Knitting Advent Calendars: Mini Skeins, Notions and Kits

A knitting advent calendar usually holds 24 mini skeins of yarn, one to open each day from December 1, often hand-dyed in matching colors. Others hold stitch markers and tools, or a full kit with yarn, patterns and accessories. Many knitters use the minis for a striped scarf, wrap or cowl that grows by one stripe a day.

What comes in a knitting advent calendar

Knitting advent calendars fall into three groups, and the contents decide what you can make.

Gathered’s yarn calendar roundup covers all three: boxes of 24 mini skeins, calendars with the parts for one finished project, and calendars of knitting and crochet accessories. Mini skein sizes vary, from 10-gram cakes to 20-gram skeins.

Mini skein calendars and how much yarn you get

Mini skein calendars vary a lot in yardage, so read the skein weight and the yarn base before you compare.

Wonderland Yarns Wonderlust 2026. Sold through Frabjous Fibers, this calendar has 24 hand-dyed colorways with a vintage travel theme. Buyers choose the base: half-ounce minis of Mary Ann sock and fingering yarn at 59 yards each (1,416 yards in all), or one-ounce minis of Mad Hatter sport weight at 86 yards each (2,064 yards in all). Preorders close October 15, and the calendars start shipping in early November.

Indie dyer calendars. Indie Untangled, a marketplace for independent yarn makers, lists advent and countdown calendars from small dyers, from 24-day sets to weekly boxes. Several describe their sets as one-of-a-kind preorders that will not return, so a calendar you like may not be available later in the season.

Notions and full-kit knitting calendars

Notions calendars suit a knitter who already has a deep yarn stash. The Firefly Notes 2024 advent, sold by Haus of Yarn, ran 25 days and held 20 handmade no-snag stitch markers (10 mm) plus 5 handmade progress keepers.

Full-kit calendars plan the projects for you. Biscotte Yarns, a Canadian hand-dyer, says its 2026 calendar holds 900 grams of its own hand-dyed yarn plus 20 grams of Katia yarn, seven exclusive patterns and knitting accessories made for the calendar. It runs from December 1 to 24 and ships from November 1, 2026.

Patterns written for advent mini skeins

Patterns designed for advent minis tell you how many skeins and yards you need, which helps you match a pattern to a calendar.

In the Loop Knitting keeps a longer list of advent and 24-day knitting patterns, many of them free, from striped socks to an ornament garland. A pattern that uses 25 minis fits a 24-day calendar plus one extra skein from your stash.

Choosing a knitting calendar for someone else

Gift buyers who do not knit can go by three things.

1. Yarn weight. Check what the person knits most. A sock knitter will use fingering minis; someone who makes hats may prefer sport or worsted.
2. Fiber. Look for wool, wool blends or a fiber the person likes. Ask about wool allergies first.
3. Project or stash. A full kit suits a newer knitter. An experienced knitter often prefers minis or tools to add to their own plans.

Knitters who also crochet or stitch can look at our cross stitch, crochet and sewing advent calendars, and the listings below include craft calendars too.

A DIY knitting advent calendar from your own stash

A fabric or wooden calendar filled with mini skeins, stitch markers and notions is a good alternative when ready-made sets sell out. Our reusable advent calendar guide compares pocket and drawer sizes, and advent calendar filler ideas lists small gifts that fit. For more hobby calendars, see advent calendars for adults or the best advent calendars roundup.

For every way to build, fill and reuse a calendar, see our reusable and DIY advent calendars section.