As with last year, we’re celebrating the holiday season with a virtual Advent calendar here on the blog, but there’s a new twist. This year, I have friends joining me in creating the posts! Each day, I’ll update this blog post with a new treat under that date’s heading. You can expect to find free patterns, printables, playlists, recipes, links to favorite poems, and more.
For daily emails letting you know when the next update is posted, please sign up for the dedicated Advent calendar section of my newsletter.
And as you may know, I care a lot about making sure my neighbors are fed. That’s why I donate a portion of each month’s profits from my business to my local chapter of Feeding America. My blog is a big portion of that income each month, and December is usually a particularly good month for ad revenue. As a result, I’m committing to donating 10% of my blog’s ad revenue for the month of December on top of the existing monthly donation I already make. (Update January 6, 2026: come see how much we were able to donate thanks to this event!)
Your visits to this post and all the other posts on my blog help combat food insecurity in my community. Thank you!
November 30, 2025
To kick off this year’s digital Advent calendar, I have a freebie for you that I’ve been meaning to create for quite some time. It’s a worsted-weight sock pattern designed to help new sock knitters get the hang of sock construction without also worrying about the faff of fingering-weight yarn and 2 mm needles. If you’re an experienced sock knitter who just wants some ultra thick and cozy socks, these might also be just what you need.
The pattern will be available for free on the blog through December 31, 2025. You can find it here.
December 1, 2025
Our first treat from a friend is a free pattern code from the wonderful Joy Friedman at Top of the World Knits. Joy’s designs run the gamut from simple and accessible hats to stunning colorwork vests, but her contribution to the Digital Advent Calendar hits the sweet spot of striking visual effects and soothing stitches. What’s more, this one is DK-weight so it works up relatively quickly, which means you still have time to whip one up for a holiday gift.
You can use the code CROWNYOURSELF to download a free copy of the It’s Good to be Queen Shawl on Joy’s website. The code is good through the end of December.
December 2, 2025
Today’s update is the first of a few batches of wonderful recipes shared from some dear friends. Jessica Ays is the powerhouse behind the popular Knit Happy Summit that I know many of you have attended and where I love teaching virtual workshops. Her warmth and kindness are palpable even through the computer screen, so you know her recipes are going to be a comforting bunch of goodies, too.
You can find Jessica’s recipes linked in a handy, bookmarkable list over on her blog.
December 3, 2025
Remember how last year, I mentioned that I sometimes pretend I’m a medieval nun scribbling away in a scriptorium when I’m having trouble focusing on my work? Well, sometimes my inner scribe needs a little more than just white noise to get moving.
Sometimes, we need a medieval dance party. There have absolutely been times where my friend Julie and I have been having virtual coworking sessions and I’ve been visibly grooving away with my headphones in, only for it to be the result of some dude on a lute.
Here’s an embedded, playable playlist for you.
December 4, 2025
Teresa Runnet is a familiar face to long-time blog readers who may remember her profile here a few years ago. She has also saved my bacon on more than one occasion as one of the most organized and effective Virtual Assistants I’ve ever worked with (seriously, what a gem). What you may not know about Teresa is that she also happens to design the cutest little knit stuffies.
And today, she has a new pattern out that’s free on her blog! The Little Knit Hedgehogs are a great way to use up small leftovers from your larger craft projects.
If you’d rather have a PDF version of the pattern, Teresa has kindly shared with us the discount that she’d normally only share with her newsletter subscribers. You can use the code LITTLEHEDGEHOG for 25% off, and the code will be active from December 4th – December 14th on her website and Ravelry.
December 5, 2025
Ashleigh Wempe designs knitting patterns, hosts summits, runs a thriving online community of stitchers, and is an all-around rockstar of yarn. When she first sent me her contribution for today’s post, I had myself a hearty giggle. These printable gift tags are a fun mix of sweet and salty, perfect for all the different kinds of gift-giving you’ll need to do during the holiday season.
You can find her Naughty and Nice Gift Tags right here.
December 6, 2025
As you may know by now, most of us in the fiber industry have several components to our businesses, and today’s contributor is no exception. I first got to know Whitney Steen as a tech editor, but she’s also a talented illustrator. Her knit- and crochet-themed greeting cards have given me some extra cheer in the run-up to the holiday season.
