2024 Digital Advent Calendar

This year, to celebrate the holiday season, I’ve decided to do a virtual Advent calendar. 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.

Your visits to this post and all the other posts on my blog help combat food insecurity in my community. Thank you! 

December 1, 2024

Today is the first day of the 2024 virtual Advent calendar, so let’s start off with a bang! I’m giving you a free pattern that, up until now, has always been a paid pattern. This pattern is a chunky-weight hat that’s perfect for last-minute gift knitting (I can whip one up in just a few hours).

Without further ado, here you are: the Pebbles by the Sea Hat is now free for everyone to use. Happy December 1!

December 2, 2024

For today’s update, I come bearing a festive printable. Much of the traditional holiday imagery doesn’t really resonate with me because I grew up (and still live) in Southern California. I only ever heard sleigh bells in movies. Snowflakes? They were something we had to intentionally drive to see. The only cardinal I saw until my 20s was the faux bird on my mom’s front door wreath.

But we do have plenty of pine trees and pine cones and red berries everywhere, and those sure do put me in a cheerful, wintry mood. Today’s treat for you, then, is a knitting needle conversion chart decorated with lots of festive faux greenery. There are pine boughs and pine cones and sprigs of happy berries. You can print it out in a small scale to tuck into your project bags or print the original size to tape into a project journal or clip into a binder.

Happy stitching, friends.

December 3, 2024

Wintertime can be kind of gloomy for a lot of us, and sometimes that makes it difficult to start our day. For today’s Advent calendar treat, I’m sharing my Good Mornings playlist, which has helped me get my butt in gear for over a decade now. There are lots of old favorites from my late teens and 20s on here, and each of them has some element that helps me snap out of my inertia.

I hope this playlist does the same for you, too! You can listen right here on this page or, if you have a Spotify account, you should be able to save it to your favorite playlists over there, too.

December 4, 2024

A nice thing about baking in wintertime is that the oven helps keep the house toasty warm, and then you also have a toasty warm treat at the end. I don’t like my treats overly sweet, though, so most cakes and cookies are just too much.

Which is why, for today’s Advent calendar update, I’m bringing you my favorite scone recipe. I’ve been using this recipe since 2010, and it is wonderfully easy. Unlike a lot of scone recipes, it doesn’t call for things I rarely have on hand (like sour cream or even regular cream). It’s just flour, sugar, milk, butter, baking powder, and salt, and I usually have all of those things in the house.

Give this recipe a try and let me know how it goes!

December 5, 2024

I read too many old books when I was a kid, which I think is how I somehow wound up associating winter with poetry. On dark nights when the wind blows, a few treasured old poems can bring a world of comfort.

In fact, when I was a teenager, I started collecting poems that spoke to me. I would print them out and paste them into a notebook or, if I felt particularly dedicated, I’d write them out by hand.

Here are five poems that have been fixtures in my poetry book for years and years now. I hope they bring you comfort on dark nights, too.

Volcanoes be in Sicily, by Emily Dickinson

junio 1968, by Jorge Luis Borges (English translation here)

Storm Warnings, by Adrienne Rich

Marginalia, by Billy Collins

Language Lesson 1976, by Heather McHugh

December 6, 2024

Winter is prime time for cozy socks, and I’ve made no secret of how much I love handknit socks. One reason I love them is because they’re infinitely customizable.

Today, to help with your sock customization, I have a formula to help you knit the star toe on your socks. Whether you like to knit your socks toe-up or cuff-down, this toe method can be a fun way to add a little variety to your socks.

December 7, 2024

One of the best ways to make winter more pleasant is to get together with friends. I like to invite my friends over for tea parties, both because it’s a great excuse to use the pretty dishes and because tea is warm and comforting.

So today, I thought I’d share some tips for hosting a good tea party, plus some links to favorite tea party tools and accessories.

