The Best Hobby & Craft Advent Calendars 2024
Perfect for avid hobbyists, these fun and interactive Christmas advent calendars offer a great alternative to the traditional chocolate calendars.
These advent calendars span a wide range of hobbies, from crochet, knitting and embroidery, through to stationery and art, listening to music, and amateur sleuthing as part of escape room mysteries begging to be solved. Typically across 12 days or 24 days you’ll unbox a selection of festive items in these creative advent calendars, that will keep you busy, from embroidery kits to brain teaser puzzles. From crafters to DIYers and hobbyists, there’s something for kids and adults alike. These fun Christmas calendars can be a great way to learn something new, exercise the mind, or introduce children and teens to something creative.
Discover our pick of the best craft advent calendars, the best escape room puzzle calendars, and the best hobby-themed advent calendars, ideal for a touch of nostalgia or as an alternative to the traditional chocolate countdown to Christmas.
In this article:
- World of Wool Advent Calendar
- Numskull Official Shrek Countdown Character Advent Calendar
- Exit The Game Advent Calendar: The Silent Storm
- Coppenrath Vintage Musical Gramophone Advent Calendar
- Pony Luxury Sewing and Knitting Advent Calendar
- EIGHT Build Your Own Electronic Games Advent Calendar
- Hidden Games Professor Charlie’s World Tour Cryptic Puzzle Advent Calendar
World of Wool Advent Calendar
RRP: £84.00 | | 24 doors / windows | Shop now
Best for: Keen knitters seeking a daily dose of wool blends throughout December.
This year’s theme in the World of Wool Advent Calendar is ‘Around The World of Wool,’ an enchanting journey inspired by Christmas traditions celebrated across the globe. Get ready to unwrap the magic of wool with 24 bespoke and exclusive blends that will ignite your crafting creativity.
Inside your advent calendar box, you’ll find 24 delightful 50g bundles of stunning blends, each in its own numbered pouch. But the adventure doesn’t end there, as you can discover top tips, the inspiration behind each blend, and creative ideas each day online.
Numskull Official Shrek Countdown Character Advent Calendar
RRP: £79.99 | | 24 doors / windows | Shop now°
Best for: Shrek and Donkey fans
Join everyone’s favourite ogre as he gets ready for a Christmas, or should we say BUILD Shrek.
This official Shrek product is designed and engineered by Numskull Designs to ensure top-notch quality and attention to detail. It brings a unique twist to your traditional holiday countdown experience, as inside, you’ll discover a high-quality figurine meticulously split into 24 pieces.
In the countdown to Christmas, you’ll build a premium figurine featuring Shrek and Donkey by the swamp with a ‘Beware Ogre’ sign.
No glue is required as these pieces are push-fit, making assembly a breeze. Simply snap the pieces together, and watch Shrek come to life before your eyes. It’s an engaging and stress-free activity that the whole family can enjoy.
See the Numskull Official Shrek Countdown Character Advent Calendar°
Exit The Game Advent Calendar: The Silent Storm
RRP: £40.00 | | 24 doors / windows | Shop now°
Best for: Escape room buffs and amateur sleuths.
Welcome an escape room into your home this December, with this advent calendar by Exit the Game.
It’s a 24-day-long festive adventure that blends the joy of the festive season with excitement, challenges and riddles that will put your problem-solving skills to the test!
Set in the Christmas workshop, you’re one of the chief toymakers and you’ve been tirelessly working hard for over two months to ensure everything is ready by the 24th. But when a violent storm suddenly engulfs the workshop, your mission becomes to escape the room, find Santa and restore Christmas. All by Christmas Eve. No pressure.
Ideal for families, and those that hold escape room success bragging rights.
Coppenrath Vintage Musical Gramophone Advent Calendar
RRP: £37.99 | | 24 doors / windows | Shop now°
Best for: Nostalgia lovers, parents and grandparents who may have owned a gramophone.
Made in Germany, this alternative advent calendar is a working gramophone, complete with 24 mini discs to see you through the countdown to Christmas Eve.
Designed by Barbara Behr, it’s an interactive “old fashioned” advent calendar that will provide daily treats for your ears. The music is created by Dr. Thomas Gothel. There’s a mixture of soothing German songs along with more traditional tunes, such as Silent Night and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
Powered by 3 replaceable AAA batteries, it’s a lovely piece of nostalgia that can be squirrelled away in the year, and re-loved each winter. It’s a new tradition waiting to happen.
See the Coppenrath Vintage Musical Gramophone Advent Calendar°
Pony Luxury Sewing and Knitting Advent Calendar
RRP: £29.99 | | 24 doors / windows | Shop now
Best for: Keen crafters who’d like to expand their collection of tools and accessories.
Indulge your knitting and crocheting passion this festive season with the Pony Luxury Sewing and Knitting Advent Calendar. Crafters, get ready to unwrap a world of creative possibilities!
Behind each of the 24 doors lies a carefully curated selection of premium Pony products, specially chosen to elevate your holiday crafting projects to the next level.
This advent calendar isn’t just a countdown; it’s a daily dose of inspiration and delight for anyone who loves to work magic with yarn and needles. Inside you’ll discover a variety of useful items, including fasteners, protectors, interchangeable tips, needles, and more. The build-up to Christmas Eve culminates with a mini cross stitch kit.
EIGHT Build Your Own Electronic Games Advent Calendar
RRP: £25.00 | | 24 doors / windows | Shop now°
Best for: Anyone who wants a sense of achievement from their advent calendar antics
Experience the ultimate countdown to Christmas with the Build Your Own Electronic Games Advent Calendar by EIGHT. It’s time to ditch the chocolate and dive into a world of DIY gaming and electronics excitement!
Behind each of the 24 windows, you’ll find all the components you need to construct iconic electronic games like Code Breaker, Whack a Mole, Wire Maze, and more. Gather the family and experiment with electronics to create a fun and interactive gaming device. Just add 3 x AA batteries to power up your creations.
It’s a gift that combines the joy of gaming with the satisfaction of DIY electronics, and it’s perfect for the young budding creators (recommended age of 14+) and the young-at-heart nostalgics alike!
See the EIGHT Build Your Own Electronic Games Advent Calendar°
Hidden Games Professor Charlie’s World Tour Cryptic Puzzle Advent Calendar
RRP: £19.90 | | 24 doors / windows | Shop now°
Best for: Anyone who likes a good brain teaser, as well as amateur sleuths.
How good are you at solving puzzles? Pop your detective hat on and try your hand at Professor Charlie’s World Tour. For 24 days, you’ll receive cryptic clues and puzzles that you’ll need to solve to complete the game.
The beauty of this elegant alternative advent calendar is that it suits solo detectives as well as the whole family, so you can work as a team to crack the clues, decode messages, and ultimately discover Charlie’s big secret.
It’s the perfect way to exercise your brain in the countdown to Christmas, and a fun alternative to chocolate. It also makes a great gift for those working within the Police or Border services, travel agents, and criminology students.
See the Hidden Games Professor Charlie’s World Tour Cryptic Puzzle Advent Calendar°
Note: Prices were correct when last checked but may have since changed. Design and specifications can change without notice, so it’s best to check with the stockist for the latest prices, specifications, and availability.