If you love holiday crochet projects that are both adorable and functional, this Crochet Mitten Advent Calendar Garland is going to be your new favorite make of the season. This pattern features mini crochet mittens strung together as a cute advent garland that’s perfect for counting down to Christmas.
Each little mitten works up super fast and uses only a small amount of yarn, so this is a great stash buster. It would look really cute to have all the mittens different colors for a more casual look, which would be lovely too! You can fill the mittens with treats, notes, or tiny gifts, or simply hang them as a decorative Christmas garland. (I’m so putting little chocolates in mine to enjoy each day leading up the big day!) So no matter what you call it… a crochet mitten advent calendar, a crochet advent garland, or a crochet countdown to Christmas, this project is an easy one, and one you’ll be excited to decorate with every year.
In this post, you’ll find the full free pattern, and tips for assembling your garland. There’s also a printable PDF and a complete video tutorial if you prefer to follow along visually.
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Tips for Hanging Your Crochet Advent Garland
One of the best parts of this project is that you can display your crochet mitten advent garland almost anywhere! Every home is a little different, so feel free to adjust the length and placement to fit your space. Here are a few simple tips to help you get the perfect look:
- Choose your hanging spot first. Mantles, entry tables, stair railings, bookshelves, and door frames all work beautifully.
- Use removable adhesive hooks (I’m using command hooks) if you don’t want to commit to nails. For the example shown, two outer hooks were spaced about 51 inches apart, with a third hook centered between them to support the middle. Be sure to use the appropriate hooks and hanging methods for your unique garland.
- Make your garland slightly longer than the hanging width. The finished garland length is about 55 inches, which gives it a nice, gentle drape when hung. I would say 2-5″.
- Add loops to both ends of your garland string. Creating small twine loops makes it easy to hang and adjust the garland on your hooks.
- Keep the mittens evenly spaced. Once all the mittens are strung onto the twine, spread them out so the garland feels balanced and intentional.
- Optional: If your mittens tend to slide, add a tiny dot of hot glue or craft glue behind each hanging loop to hold them in place.
- Match your aesthetic. Hang the mittens with thumbs all facing the same direction for a clean, cohesive look.
I can’t wait to see how you decide to style your garland!
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All patterns on this blog are for personal use only and may not be redistributed, copied, blogged, or sold as your own. You may sell items made by my patterns as long as the item is made by you personally (not mass produced) and that proper credit is given back to me and my site, Just Be Crafty. You may not use my photos for your online sales listings.
Materials
Yarn
- Any #4-medium weight yarn in two colors
- 285 yds / 127.5 g / 260 m
Suggested Yarn
- Loops & Threads Impeccable in colors Claret and Deep Forest, 1 ball each
- 100% acrylic, #4-medium weight yarn
- Each ball is 285 yds / 127.5 g / 260 m
Suggested Hook
- 4.5 mm I use this set
Notions + More
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- Wooden numbers (just over 1.25″ (3.2 cm) diameter) These from Amazon
- Twine/Jute (3mm thickness) This one from Michaels
Skill Level
This pattern is beginner friendly but assumes you already know the following skills:
- Chaining
- Single crochet
- Increasing
- Decreasing
Once you have these skills under your belt, I’m confident you can tackle this pattern.
Video Help
I made a video tutorial to help you walk through this mitten advent calendar step by step. Click on the play button below to make along with me!
Finished Measurements
- Mitten height = about 3.25″ (8.3 cm)
- Finished piece creates a 12 day advent garland that is about 55″ (139.7) wide.
Gauge
- 5 st of single crochet in the round = about 1″ (2.54 cm)
Notes
Construction
The mittens are worked from the cuff up. You’ll start by making a ribbed cuff worked flat back and forth in rows, then fold and seam it to form a loop. From there, the mitten is worked in continuous rounds, shaping the thumb gusset, creating the thumb opening, and then crocheting the palm and fingertip area. After completing the main body of the mitten, you’ll return to work the thumb stitches. Finally, you’ll add finishing touches by creating a hanging loop and working a round of single crochet around the cuff for a smooth, polished edge.
Finished mittens are strung along a cream twine complete with wooden numbers attached to each mitten.
Instructions are for a 12-day advent calendar garland but you can of course adjust the number of mittens and length of garland to suite your needs. If making more mittens, you’ll need more yarn and twine.
Special Techniques
Increase
Make 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch. 1 stitch increased.
Invisible Decrease
Insert hook into the outer loops of the next two stitches. Draw up a loop, yarn over and complete the single crochet. 1 stitch decreased.
Abbreviations
- ch chain
- sc single crochet
- scblo single crochet in back loop only
- st(s) stitch(es)
- inc increase
- rep repeat
- sk skip
Grab the PDF
Purchase the Digital Version! In an Easy To Read, AD-FREE & Printer Ready Format!
Easy Crochet Mitten Advent Calendar Garland: Written Pattern
Read complete pattern and NOTES before beginning.
Make 12 (6 in each color)
Cuff:
Ch 5.