1. Don’t be afraid to use the good stuff. Whether it’s your favorite dishes, some antique linens you’ve had squirreled away, or a tea you’re worried you’ll use up, remember, nothing lasts forever. We might as well enjoy the good things while we have them. They’re meant to be used.
2. Have fun with the tiny sandwich fillings. There are so many fun combinations of flavors, and while the classics (like egg and cress) will always be there, you can also get a little fun and funky with them. The worst that can happen is you and your friends will have a funny story to remember about that time you made a weird sandwich.
3. Keep the group on the smaller side. Tea parties involve lots of tiny snacks, and it can be a lot of work cutting dozens and dozens of small sandwiches for a large group. It’s also easier for everyone to chat together if your group is small enough to all sit around the same table. I love the intimacy of a tea party with just a few good friends and lots of itty bitty cakes.
4. Relax about the rules. Tea parties have a reputation for being fussy and full of etiquette pitfalls, but as any trust host knows, etiquette should primarily be focused on making your guests feel comfortable. It really doesn’t matter if you don’t have the exact right spoons for everything. Just make sure your guests have plenty to eat and drink, a comfortable spot to sit, and good company to chat with.
5. Embrace the tea cozy. If you and your friends are anything like me and my friends, you’ll probably end up chatting for a while. Tea does eventually go cold, even if you preheat your tea pot, but a tea cozy can help keep it warm longer. I knit mine.

And now, here are some of my favorite tea party things! Here are a few of my very favorite teas, a tea strainer similar to the one I use, my favorite tea pot (mine is pink, but they seem to have stopped making that version so this all-white one will have to do), and more. These are affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something through them, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

December 8, 2024

For the second Sunday of Advent, I have another free pattern for you! I’ve become a big fan of mini scarves or scarflets lately and often wear them to keep my neck cozy on blustery days.

Today’s pattern is for a simple, quick scarflet with a garter stitch texture. This knits up in just an evening or two of work, so it’s great for gift knitting.

I hope you’ll share photos of the different versions you end up making! It’s so fun to see what you’ve made.

December 9, 2024

I often struggle with concentration on short, cold, gray days. When that happens, sometimes I like to light a candle, turn on my custom white noise mix that’s meant to sound like a scriptorium, and pretend I am a medieval nun copying out an illuminated manuscript.

And I figured that if you’re hanging out here with me, chances are you’re a bit of a weirdo with a big imagination, too, so I thought today I’d share that white noise mix with you. Let’s embrace our inner Hildegards together.

December 10, 2024

This time of year, many of us are knitting gifts, but our loved ones don’t always know how to care for the things we knit for them. Today’s Advent calendar update is short and sweet: two gift tags that you can easily mark with care instructions for the recipients. Enjoy!

December 11, 2024

I’ve recently rediscovered my garment knitting mojo, but I don’t usually like to wear my knits next to my skin. It’s partly a texture thing, partly a wanting-to-extend-time-between-washes thing, and partly a modesty thing (some knits are kind of sheer).

As a result, I’ve developed a little collection of things I like to wear under my knit sweaters and tshirts. Different layers are better for different knits and different weather! But here are my five favorites, along with links after the list.

1. A long-sleeved tshirt. This seems self-explanatory, but they really are great layers for rougher sweaters. I love a grippy, sticky wool, but I will claw my skin off if that texture is too close to my arms all day long. The Target tshirt I’ve linked below is super soft, and I have it in three colors (I live in long-sleeved tshirts in the winter).
2. A basic cotton camisole. The trick here is to find one without a built-in bra, because those do not fit me well at all. After searching high and low, I found a 4-pack at Amazon that I really like (the ‘Zon is not my favorite, but needs must). I’ve bought these a few times now as I’ve worn some out and replaced them.
3. A soft, jersey dress. This is great for transitional weather when you want to feel free and breezy but still need another layer. It’s also an easy way to make a complete outfit with fewer overall pieces. I pop a knit sweater over the top of the dress and away we go. Bonus: if you’re like me and sometimes get irritated with the feeling of a constricting waistband on a skirt, this is a little more comfortable.
4. A silk camisole. For the days when you want to feel a little fancier, a silk camisole really does the trick. I especially like these for when I’m wearing a relatively sheer knit, because then the pretty sheen of the cami can shine through.
5. A long-sleeved silk shirt. The Everlane shirt I’ve linked below has been a favorite for a decade now. I’ve owned several different versions over the years in several different colors, worn them until they were rags, and then bought more. I like being able to put the collar of the silk shirt between my neck and a rougher sweater collar, especially on days when I really can’t handle extra sensory stimulation.

And now, some links for you! I own and wear all of these. These are affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something through them, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

December 12, 2024

Can you believe we’re already at the halfway point for our digital Advent calendar? I’m having so much fun with this project and hope you are, too!

For today’s treat, I thought I’d bring you some giggles via one of the funniest airline safety videos I’ve ever seen (I know, I never thought I’d put those words together, either). Knowing my community as I do, I’m confident you’ll be in on the jokes here, too. I’ll embed the video below so you can watch it as many times as you’d like.

