Crochet Advent Calendar | Keep Calm and Crochet On U.K

It’s beginning to look like the run up to Christmas has begun! And I’m delighted to share with you, not one, but TWO new designs inside issue 139 of Crochet Now magazine. Whether you are looking to add a little festive magic to your home or fancy crocheting a new Christmas companion, I’ve got two lovely projects for you in this issue.

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A collage featuring the 'Crochet Now' magazine cover with various crochet designs, a colourful crocheted cat figure wearing a festive outfit, and a decorative advent calendar wall hanging with numbered circular motifs in pink and green. — © 2026 Practical Publishing – Crochet Now Issue 139

🎄Bauble Burst Advent Calendar

Let’s make the countdown to Christmas extra special! My Bauble Burst Advent Calendar is a fun and colourful way to add a handmade touch to your festive decorations.

Featuring individual crocheted bauble pockets, this advent calendar is designed to bring a little burst of Christmas cheer to your home. I chose the bright colours, instead of going for something more traditional, so it would be a little different – though you could choose your own colours to match your Christmas palette.

Close-up of a hand attaching a numbered crocheted ornament to a beige advent calendar

For my wreath I used King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK (light weight) yarn made from 50% bamboo viscose and 50% cotton with a 4mm (US size G/6). Each 100g ball includes approximately 230m yarn, though you could use any similar weight cotton for a similar effect.

The only other things you need for your project are stitch markers, a tapestry needle, a 30cm dowel rod, some string and some advent buttons or beads to mark the days. I used these Wooden Advent Buttons from Etsy, but there are other options available from places like Amazon like these Wooden gift tags or these advent pin badges, or these from Craftwood Creations.

It’s nice to have fun arranging the baubles in numerical order, or mixing the numbers up so you have to hunt for a prize! It’s a lovely project to bring out year after year, and a wonderful alternative to a traditional shop-bought advent calendar.

❤️ SAVE IN BAUBLE BURST ADVENT CALENDAR ON RAVELRY ❤️

🐱 Sir Purrcival Jinglewhiskers the Cat

And now for something a little more cute! Meet Sir Purrcival Jinglewhiskers, my latest festive feline creation!

This charming Christmas cat is ready to bring a little extra magic to the festive season with his Christmas jumper and party hat at the ready. Sir Purrcival makes a delightful crochet project for anyone who loves cats and Christmas.

Crocheted orange cat wearing a green hat and pink sweater, seated on a wooden slice.

For Sir Purrcival I used some Ricorumi DK which is a firm favourite yarn of mine. Ricorumi DK is a 100% cotton yarn that comes in 25g balls [57.5m] in that’s available in lots of solid shades, I also used some Ricorumi Lame in goldfor a bit of Christmas bling.

For your project you will also need stitch markers, a tapestry needle, toy stuffing and 2 x 6mm black safety eyes, some black embroidery thread and a small pink or gold jingle bell.

Whether you’re make him as a gift for someone or a seasonal decoration he’s sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

❤️ SAVE SIR PURRCIVAL JINGLEWHISKERS ON RAVELRY ❤️

📃Where to Find the Pattern

You can find both of my festive designs in Crochet Now issue 139, available in shops now or you can grab a digital version from Craftworld.com.

Cover of Crochet Now magazine 139 featuring a smiling woman, festive crochet projects, stitch markers, patterns, and craft prize promotions

I’d love to see your versions of the Bauble Burst Advent Calendar or Sir Purrcival Jinglewhiskers the Cat – snap a pic and tag me on social if you give it a go! Share your creations on social media and tag me @kcaco.uk so I can admire all your colourful, sparkly results!

Looking for even more festive crochet inspiration? Take a look at my Christmas Crochet Patterns collection for more seasonal designs, including Christmas decorations, adorable characters and plenty of ideas to make your festive season extra special! 🎄

Until next time — happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on, my friends! xx

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Hello, lovelies! If there’s one thing I absolutely adore, it’s Christmas! The festive season is a time of joy, magic, and of course, crochet. This year, I had the pleasure of sharing something extra special at The Crochet Sanctuary – my Gnome Sweet Gnome Advent. It’s a delightful crochet advent project filled with festive fun, and I’m so excited to tell you all about it!