Row 1: Working into the back bar of the foundation chain and beginning in the 2nd ch from hook, sc across; turn. (4)
Row 2: Ch 1, scblo across; turn. (4)
Rows 3–19: Repeat Row 2.
Fold piece in half so the starting and ending edges touch. Ch 1 and sl st the two edges together through the outer loops only to form the cuff. Turn right side out so the seam is on the inside.
Place a stitch marker in the seam to mark the approximate beginning of round. We will work continuously in the round without joining to avoid a seam. Because of this, the beginning of round will shift, but keeping the marker at the seam helps maintain orientation.
Wrist:
Round 1: Ch 1, work 20 sc evenly around the cuff.
Round 2: Sc around. (20)
Thumb Gusset:
Round 3 (inc): 2 sc in first st, placing your marker (Marker 1) in the first of these 2 sts; 2 sc in the next st, placing your second marker (Marker 2) in the second of these 2 sts. Sc in each st until you reach back around to Marker 2. (22)
You now have two markers separated by 2 stitches.
Round 4 (inc): Inc in the marked st and move the marker to the first st of the inc; sc to next marker; inc in the marked st and place the marker in the second st of that increase. Sc around up until you reach the next marked st (Marker 2). (24)
Round 5: Sc in each st around (replacing markers 1, and 2, as you go) stopping one stitch before reaching back around to Marker 2.
Round 6: Ch 2, skip 6 sts, sc in next st (this is the st immediately after marker 2), sc around to the ch-2.
You have now created the thumb opening.
The hand
Round 7: Sc into each ch of the ch-2, then sc around. (20)
Rounds 8–9: Sc around. (20)
The fingertips
Round 10 (dec): *Sc in next 8 sts, invisible dec; rep from * to end. (18)
Round 11 (dec): Sc in next st, invisible dec; rep from * to end. (12)
Round 12 (dec): Invisible dec in every st around. (6)
Cut yarn leaving 10″ tail.
Cinching the top
Thread tail onto a yarn needle, inserting the needle from back to front through each stitch. Pull tail to tighten closed. Secure, and weave in the end.
Thumb
Attach yarn to any of the 6 thumb sts.
Round 1: Ch 1. sc around until you reach the ch-2 at the top of the thumb opening. Work 1 sc in each ch and continue to sc to end of round. (8)
Rounds 2-4: Sc around. (8)
Cut yarn leaving an 8″ tail.
Thread tail onto a yarn needle, inserting the needle from back to front through each stitch. Pull tail to tighten closed. Secure, and weave in the end.
Finishing:
Grab yarn and center it over the thumb area and attach.
Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 14, and sc back into the same spot to form a hanging loop.
Sc evenly around the mitten cuff (about 20 sts).
Do not join. Cut yarn and use duplicate stitch to close the round seamlessly. (See tutorial.)
Secure and weave in any remaining ends.
Advent Garland Assembly:
Your advent display may look a little different depending on where you choose to hang it, so feel free to customize these instructions to fit your space.
In the example shown, the garland is hung from adhesive hooks on a mantle. The two outer hooks are placed 51″ (129.5 cm) apart with a third centered between them. The finished garland length is about 55″ (139.7 cm), and the mittens are strung along twine with 6 on each side.
If you plan to fill the mittens with heavier items (heavy or multiple candies, small toys, etc.), strengthen your garland by using two or more strands of twine held together. Be sure to use hanging hardware or methods that can support the weight of your garland.
Step 1: Make the garland string.
Cut a 67″ (170 cm) length of garland twine. (Cut multiple strands for increased durability.)
To figure out your custom cut, choose the distance you want to your hooks to be: ____ + 16″ (40 cm) = ____ length to cut. Adjust this number as needed for your unique garland.
(My example: 51″ (distance between my hooks) + 16″ = 67″)
From one end, measure 6″ (15 cm) and fold the twine(s) at that point. Tie a loop knot as close to the twine end(s) as possible; tighten firmly.
This creates a loop approximately 3″ (7.6 cm) long.
Repeat on the other end.
Set aside.
Step 2: Add advent numbers to the mittens
Lay out mittens in desired order and orientation.
(Example: thumbs all pointing to the right.)
Take mitten #1, its number tag, and the included twine.
Fold the twine in half and insert the folded end through the number-tag hole from front to back.
Pull the tail ends through the loop and tighten.
Tie the number to the mitten’s hanging loop, leaving about 1″ of slack so the tag hangs neatly.
Trim excess twine.
Repeat for all 12 mittens.
Step 3: String the mittens onto the garland
Slide the main garland twine through each mitten’s hanging loop, keeping all mittens in order and oriented correctly.
Hang the garland using the end loops on your hooks, placing the midpoint on the center hook. Spread mittens evenly.
If desired, apply a small bead of hot glue or craft glue behind each mitten loop to prevent sliding.
I hope you enjoy making this Crochet Mitten Advent Calendar Garland! It’s such a fun and relaxing project. If you make one, I’d love to see your color combinations and how you style it for the holidays!
And if you enjoyed this pattern you’re going to LOVE these ones too!