December 13, 2024

I have a confession to make: I don’t really like cake. It’s usually too dry and too sweet, and I’d rather have a brownie.

But today’s treat is my all-time favorite cake recipe. I first made it during the early days of the Covid pandemic, when the outside world was so scary and uncertain. I coped by baking. I made this cake over and over again.

Now, it’s a staple and one of my favorite desserts. I hope you enjoy it, too.

December 14, 2024

Social media is often more of a drain than anything else, but sometimes, it can be a source of beauty and connection. There are some creators I’ve been following for years now because their work brings me peace, inspiration, and joy.

So today, I’m sharing five of my favorite comfort content creators. I hope you enjoy following them, too.

1. @manonlagreve – Manon has been a favorite ever since her Bake-Off Days. I love her recipes, her travel stories, and her slice of life updates. She even got me attempting to sew my own dresses for a while there.
2. @jo_rodgers – I’ve been following Jo for over a decade now, and between her excellent taste in books and her gorgeous updates from working on travel articles, her feed is always full of something delightful. She posts much more frequently in her stories, so be sure to check those out regularly.
3. @iharvera – Ismael lives in Granada, one of my favorite places in the whole world, and his updates are little mini vacations every time. Bonus: his dog, John, is an extremely good boy who drinks from fountains.
4. @stevelannin – Steve is a head gardener for stately homes in England. When I first started following him, he was at Mapperton, but he’s since moved to Iford Manor. I love his foggy morning photos.
5. @hummusbirrd – Brigette’s home is the perfect combination of faded grandeur and thoughtful curation. Brigette herself is whimsical and funny and thoughtful and determined. I never skip a single one of her updates.

December 15, 2024

It’s the third Sunday of Advent, so it’s time for a slightly larger treat again! The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, coming from the Latin word for “rejoice,” and its official color is pink.

So today’s pattern is a pink one, but it’s also a great gift knit because it works up quickly and uses just one skein of DK-weight yarn. I hope you enjoy it!

December 16, 2024

During the winter, I spend a lot more time knitting in front of the tv with a warm blanket and a mug of hot tea. This is when I start to crave my comfort watches, which are basically just an assortment of gorgeous period pieces that fill me with ideas for upcoming patterns.

In honor of the cold, dark season, here are some movies that might help you feel a little cozier. They’re not necessarily cozy in and of themselves, but the scenery will probably make you feel better.

1. Little Women (1994) – I liked the 2019 version well enough and thought Greta Gerwig made some lovely choices as a director, but I was a little girl who’d just finished reading the book when the 1994 version came out. I don’t even think Winona Ryder is a particularly good fit for Jo, but this is the version I saw with my grandma, and this is the version I’ve watched ever since. I listen to the soundtrack while I’m gardening and cry a little over how beautiful my roses are. I make no excuses for how much I love it.
2. Sense and Sensibility (1995) – I just rewatched this one on a flight about a month ago, and it remains impeccable. The cast is outrageously stacked and the scenery fills me with dreams. There are no words for how good this is. Just… watch it.
3. The Young Victoria (2009) – A delicious bit of fairly fluffy pro-Victoria storytelling, this one isn’t going to broaden your horizons or change your opinion about anything. It will, however, give you an absolute feast for the eyes, and Emily Blunt is just so ridiculously charming that you end up enchanted with the whole production.
4. A Room with a View (1985) – Do you know how hard it was to pick just one Merchant Ivory production for this list? But A Room with a View is my favorite, and so here we are. If you love watching repressed people desperately try to contain their emotions only for those same emotions to boil over like the contents of a too-small pot, have I got just the film for you.
5. The Duchess (2008) – This is not a happy film. I repeat. This. Is. Not. A. Happy. Film. What it is, you see, is a devastatingly beautiful visual smorgasbord. You have to be in a reasonably strong mental state to handle this one, but if you’re in the right head space, you’ll be rewarded with billowing gowns in the breeze and extravagant chandeliers filled with beeswax candles and the most splendid gardens. It’s worth the tears.
6. Marie Antoinette (2006) – Am I cliched for liking this one? Oh, probably, but I’m 40 next month, and I’m out of time for worrying about what people think about my taste in things. Critics both loved and mocked the mix of period-accurate and modern elements in this movie when it came out, but I loved it from the get go. I still do. Does it go too easy on a horribly oppressive economic and governmental system? Absolutely. But I still love looking at all the tiny pastries and lace cuffs.
7. Jane Eyre (2011) – Everybody has their opinion on which of the many Jane Eyre adaptations is the best. I’ll be honest: I’m not sure this one is actually the best, but it’s the one I love the most. It leaves out large chunks of the book, especially when it comes to Jane’s character development, but it captures the eerie mood of the book so well that I can’t resist it. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this one.
8. North and South (2004) – I’ve cheated here, because this is technically a four-part miniseries, but it’s also one of my forever favorites. Episode Three is bleak as heck, but if you can make it through, the payoff at the end of Episode Four is worth it. Also, I have spent nearly two decades looking for my own version of Margaret Hale’s massive white shawl with paisley trim, so if you see something that matches it, send me a link, pretty please?
9. Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) – This movie is not a very good movie, if you’re judging it as a movie. It relies too heavily on the audience’s having read the book beforehand (I did and loved it, but that’s for another day), and Scarlett Johansson spends most of the time staring at other characters with a slightly confused look on her face. It is also, however, one of the only movies I’ve seen about 17th-century Dutch life that doesn’t try to make everything seem bleak and dreary and full of people in black clothes with big white collars. The colors, textures, furnishings, jewelry–they’re stunning. It’s a quiet, moody, contemplative thing, and it works for me.
10. Pride and Prejudice (2005) – I saved this one for last because I *know* the 1995 purists are going to come for me. You’re right! 1995 is more faithful to the original novel in many ways! But it is also sluggish and self-important and SIX HOURS LONG. Your girl does not usually have that kind of time. This adaptation is whimsical, a little silly, and just long enough that I can escape from daily life for a bit without having to disappear for an entire afternoon. I’ll take it.