Crochet gnome advent calendar hanging on a white door, featuring a cheerful gnome figure with numbered pockets on its body for each day of December, ready to be filled with small surprises. The gnome has a tall hat, a white beard, and a festive, handmade charm

For those of you unfamiliar with The Crochet Sanctuary, let me fill you in! It’s a luxurious crochet retreat set in the stunning Cranage Hall in Cheshire. The hosts, Lisa and Lynda-Rose, always plan the most amazing weekends for their guests, and when it’s the weekend near to Christmastime, they take things up a festive notch.

I was so thrilled to be asked to lead a workshop again; the Crochet Sanctuary is one of my favourite places, and the people I’ve met there over the years have become such wonderful friends. As before Lisa and Lynda had given me carte blanche to do what I wanted for the design, all they knew was that it was going to be some sort of crochet advent calendar.

I always like to try and do something a little different, and initially had lots of ideas of what I could do but finally settle on the Gnome Sweet Gnome Advent Calendar. Picture this: a cosy, charming gnome hanging in your home, ready to count down the days to Christmas with you. Each day, a pocket holds a little surprise, making it a fun and interactive way to celebrate the holiday season. Not only is it a wonderful decoration, but it also makes for a fantastic family tradition.

A festive gnome lies on a desk, surrounded by a Christmas greenery branch and scattered wooden numbers, creating a cozy and rustic holiday scene.

I wanted my advent to not be too overtly ‘Christmassy’ for those that didn’t really celebrate the season, so I picked what I thought were the Scandi type colours of grey and red – and I thought who wouldn’t like to start the day with a little treat throughout December.

To make my calendar I used a 3.5mm hook (US size E/4), for the ‘calendar’ part of the wall hanging I used Sidar Stories DK in a lovely bright red (shade date night 808), Sidar Stories DK is a lovely cotton rich blended yarn that I’ve used before; it’s a 60% cotton and 40% acrylic. It comes in 50g balls (140m) and is a soft yarn which holds it’s stitches well. Then for the gnome I used Sidar Happy Cotton DK which comes in sweet little 20g balls (43m) and is available in 50 different shades and I used four different colours; 774 Stomp, 789 Lippy, 773 Sandcastle and 761 Dolly.

A close-up shot showcasing the different yarns used in the Gnome Sweet Gnome advent calendar project, with various festive colours visible. Wooden advent buttons, a hook, scissors and stitch markers are arranged neatly, adding a rustic, decorative charm to the scene.

Then the only other things you would need are some stitch markers, a tapestry needle, some toy stuffing, a 30cm dowel rod, some string and some advent buttons or beads to mark the days. I used these Wooden Advent Buttons from Etsy, but there are other options available from places like Amazon like these Wooden gift tags or these advent pin badges, or these from Craftwood Creations.

The pattern is a nice one to do with a fairly simple pattern repeat once you get into the swing of things and you can choose to make the pockets as you go or add them all at the end. Then the only other techniques incorporated are increases and decrease placed at strategic points to create the gnome features. I would say that this pattern is suitable for adventurous beginner crocheters, offering an exciting opportunity to explore new stitches and techniques while creating a fun piece of Christmas decor.

The top of the festive gnome, with its pointed hat and white beard, is displayed against a backdrop of lush green ivy, creating a whimsical and natural holiday vibe.

It was such a pleasure to see everyone’s gnomes come to life at the sanctuary. The workshop was filled with chatter, laughter, and a whole lot of yarn. By the end of the weekend, the room was bursting with festive cheer and some incredibly cute gnomes were underway! And of course, what’s Christmas without a little gnome punning fun? They were totally sleigh-ing it!

There were gnome-where near enough hours in the day to crochet all the festive cuteness we wanted, including the wonderful pair of festive socks and a wonderfully cute light up Christmas tree that we also had as projects. But I love that everyone walked away with their own unique creation and a bit of gnome magic to add to their holiday décor.

Close-up of the top section of a crochet gnome advent calendar against a white door, highlighting the gnome's tall, pointed hat, white beard, and large friendly nose. Small, numbered pockets begin beneath the face, inviting holiday surprises.

So if you’re looking for a project that’s full of festive spirit, the Gnome Sweet Gnome Advent will bring a smile to your face every day in December. It’s the perfect way to add a handmade touch to the most wonderful time of the year. You can find the full pattern available in my pattern stores – it’s the ultimate countdown to Christmas with a gnome-filled twist.

❤️ SAVE GNOME SWEET GNOME ADVENT ON RAVELRY ❤️

The Gnome Sweet Gnome Crochet Advent Calendar in now available for purchase from usual pattern platforms.

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I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!

Here’s to December, may it be a season full of crochet, cosy moments, and a very merry Gnome Sweet Gnome Advent! Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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