Happy New Year lovely people xx I wish you a year full of joy, kindness and creativity.
Now, let's get straight to the topic at hand - project ideas for the VK Yarns 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar.
I chose to do slightly different sized minis for my advent calendar so I will provide the details below so that have an idea of yardage and colours if you didn't get the advent and would like to use your own choice of yarn for any of these projects.
*The Advent colours will be released individually and as preorder sets later this year.
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Details
There are 12 colours in the advent that work as a gradient starting from any point in the circle.
Each mini skein was either 25g or 50g depending on the size chosen. This equals 300g or 600g in total. When I was planning the advent I settled on these amounts as I figured that 300g would make a decent shawl/wrap and 600g would be enough for a top or lightweight sweater in multiple sizes or with an added skein/s of a contrast colour or neutral for a blanket or heavier weight sweater/jacket.
The exact yardage is also determined by the yarn base chosen: cotton or wool, 4ply/fingering or 8ply/DK.
Here's the info if you're interested.
Yarn Bases:
Cotton - 100% Pima Cotton
✦ 4 ply 50g - 12 x 50g skeins of Fingering weight / 4ply Pima cotton (600g total), 200m (218yds) per skein.
✦ 4 ply 25g - 12 x 25g skeins of Fingering weight / 4ply Pima cotton (300g total), 100m (109yds) per skein.
✦ 8 ply 50g - 12 x 50g skeins of DK weight / 8ply Pima cotton (600g total), 100m (109yds) per skein.
✦ 8 ply 25g - 12 x 25g skeins of DK weight / 8ply Pima cotton (300g total), 50m (54yds) per skein.
This cotton has a 4 ply construction and is soft and smooth with a satin sheen, working up with amazing stitch definition in both knit and crochet. Perfect for making baby blankets, scarves/shawls, summer garments, bags, toys and much, much more.
Platinum - 75% Super Wash Merino / 25% Nylon
✦ 4 ply 50g - 12 x 50g skeins of Fingering weight / 4ply Merino/nylon (600g total), 212m (232yds) per skein.
✦ 4 ply 25g - 12 x 25g skeins of Fingering weight / 4ply Merino/nylon (300g total), 106m (116yds) per skein.
✦ 8 ply 50g - 12 x 50g skeins of DK weight / 8ply Merino/nylon (600g total), 112m (123yds) per skein.
✦ 8 ply 25g - 12 x 25g skeins of DK weight / 8ply Merino/nylon (300g total), 56m (61yds) per skein.
This means that I have a range of ideas to suggest that cover a range of advent options. I would like to note that none of these are designed to go with the VK Yarns advent but I thought they would be awesome when I went hunting for suggestions to share.
Project Ideas
I have separated these into categories according to type of project and listed the suggested yarn weight and yardage.
If you are able to use Ravelry I have added a link to each pattern.
If you are not able to use Ravelry I have clearly listed the designer and pattern name so you can find it more easily on the platform of your choice or via a search engine.
Vivid Kreations patterns.
The Daydreamer Shawl by me!
This crochet kite shaped shawl would look lovely in the rainbow gradient from the advent. It uses approx. 1500m (1640yds) of fingering/4ply yarn for the large size or 600 m (656 yds) of DK/8ply yarn for the small size. For the large version there are 254 rows in total - so you could change colour every 21 rows to use all the colours (with 22 rows for the first and last colour). The small version uses 600m so the 25g DK/8ply advent could be used almost completely. Simply use each colour until it runs out.
https://vividkreations.com.au/the-daydreamer-shawl/ for more information about the pattern and link to Etsy.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/daydreamer-shawl
The Dancing Rainbows Cowl by me
Who says you have to use all your advent colours all together! You could just use a couple of colours to create this cosy crochet cowl featuring a rolled edge. This cowl is designed for using DK/8ply yarn and comes in 2 sizes: small 200m (219yds) and large 600m (656yds).
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dancing-rainbows-cowl
Shawls, wraps and cowls.
