ch, turn and crochet into the opposite side of the chain (to crochet in rounds): 1 sc in each st (160 sts)

R2 – 26: 1 sc in each st in continuous rounds

Sew the pillowcase opening close HALF WAY using the mattress stitch.

Leave the pillowcase halfway open (don’t sew it closed all the way yet) until you sewed all the pieces into it.

Crochet Belt Loops

Make 5

Using the color Serrano, Ch 18

R1: starting from the 2^nd ch from the hook:1 sc in each ch, turn (17 sts)

R2 – 3: 1 sc in each st, turn

Fasten off, cut yarn end long for sewing

Sewing the Belt Loops to the Pillowcase

Position the belt loops such that there are 3 in the back of the pillow evenly and 2 in the front (middle and right side of the pillowcase). Each belt loop is about 2 inches from the top edge of the pillowcase.

Crocheting the Black Santa Belt

Using the color Black, Ch 16

R1: starting from the 2^nd ch from the hook:1 sc in each ch, turn (15 sts)

R2 – 118: 1 sc in each st, turn

Adding the Belt holes:

[R1: 1 sc in next 6 st, turn

R2– 3: 1 sc in each st, turn

Cut yarn

Skip 3 sts from R1 and re-attach the yarn

R1: 1 sc in next 6 st, turn

R2– 3: 1 sc in each st, turn

R4: 1 sc in next 6 st, ch 3, 1 sc in next 6 st, turn

R5– 6: 1 sc in each st, turn]

Repeat from [ to ] 2 more times

Fasten off and sew together the first and last row using the mattress stitch

Sewing the gold circles around belt holes

Using the Canary yarn color and a tapestry needle sew a circle around each belt hole using the backstitch.

Sewing the Santa belt to the pillowcase

Using the Canary yarn color and a tapestry needle sew the belt to the pillowcase about 5 inches from the LEFT edge, positioning the belt holes such that the lowest one is about 3-4 inches from the bottom edge.

Number Belt

Using the color Fiesta Red and the Tunisian Crochet Hook, ch 15

R1 – 149: 1 tss in each st

Fasten off.

Iron-on the Numbers to the Number Belt

Using the iron-on patches (bought or self-made using the Cricut) iron on the numbers evenly around the entire belt. You can also embroider or crochet the numbers on (using the surface crochet stitch) making sure each digit is about 1 inch in height.

Sewing on the Number Belt

Once the numbers are on the numbers belt, insert the belt through the belt loops and sew the first and last row together using the mattress stitch.

Golden Buckel

Using the color Canary, ch 41, connect the 1^st to the last chain to go in rounds.

R1: starting from the 2^nd ch from the hook: *1 sc in next 9 chs, [2sc, ch 2, 2sc] in the next stitch, repeat from * 3 more times, sl st to the first st

R2 – 11: *1sc in each st until you reach ch space, [2sc, ch 2, 2sc] in the ch space, repeat from * 3 more times, sl st to the first st

Fasten off

Now, re-attach the yarn to the first row (crocheting inwards to beautify the inside corners) 3 sts away from the next ch space (ch space should be on the right for a righty, and left for a lefty)

R1: *1sc in each st until you reach 2 sts before the next ch, 5 sc dec over the next 2 sts, ch space and 2 sts, repeat from * 3 more times, sl st to the first st

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Sewing on the Golden Buckel

Position the buckle such that the numbers of the numbers belt are aligned in the middle of the buckle. The buckle is right above the belt holes. Sew the buckle (outside edges) in place making sure the numbers belt does not get sewn on can be freely moved.

“Days Till Santa Comes” Iron-on

Iron on the phrase using the cut-out words from the Cricut machine or iron-on-bought letters. Remember if you use the same yarn as me (80% acrylic) you need to use a lower heat setting during the ironing-on process (about 315F for about 10 seconds should work fine). You can also embroider or crochet (using the surface crochet stitch) the letters to the pillowcase.

The phrase is located in the empty space on the front right corner (see pictures for more details).

Finishing the pillow case

Insert the pillow into the pillowcase and finish sewing the pillowcase closed using the mattress stitch.

Weave in any left-over ends.

Be sure to join my Crochet Facebook Group and show off your yarn, WIPS and final result of the Advent Calendar Pillow. I would love to admire them and cheer you on as you’re working on creating it and after you finished it.

I’m also always here to support you through this and any other pattern and tutorial. Simply ask in my group and me and other amazing and kind crocheters will help you along.

I will hope you love this pattern as much as I do.

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