Holiday Calendar

January 4th

2 days till 3 Kings Day

Only a few more days before the Holidays are officially over. Holidays and pies go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly in my book. So, here is one last pie recipe before the cookbook is closed. (If you jumped on board the diet train, you may want to look away now.)



Regular or Maple Pecan Pie by Granny and Me
Recipe provided by Me

My 'real' name is Marie Haigh and I am the voice behind this blog and my own Etsy store Knitted Gems. The store features my entire collection of knitting patterns for the hobby knitter. All the patterns are my original designs. They are provided in a line-by-line written format. Knitting charts are also provided on some of the Easy and Intermediate patterns. Knitted items that were created during the testing of each pattern are also available for sale.



This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.

Holiday Calendar

December 31st

1 day till New Years Day
6 days till 3 Kings Day

Tonight many of us will be either hosting a New Years Eve party or attending one. Here is a great appetizer recipe that you can add to the table. It's been taste-tested and approved by my family and friends. Enjoy!

Stuffed Mushrooms
Recipe provided by Me

My 'real' name is Marie Haigh and I am the voice behind this blog and my own Etsy store Knitted Gems. The store features my entire collection of knitting patterns for the hobby knitter. All the patterns are my original designs. They are provided in a line-by-line written format. Knitting charts are also provided on some of the Easy and Intermediate patterns. Knitted items that were created during the testing of each pattern are also available for sale.




This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.

Holiday Calendar

December 25th

Merry Christmas!

Learn more about the history of Christmas Day here.

7 days till the New Year
12 days till 3 Kings Day

Christmas pudding is always on the dessert table in Mett'e family. Even her recipe instructions specifically tell the chef to steam the pudding Christmas morning.

I've never had Christmas pudding, but I've always wanted to try it. Finally, here's my chance to follow an old family recipe, which has been taste-tested through the years (the best recipes to get, if you can).

Aunt Marcia's Christmas Pudding
Contributed by Mette Buchreitz

Q. What could be better than 1 pudding recipe?
A. 2 pudding recipes!

Mother Hilary's Christmas Pudding
Contributed by Mette Buchreitz

Mette is the owner of the Etsy store Knitting Mette. She told me "I love to create small, funny, easy-to-knit items and I'm happy when somebody else likes them too! In my Etsy-shop you'll find my patterns and items knitted using my own patterns. Enjoy knitting toys or funny things!"




This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.

Holiday Calendar

December 14th

8 days till Hanukkah
11 days till Christmas
17 days till the New Year
23 days till 3 Kings Day

Chocoholics, do I have the recipe for you! Come and drool over this beauty. The recipe calls for 1 POUND of chocolate and only 1 tablespoon of flour, which means nothing is going to get between you and the chocolate you crave.



Free Recipe for Chocolate Decadence Cake
Instructions contributed by Nikki.

Nikki is the owner of two Etsy stores: My 7 Kids and Heart Felt Fun.

My7kids store sells high-end fiber yarns from recycled sweaters, which are then hand-dyed.

The HeartFeltFun store sells hand knitted items, and felted items made from the sweaters that can't be unraveled for yarn for whatever reason (already felted, bad seams, etc.)


This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.

Holiday Calendar

December 12th

10 days till Hanukkah
13 days till Christmas
19 days till the New Year
25 days till 3 Kings Day

Marge, member of our Etsy Knitters Team, mentioned to me that everyone always asks her for the pumpkin bundt cake she has cooked every Holiday season for the past 25 years. After such a boast, I knew I had to get her permission to post it on this blog. Nobody begs me for my recipes. This cake must be exceptional.

Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Recipe by Marge

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup mixed raising & nuts

Stir shortening until softened. Add sugar. Cream together until light
and fluffy. Add eggs, blend in with creamed mixture. Sift dry
ingredients together and add to creamed mixture, alternating with
pumpkin until it is all incorporated. Add raisins and nuts. DO NOT
OVER-MIX the raisins and nuts portion.

Pour into greased and floured bundt pan. Spread evenly around. Bake in
moderate oven, 350 degrees, for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick
comes out clean in center.


Marge is the owner of the Etsy store Knits 'n More. Within the store, you'll find a variety of custom knits including scarves, cuffs & wristlets, wine bottle cozies in Chenilles, drawstring gift sacks and more. It's a great place to do some Holiday shopping.



This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.

Day 7 of the Holiday Calendar

December 7th

15 days till Hanukkah
18 days till Christmas
24 days till the New Year
30 days till 3 Kings Day

Two years ago, while visiting the local Farmer's Market, I purchased two "neck pumpkins" as they were called by the farmer or two squash pumpkins. After rooting through my old recipe books, I concocted a way to turn the pumpkins into recipe-ready pumpkin.



Tutorial on How to Make Recipe-Ready (smashed) Pumpkin
Instructions provided by me (Marie Haigh)

Of course once you have made smashed the pumpkin, you have to do something with it. My husband would say that the proper thing to do would be to make as many pumpkin pies as possible.



Recipe for Pumpkin Pie
Instructions provided by me (Marie Haigh)

Marie is the owner of the Etsy store Knitted Gems. Knitted Gems features my entire collection of knitting patterns for the hobby knitter. All the patterns are my original designs. They are provided in a line-by-line written format. Knitting charts are also provided on some of the Easy and Intermediate patterns. Knitted items that were created during the testing of each pattern are also available for sale.


This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.

Day 5 of the Holiday Calendar

December 5th

17 days till Hanukkah
20 days till Christmas
26 days till the New Year
32 days till 3 Kings Day

Some of my fondest childhood Holiday memories are of baking with my family. So, I was thrilled to see a Holiday recipe designed especially for baking with children. If you don't have any children of your own, borrow a relative or your neighbor's children.



Kid-Friendly Gingerbread Houses
Instructions contributed by Nikki.


Nikki is the owner of two Etsy stores: My 7 Kids and Heart Felt Fun.

My7kids store sells high-end fiber yarns from recycled sweaters, which are then hand-dyed.

The HeartFeltFun store sells hand knitted items, and felted items made from the sweaters that can't be unraveled for yarn for whatever reason (already felted, bad seams, etc.)


This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.

Day 4 of the Holiday Calendar

December 4th

18 days till Hanukkah
21 days till Christmas
27 days till the New Year
33 days till 3 Kings Day

If you've had your fill of Rum Balls, but are still looking for ways to use up all that rum you bought, try this free Holiday recipe.

Mother Hilary's Brandy or Rum Butter
Contributed by Mette Buchreitz

Mette is the owner of the Etsy store Knitting Mette. She told me "I love to create small, funny, easy-to-knit items and I'm happy when somebody else likes them too! In my Etsy-shop you'll find my patterns and items knitted using my own patterns. Enjoy knitting toys or funny things!"

This Holiday Calendar is sponsored by the Etsy Knitters Team.To find out more about the group, please visit our team page.

Etsy Knitters Team's Holiday Calendar will run through 3 Kings Day, January 6th. Join us as we count down the days till Hanukkah, Christmas, the New Year and 3 Kings Day. Each day will feature one of the following: a link to a free knitting pattern, a link to a free tutorial on making handmade Holiday decorations, a free holiday recipe, or a picture of a holiday item for sale.