The Crown Wools by Casapinka
This knit pattern is a wrap that uses 12 colours of fingering/4ply. Needs 1458m (1595yds).
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-crown-wools
Ambah O’Brien has numerous knit patterns perfect for this and other advent calendars so I have linked to her page instead of a specific pattern. Some of my favourites are: ADVENTuresome Wrap (fingering/4ply); Lamina Cowl & Wrap (fingering/4ply); Wrap it real good (DK/8ply); and Party Cardy (fingering/4ply).
https://www.ravelry.com/designers/ambah-obrien
Plaidvent by Julia-Maria Hegenbart
This knit pattern is a wrap designed for 23 colours plus a contrast colour. You could use the 12 colour set and just use each colour twice. Designed for 1462 - 2164m (1599 - 2367yds) of fingering/4ply yarn.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/plaidvent
Shockwaves by Beata Jezek of Hedgehog Fibres
This free knit pattern would easily adapt to using the 12 colours of the advent calendar. Needs 1200 - 1400m (1312 - 1531yds) of fingering/4ply yarn.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shockwaves
https://shop.hedgehogfibres.com/collections/patterns/products/shockwaves
Rainbow of Hope by AJ Bishop
This is a knit triangle shawl uses a rainbow gradient just like the 12 Days of Christmas Advent. It uses 1270 - 1326m (1389 - 1450yds) of fingering/4ply yarn.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-of-hope
Advent Fringe Shawl by ChiWei Ranck of One Dog Woof
Triangle crochet shawl using 12 minis plus a main colour. Uses 1180 - 1225m (1290 - 1340yds) in total of fingering/4ply yarn.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/advent-fringe-shawl
Bantam by Deanne Ramsay of Addydae Designs
This crochet wrap is designed to use advent minis or leftovers with a main colour but you could easily use just minis too. Uses 1040 - 2040m (1137 - 2231yds) of fingering/4ply yarn depending on size chosen.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bantam-2
Slinky by Deanne Ramsay of Addydae Designs
Another idea for using just a few colours from your advent. I think this crochet cowl would be lovely in a mini gradient of colours from the advent. Uses 195 - 450m (213 - 492yds) of DK/8ply yarn.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slinky
Smoothie by Elena Fedotova
This clever triangle crochet shawl is designed to use small amounts of leftovers in a pleasing manner and I think it would be fun to make using an advent too. The pattern uses 1372 - 1417m (1500 - 1550yds) of light fingering/3ply yarn but will work equally well in fingering/4ply yarn. I could even see the pattern adapting well to other weight yarns as it starts at the point and gets gradually larger meaning you can stop when it reaches a size you like.
Sweaters, cardigans and tops
TannenBOOM by Sarah of Swanky Emu Knits
“TannenBOOM is a free top down colorwork sweater that is custom-sized to your specific measurements. ” (website listing description) This knit sweater was designed to use an advent set and is customisable according to personal preference and how much yarn you have left of each colour after the yoke. Uses 457 - 1829+ m (500 - 2000+ yds) of fingering/4ply yarn. Available in adult sizes from Adult women’s XS with no upper size limit.
https://www.swankyemuknits.com/tannenboom
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tannenboom
So Faded by Andrea Mowry of Drea Renee Knits
This knit raglan sweater is designed for a colour fade and would be fun in the bright cheery colours of the advent - simply divide the total number of rows by 12 or go with your intuition and have fun! Uses 732 - 1763m (800 - 1928yds) of fingering/4ply yarn. 8 sizes available from 76 - 148cm (30 - 58in).
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/so-faded
Lifesavers by Tanis Lavallee of Tanis Fiber Arts
Simple knit sweater with a gorgeous stripe pattern in the sample. This pattern would be great if you just wanted to use a little bit of each colour or you could colour block it to use more. Uses 914 - 2304m (1000 - 2520yds) of fingering/4ply yarn. 11 sizes available from 71 - 142cm (28 - 56in).
