Isn’t it interesting that as the days get shorter we fell the need as human beings to bring divinity closer to us and into our homes. As I was reminded last night, there are a lot of cultures that celebrate holidays at this time of year … Divali just passed us, of course there is Christmas and Hannukah, the soltice (which is what it’s all about), Kwanza, and Dec 8th is Bodhi Day (the day celebrating the Bhuddha’s achieving enlightenment).
How do you like to decorate for the holidays? Which colours are you feeling the need to bring into your life right now? There are a lot of decoration projects & pattern ideas out there (see the links below) but I’ve rounded up a few for you that have caught my eye …

December Bow
I can totally see myself getting caught up in making these bows …. either a bunch for myself or give them as little gifts. They’re very charming, kind of semiotically neutral, and essentially a pretty basic knit. The December Bow is worked back and forth in one piece from tip to tip in garter stitch with i-cord edges. The work is folded into a bow and sewn together at the end following the diagram with instructions that can be found at the end of the pattern.
Materials
- Drops Alpaca: 1 ball (2 balls will make 3 bows)
- Drops Kid-Silk: 1 ball (1 ball will make 2 bows)
- 3.5mm/US4 – 24″ circular needles
- 3mm/US2.5 – 24″ circular needles
- Pattern
Yarn Alternatives
You’ll need 100m of each of the two yarns above, or 100m of a DK weight yarn like the following:
- Sandnes Garn Double Sunday (1 ball makes 1 bow)
- Berroco Vintage DK ( 1 skein makes 2 bows)
- Berroco Vintage Baby (1 ball makes 1 bow)
- Berroco Pima Soft (1 ball makes 1 bow)

Snowman
Another winter creature, the snowperson is a delight for everyone’s eyes. To help your snowpeople stand tall, try putting some metal washers in their bottoms (you can get them at the hardware store) – it will improve their balance immensely.
Yarn Options
Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the simple grace of a pure merino like Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or if you want a village of snowpeople you can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins.
Materials
I prefer shorter double-pointed needles for little projects like this: either the 5″ DPNS from Clover, the 6″ DPNs from Knitters Pride, or the 8″ Flexi-Flips from Addi

Easy Granny Christmas Baubles
Aren’t granny squares (and circles) are best?! This is my idea of a great holiday ornament … use lots of colour or do any colour combination you want, or even monochrome – whatever floats your boat!
Yarn Options
Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the nuanced Scandinavian colour palette of Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins. You can also use Sudz Crafting Cotton and a slightly larger 3.5mm crochet hook.
- Berroco Vintage DK
- Berroco Vintage Baby
- Sandnes Garn Double Sunday
- Sudz Crafting Cotton (3.5mm crochet hook)
Materials
- 3.25 mm to 3.5mm crochet hook
- FREE Pattern
- Ball ornaments

Birdie Decoration
Ok, it doesn’t look exactly like a dove, but peace is a seasonal themes and in my opinion birds never go out of style! This FREE pattern is a VERY simple crochet project (it’s just a circle) and comes with full tutorial instructions.
Yarn Options
Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the nuanced Scandinavian colour palette of Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins. You can also use Sudz Crafting Cotton and a slightly larger 3.5mm crochet hook.
- Berroco Vintage DK
- Berroco Vintage Baby
- Sandnes Garn Double Sunday
- Sudz Crafting Cotton (3.5mm crochet hook)
Materials

Sun Star & Flower Star Snowflake
Sun Star Snowflake and Flower Star Snowflake make the prettiest winter decorations, no matter which holiday you celebrate (or even if you don’t celebrate a holiday). Hang them on a tree, or in garlands across a mantle or just off a book-case. These little decorations also make delightful (and fast) little gifts.
Yarn Options
Any fingering weight yarn will do for these little gems: Berroco Vintage Sock is a popular, economical option, or you can opt for the amazing colour selection of Cascade Heritage (also still a very good price). If you want a multi-coloured yarn that knits in a long colourway and shifts try Schoppel Zauberball Cotton, or for a hand dyed yarn Artfil Belle.
Materials

Marled Christmas Stocking
I think these stockings are super groovy! You can either make them marled by holding two strands together (try Berroco Vintage, Cascade 220 Superwash), or use a single strand of Berroco Vintage Chunky in a solid colour.
Yarn Options
- Berroco Vintage (1 ball in each of 2 colours)
- Cascade 220 Superwash (1 ball in each of 2 colours)
- Berroco Vintage Chunky (single strand)
Materials

Christmas Wreath, Holly & Mistletoe
There are a lot of wreath patterns out there, for all seasons and occasions, but I just kind of enjoyed this one because it’s so leafy – I love the idea of using different shades of greens and different textures of yarn to recreate a natural abundance.
Yarn Options
Materials
- 3.25mm/US3 needles (straight or circular)
- 3.75mm/US5 needles (straight or circular)
- FREE Pattern

Little Tanenbaum
This must be one of the easiest patterns goings …. a simple tree ornament. This pattern is great for less experienced knitters … that pattern PDF even has links to video tutorials for the skills.
Materials
- Berroco Vintage or Cascade 220 Superwash: 1 skein
- 3.5mm/US4 needles (straight or circular)
- FREE Pattern

Crochet Christmas Tree
This adorable little tree is a simple crochet (only chain and single crochet are used), and it comes with a free video tutorial to walk you through it! Make one, make a forest, and decorate them with little beads for ornaments or leave them in their natural state.
Yarn Options
Materials

Never Not Gnoming
Gnomes can be knit mini (ornament) sized with fingering weight yarn, or start upsizing with a thicker yarn and make yours a super-gnome! Whatever you choose will be marvelous …. you’ll never stock gnoming! Go down approximately 1 mm from the recommended needle size to get a tight tension.
Materials
- Cascade Spuntaneous: 1 skein in 04 Red, 08 Treetop, 10 Cream
- 7mm/US10.75 double-pointed needles
- 8mm/US11 double-pointed needles
- 8mm/US11 – 16″ circular needles (or 3.5″ interchangeable needles)
- Poly-fil: 2 bags
- Dried Beans (optional: to put in the bottom to keep him upright)
- Pattern: Never Not Gnoming