And for today’s treat, Whitney has sent over some desktop and mobile phone backgrounds with festive little snowmen dancing across them. Just right click and save the image you’d like to use.
If you’d like to learn more about Whitney’s process and how these cool illustrations make their way into the world, be sure to check out her blog post on vector illustration.
December 7, 2025
It’s Sunday again, which means I have another free project for you! Today’s little treat is a tutorial for using up Advent mini skeins or leftovers from socks. We’ll turn those bits and bobs of yarn into a festive pennant bunting.
You can find the tutorial over on my blog post here: Festive Pennant Bunting.
December 8, 2025
Aimee Sher is one of my friends in the fiber world who has been here since the very beginning. In fact, it was Aimee’s idea to turn the Arroyo Verde Mitts into the Creme Brulee Socks, which became one of my most popular knitting patterns ever.
And on top of being an incredible designer in their own right, Aimee is also a gardener and chef extraordinaire. I am constantly stealing meal ideas from their Instagram stories.
Today, Aimee has shared their recipe for strawberry milk tea, including the recipe for the strawberry syrup itself. That’s right, you can get extra fancy with your sweet drinks by pouring some homemade fruit syrup into them!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to make myself a beverage.
December 9, 2025
I’m always a big fan of using up scraps, and especially so when those scraps can make for a festive decoration. Jules Pecaut has sent over a free pattern for a charming bow that you can use to decorate wreaths at any time of the year. Use festive autumn colors for fall celebration, icy blues and silvers for winter, springy pastels when things start warming up again–what a way to make a single wreath work for your decor all year long!
You can download the PDF for the pattern by clicking this link.
December 10, 2025
Today, we have an embarrassment of riches! Lena Mathisson, the designer behind Softyarn Designs, has sent not one, not two, but three different goodies to share with you all.
If you’re looking for a good shortbread recipe or planning some last-minute gift knitting, today’s treats are right up your alley. Just right click and save whichever of these you’d like to use.
December 11, 2025
Kids’ knits are so fun and satisfying because you finish them pretty quickly, and little kids just look so stinking cute in a handknit sweater or hat. There’s just one challenge: what yarns can you use that will hold up under heavy wear, survive a washing, and not lose their shape too much?
Enter Hannah Graham, one of my favorite designers of kids’ knits. Hannah has brought us a list of her favorite yarns for kids’ knits, and it is so wonderfully helpful. If you have a little one in your life and you’re thinking of knitting them something, be sure to check out this list compiled from years of experience (Hannah has two littles of her own).
P.S. – If you’re looking for a soothing, cozy podcast, Hannah’s is one of my favorites.
December 12, 2025
Knitting and reading often seem to go hand-in-hand as far as favorite hobbies go, which is why I’m extra excited about today’s entry. Kam from Hand Knit by Kam runs an online book club when she’s not designing gorgeous, vibrant knitting patterns, and she’s read over 140 books this year alone.
Today, she’s narrowed things down to her top 5 favorite reads this year, plus a few bonus recommendations if you’re looking for something light and cheery for your holiday reading. I’ve already added several to my TBR, and I have a feeling you will, too, after checking out this list.
December 13, 2025
The holiday season is often full of social gatherings where, along with tasty snacks, fancy beverages are plentiful. Winter has all sorts of beautiful flavors that show up in our beverages this time of year – apple cider, cranberries, mulled wine, nutmeg and cloves and cinnamon galore.
Today’s little treat is a recipe from Crystal Hiatt that can be made as either a cocktail or a mocktail. That means, no matter who you are or how you like to enjoy your social gatherings, you can have a fancy drink to go along with the holiday treats. (Friends who are under the legal drinking age where you live, please make sure to enjoy the mocktail version, and friends who are of legal drinking age where you live, please enjoy the cocktail version responsibly if that’s the one you choose to make).
If you enjoy fancy beverages of all sorts, Crystal has a fun collection called Socktails, Mocktails, and Cocktails that pairs sock patterns with recipes.