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lifesavers
Scrappy V by Jamie Hoffman of Knitosophy Designs
Knit wide V neck top or sweater designed to use yarn scraps (which makes it perfect for advent sets too). Uses 597 - 1898m (653 - 2076yds) of fingering/4ply yarn. 10 sizes available from 86cm - 174cm (33 3/4 - 68 1/2in).
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scrappy-v
V-Back Tee DK by Jamie Hoffman of Knitosophy Designs
By the same designer as the pattern above this DK/8ply version of the popular V-Back Tee would be lovely in an advent set. Uses 506 - 1277m (553 - 1396yds) of DK/8ply yarn. 10 sizes available from 70 - 160cm (28 - 64in).
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/v-back-tee-dk
Confetti DK Pullover Adult by Nomad Stitches
This simple crochet sweater is a perfect canvas for showing off special skeins of yarn and would be lovely in a gradient advent set. Also available in child sizes. It uses 572 - 1670m (625 - 1826yds) of DK/8ply yarn. 8 sizes from adult XS / 77cm - 4X / 146.5cm (30 - 57 1/2in).
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/confetti-dk-pullover-adult
The Haisley Cardigan by Trudy Stephens
This awesome patchwork style cardigan would be so much fun to make in the advent colours and even comes with a colouring page to help you plan your colours. Uses 1800 - 2200m (1969 - 2406yds) of DK/8ply yarn. 5 sizes available from XS-S to 5XL (71-89cm to 160cm or 28-35in to 63in).
I also think this would be lovely in fingering/4ply and will let you know my ideas on adapting this once I’ve had a play.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-haisley-cardigan
Jamaila by Beyenburgerin Design
This airy crochet garment has lots of positive ease and can be made as a cardigan or top/tunic with long or short sleeves. It uses 1120 - 2550m (1225 - 2789yds) of fingering/4ply yarn. 4 size groups available which covers from adult S - 5XL (81 - 162.5cm or 32 - 64in).
Blankets
Colourful State of Mind Blanket by Kirsten Ballering of Haak Maar Raak!
This colourful (and free) crochet blanket is designed for 12 colours making it perfect for the 12 Days of Christmas advent. Made from two tone join-as-you-go (JAYG) hexagons this would be a wonderful travel or sit and watch tv project. Uses 2000 - 2380m (2187 - 2603yds) of fingering/4ply yarn and makes a 100 x 88cm (39.4 x 34.6in) blanket.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/colourful-state-of-mind-blanket
https://haakmaarraak.nl/colourful-state-of-mind-blanket
Quadrippled by Mel Harrison
This crochet blanket is a square, centre out, ripple blanket. This means that you can continue the repeats as many times as you like to make the size blanket you want. If you paired the advent with a contrast or neutral colour you could create stripes or work the gradient colours of the advent in the centre, framed by the contrast colour. Mel also has other beautiful centre out designs that would work well. Uses any size yarn - 1000m (1094yds) of fingering/4ply creates a 95cm (37in) square.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quadrippled
Western Hills - The Blanket by Julia Stanfield
This free knit blanket is a great way to use a variety of colours, from leftovers to something like an advent calendar. Designed for use with multiple yarn weights, the pattern also includes 4 sizes so you can make the blanket you want.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/western-hills---the-blanket
Other blanket ideas.
Any blanket made of motifs would worked beautifully with an advent set, as would designs with repeats allowing you to customise the size of the blanket. When searching for patterns for this post I also came across heaps of beautiful mosaic crochet patterns (often designed for use with gradient yarns like Scheepjes Whirl) that I think would be fun to try using an advent set too - simply pair with a contrasting solid and use each colour until you run out, then move onto the next in the sequence.
Well I hope this has given you plenty of ideas to inspire you in using the 12 Days of Christmas Advent set or other collection of beautiful yarns.
Remember, if you missed out on the advent the colours will be released individually and as preorder sets later this year. Follow me on social media or sign up to the VK Yarns newsletter to stay in the (yarn) loop.
Have a lovely day xx