December 17, 2024

Something you may not know about me: I love whales. Like, when I was 10, my grandparents sponsored an orca in my name for my birthday present. Like, I cried with joy when I saw two humpbacks dive together and both of them waved their flukes before disappearing.

Anyway, the other day, I was scrolling TikTok in a bit of a daze (as one does at the end of a long day) when I saw one of the most beautiful whale videos I’ve ever seen. I saved it so I could share it with you.

Here you go:

@patrickc_la This is by far the craziest angle that I’ve filmed of a Humpback whale breaching! Filmed at 600mm in 4K 120FPS. #humpbackwhale #whale #whalewatching #newportbeach #ocean ♬ levitation – Aaron Hibell & Felsmann + Tiley

December 18, 2024

Over the years, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about where I get the teacups that often show up in my pictures. Unfortunately, they’re almost all vintage or second-hand. Since I probably won’t be able to take you thrifting with me any time soon, I decided to do the next best thing: bring the thrift store/flea market/antique shop to you.

Today’s treat is a roundup of links to teacups you might like. I’ve sourced a wide range of styles and price points (though I did leave out the $400 antique Meissen cups because I figured if you’re in the market for a teacup like that, you probably don’t need my help finding one).

And of course, if you have questions about how to find good teacups or what to look for, drop them in the comments! I’ll gladly do a more in-depth post in the future if there’s enough interest.

December 19, 2024

The Getty Center has free entry for visitors, which means that as a college student on a very tight budget, I hung out there quite a bit. I developed a few favorite paintings that I had to visit whenever I was there, and although it has been (mumble mumble) years since I graduated, I still visit them each time.

And this portrait right here is particularly special. It’s an absolutely massive thing, with framed dimensions of 189.2 × 255.3 × 19.7 cm (74 1/2 × 100 1/2 × 7 3/4 in.). It’s a fairly scandalous portrait of Leonilla, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, painted by Franz Xaver Winterhalter in 1843. Normally, the portrait fills almost an entire wall in a gallery room.

When the museum started admitting visitors again after the Covid shutdowns, some of the galleries weren’t open to the public all the time. I went to see the Holbein exhibit for my birthday in January of 2022, and Princess Leonilla’s gallery was one of the areas that was closed off. I was disappointed not to see her, but I was excited enough about the Holbein exhibit that I was able to shrug off my disappointment.

And then, as we were leaving the Holbein exhibit, who should I see but my favorite MASSIVE PORTRAIT just hanging out in a gallery where she usually isn’t. I was so happy to see her that I cried out with joy. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little visit with her, too.