December 14, 2025
Today’s treat is free for a limited time as part of Marly Bird’s 24 Days of Quickies. The Kelp Forest Cowl is normally a paid-only pattern, and after this event is over, it’ll go back into the vault as a paid-only pattern again. Grab your copy of the PDF while you can!
December 15, 2025
When winter breezes have you feeling a little extra chilly, it helps to have some extra-thick, snuggly knitwear to fend them off. Today’s contribution from Sönna of Wool and Wyrd will make sure you have exactly what you need. The Bluster Collection is a set of beginner-friendly knitting patterns built around the broken rib stitch, creating a versatile canvas for hand dyed yarns and everyday wear.
You can grab any two patterns from the Bluster Collection for free, making it easy to knit a cozy set like a hat + scarf, mitts + a headband, or any combination that brings you joy. Use the code WinterGift to download two Bluster Collection patterns at no cost.
Here is a link to the collection listing on Sönna’s website: https://www.woolandwyrd.com/bluster-collection-knitting-patterns
December 16, 2025
I have fond childhood memories of Jell-O salads and tubs of Cool Whip (my granddad had diabetes, and those both had sugar-free options so he could still enjoy dessert with us). Like many of us, though, I’ve tried over the years to reduce the amount of highly processed food I use in my cooking.
So today’s recipe from Aleatha Shannon gives me a lot of joy, because it’s a childhood throwback with fresh ingredients. Aleatha’s Easy Cranberry Pineapple Fluff Fruit Salad Recipe uses fresh whipped cream and whole cranberries (plus mini marshmallows because we gotta have a little fun here, right?) for a bright, sweet treat.
December 17, 2025
Here’s something you may not know about me: I’m a retired choir kid. I love, love, LOVE old music (see the earlier playlist full of medieval jams for more evidence on that front).
So when I got to chatting with Ethan Pyle recently (he’s the dyer behind Refracted Light Fiber Art) and we discovered we both love old Christmas carols, it only made sense that he would compile a playlist of his favorites to share with us.
Here’s an embedded playlist:
December 18, 2025
No matter how hard I try to be organized and stay on top of a schedule, I tend to leave things until the last minute. Gifts aren’t immune from that, even when the gifts are handknits.
Which is why I love patterns for small makes, and today’s treat is exactly that. Kirsten Joel has brought us her Enoree Kerchief, which is a sweet, soothing, garter square with a lace trim that is both dainty and practical. In fact, it might just be the perfect last-minute cast-on.
Kirsten has a real knack for knits that are both delicate and usable, so be sure to check out her other patterns on her site, too.
December 19, 2025
HELP, when I tried today’s little treat, I nearly melted into a joyful puddle on the floor. You see, today’s contributors are dear girlhood friends who live just 15 minutes away and happen to be recipe bloggers. When we met up for lunch a few weeks ago, they brought me a test version of this recipe to try out.
And friends. Friends. Rachel and Emily are so good with flavor and texture. These Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls have lived rent-free in my head ever since–impossibly fluffy, sweet but also a tiny bit tart from the cream cheese in the frosting, perfectly ooey gooey. Divine.
December 20, 2025
I have a former colleague who used to give gifts of homemade jam and lemon curd for the holidays. Ever since, I’ve thought little gift jars of fruity treats were just so chic.
And so when Jenny of Lucky Jonquil (a fabulous resource for embroidery tools and kits!) offered to send her favorite recipe for gift preserves, I jumped at that offer. Here’s Jenny’s recipe in her own words.
This Cranberry Chutney is an absolute family & friends favorite – requested the following holiday season by nearly everyone I’ve gifted it to, sometimes with a jar returned to make sure of it.
General notes:
– Some years it gels better than others. I’ve never fully nailed down the why and how because I’m not a candy or jam maker. If it’s a little runny, don’t fret, it will still taste amazing.
– Some years I forget an ingredient. I often forget that my daughter prefers theirs without the pecans (I should make a note on the printed recipe), but no one seems to mind too much in the long run.
– Makes about 6 cups, I’ve never actually measured. I usually end up making another batch after the first.
