bonus: how to make your own yarn advent / countdown calendar

Advent calendars originated in 19th century Germany as a way to mark off the days until Christmas and modern versions involve opening a gift each day for 12, 24 or 25 days. I’m not sure who created the first yarn advent calendar but they were a genius – what could be better than opening up a yarn present each day?

Instead of adding your to your yarn stash with an advent calendar, why not make your own? It’s a great way to be reacquainted with your carefully collected skeins and balls, as well as providing motivation to make something beautiful with them at the same time.

Making your own yarn advent calendar is all about using what you have, and with a little bit of creative thinking, you can make one with things already in your home.

what’s needed:

• yarn from your stash
• something to wrap the yarn in – for example paper lunch bags, project bags, wrapping paper
• a way of numbering each parcel – for example sticky labels, gift tags
• pen or marker

instructions:

1. First decide how many parcels to make. This might depend on what you’d like to make, how much yarn you have or how many days you’d like to open a parcel of yarn.
2. Sort your yarn in the order you’d like to open the parcels in. Maybe you have a specific colour order or fade, or maybe a random lucky dip would work well.
3. Wrap and number each ball or skein of yarn. Number one will be the first one opened, number two the second, and so on.
4. Put your yarny parcels in a gorgeous box or basket so you can admire them and get exciting about opening one each day!

I hope you love making your very own Yarn Advent Calendar, and I hope it gives the motivation to make something beautiful at the same time!

With love, Lynda.