December 20, 2024

One question I get over and over again, especially on TikTok, is a request for yarn recommendations or a list of my favorite yarns. I figured I might as well share those recommendations here, too! In no particular order, here are five I keep coming back to:

Magpie Fibers Swanky Sock – This yarn has me in a chokehold, as the youths might say. I’ve done three designs with it and am dying to make myself a tshirt with it for summer. This is a classic fingering-weight yarn in a blend of merino, cashmere, and nylon, so while it’s not necessarily the best choice for hard-wearing socks, it sure is a treat to wear whenever possible.

Camellia Fiber Co. Sylvan Fingering – This alpaca-silk-cashmere blend is so beautiful that I wound up using it for my cousin’s wedding shawl. It’s incredibly lightweight but insulating, too, and it has stunning drape thanks to the silk content. I knit myself a shawl using this base and wear it often during winter.

Wool & Palette Sport – Emily sources her wool from Shaniko Wool Company, which provides responsible wool standard-certified bases. She then dyes the yarn in her studio using all natural materials, but don’t let that fool you into thinking these are all soft pastels. Emily has mastered the art of bold color using natural dyes, and it’s a wonder to behold. This yarn base is plump, round, and perfect for cables.

Oink Pigments Targhee Sock – This is, hands down, one of my favorite sock bases. It’s amazingly durable but also blooms beautifully in water. I knit a pair of socks using this base back in 2020, have worn them repeatedly, and still see almost no signs of wear.

Anzula Luxury Fibers For Better or Worsted – I love a merino-cashmere-nylon base, and I make no apologies for it. If you need a nice, thick yarn for hats and warmer garments, this one is a dream. I’ve knit three hats with it in the last couple months and am scheming an excuse to do a sweater.

December 21, 2024

I draw a lot of inspiration from history for my design work and photos, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries, but I was also a history major in college, and so I think it’s important to be clear-eyed about the past. That’s part of why I love when historians take the time to help document and explain the lives of ordinary people.

So for today’s treat, I’m bringing you a lovely little mini-documentary with one of my favorite TV history presenters, Ruth Goodman. This 20-minute episode takes a closer look at what life was like for ordinary people in Victorian England, from their clothes to their bathing habits to their food to their living quarters. It makes for good knitflixing.

December 22, 2024

It’s the last Sunday of Advent, so here is our last free pattern to celebrate! The Deimatic Socks were once only available as a paid pattern, but now there is a version that’s free for you to use (and supported by ads) here on my blog. These socks look so much harder than they actually are, but I promise, once you settle into a rhythm, these things will fly off your needles.

Happy stitching!

December 23, 2024

An important thing about me that you may not know is that my dad was a firefighter. It means I’ve never played with a firecracker, and I grew up with a fire escape ladder under my bed (our bedrooms were on the second floor). Fire safety is pretty important to me.

And we’re entering one of the periods each year where house fires are most common. Today’s treat for you, then, is less of a treat and more of a bit of virtual broccoli. Here are some very, very important tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this holiday season.

1. If at all possible, sleep with your bedroom door closed. This slows the spread of house fires and limits your smoke exposure. It can be the difference between life and death.
2. Make sure your Christmas tree is well watered. Any deadfall needles should be regularly swept up. If the tree dries out too badly, toss it asap.
3. Keep candles away from flammable surfaces, especially curtains and table linens. Never leave a burning candle unattended (I accidentally did this once when I was 14 and got my candles taken away until I was 18).
4. Don’t plug your space heater into a power strip. Plug it straight into the wall outlet.
5. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors. The winter and summer solstices are great built-in reminders to check our detectors every six months.

I hope you stay safe, warm, and healthy this holiday season.

December 24, 2024

We’ve made it to the end of this digital Advent calendar! I had so much fun with you and hope you’ve enjoyed this, too.

For our final treat, I’m leaving you with my personal recipe for a variation on a hot toddy (sorry to friends who are under the legal drinking age where you live, today’s treat is a treat you’ll have to wait to enjoy, and friends who are of legal drinking age where you live, please enjoy this one responsibly). This is a lighter, brighter flavor, but it has similar comforting effects when I have a bad cold. Ready?

Ingredients:

• 4 oz hot chamomile tea
• 1 oz gin
• 1 tbsp honey
• squeeze of lemon juice

Mix everything together until the honey dissolves, then pour into your favorite glass and garnish with a lemon slice if you’re feeling fancy. Cheers!