Ingredients:
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
2 12-ounce packages of fresh cranberries
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup raisins
1 cup pecan chips
1 large apple, peeled and diced
2-3 clementines, peeled and cut wedges in half
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon liquid ginger (we use Ginger Juice by Ginger People, its so good)
Directions:
In a large saucepan, mix water and sugar and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Add all other ingredients, stir well, and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You’ll see the liquid thicken on the spoon. You’re ready to remove from heat once the apples are tender, all the cranberries have popped, and your house smells amazing.
It’s best to cool in glass containers, like jelly jars, to room temp before placing in the refrigerator to allow full flavor blending. If you’re like me, you won’t wait that long and plop it straight onto buttered toast while still warm or eat it off the spoon. That’s totally fine and acceptable, just don’t burn your mouth on it!
December 21, 2025
I always try to do something special on Sundays for the digital Advent calendar, and since this is our last Sunday for this year’s calendar, I decided to really go for it. This is something I can only afford to offer for one day, so enjoy it while you can (and please enjoy it thoughtfully).
For today only, and expiring at 11:59 PM Pacific on December 21, 2025, use the code DEC2025 to get any one of my individual, self-published patterns for free on Ravelry. That’s it. No hoops to jump through. I hope you have fun picking out your next project!
December 22, 2025
One of the many joys of working in the fiber industry is all the passionate, knowledgeable, dedicated people I’ve met as a result. Among the most impressive of that bunch is Emily Lymm, the natural dyer extraordinaire behind Wool & Palette. Her deep knowledge, attention to detail, precision, and passion for her work inspire me to be better every day.
Emily has a really unusual and cool treat for us today. If you’ve ever wondered about dyeing some yarn yourself using natural materials, this Natural Dyer’s Equipment Guide will help you figure out what’s essential, what’s nice to have but not a dealbreaker, and what’s something you can save for later.
While you’re clicking around, be sure to check out some of the truly stunning bases Emily has available right now. I’ve used some of her yarns for the Emily’s Garden Tea Cozy and a special edition of the Matilija Mitts, along with a couple hats that I really need to get sorted for release in 2026. To say I’m in love with this yarn is a bit of an understatement!
December 23, 2025
Wintertime always leaves me feeling extra crafty, but I can’t knit for 10 hours a day without destroying my forearms. That means I need to find other crafts and projects to entertain myself.
I’ve been bookmarking lots of cute project tutorials on Instagram lately, so for today’s treat, I thought it might be fun to share some of the cutest ones I’ve been saving up. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration, too!
- Log cabin quilted potholder
- Sugar cookie felt ornament
- Paper stars with leftover wrapping paper
- Pincushion teacup
- Cross-stitch bookmark with felt back
December 24, 2025
We’ve made it to the end of another year’s digital Advent calendar! I’m so glad you’ve come along for the ride and hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have.
The official color of Advent is purple (except for the third Sunday, which is celebrated with pink), so to wrap things up, I thought I’d start with some of my favorite purple yarns. In no particular order, here are the purple yarns I’d use over and over again.
- The White Way of Delight, dyed by Coast to Coast Yarn Co as an exclusive colorway for Aimee Sher Makes (Erin dyes speckles like nobody else)
- Lavender Fingering, by Wool and Palette (Emily’s Merino/Rambouillet bases are the stuff of dreams, so springy and plump)
- Ultimate Sock in the colorway Pearl, by Malabrigo Yarn (it looks grayish on screen but has such lovely lavender undertones in person)
- Targhee Sock in the colorway General Organza, by Oink Pigments (I am obsessed with Oink’s Targhee Sock base, and they do such deliciously vibrant colors)
- Swale Fingering in the colorway Kiki, by Seachange Fibers (This is one of the most luxurious bases I have ever used, and while I wouldn’t use it for socks because of its relatively high cashmere content, I did recently finish knitting a new cowl with it that I plan to wear all winter)
I hope the rest of 2025 treats you well and that you get to spend at least some of the time sprawled on your favorite piece of comfy furniture with a belly full of your favorite treats and some extra squishy yarn in your hands. Looking forward to a fun 2026 with you!
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Love the digital Advent calendar! So glad you featured purple today. It’s my favorite color. I’ve bought way too much yarn lately but when I saw the Oink Pigments lavender yarn I caved. It’s gorgeous!