THE 12 DAYS OF TLC

​Not everyone loves the festive season. For many it is not the traditional time for celebrating with family and friends that we see in all the TV adverts. Christmas can create a real mix of emotions for all of us and can be pretty testing and exhausting even if you love it! Emma's advice for those of you who are finding it hard this year is to 'Let go of all the stuff that doesn’t serve you or reminds you of sadness and slam something bloody marvellous in its place instead!’

Letting go of difficult feelings can be one of the hardest things to do at the best of times and the days between Christmas and New Year are a particularly strange time, with many of us not really knowing what we should be doing, or even what day of the week it is, but if you are able to heed Emma's advice I am sure you will reap the benefits!

As yarn lovers we tend to be pretty good at squeezing our hobby into spare minutes, but as life these days flies past at such a fast pace, the chances are that you have been busy right through December and might find that you haven't been getting your usual craft fix and might find yourself feeling tired, a little down or simply in limbo over the festive period so, to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas this year, we have come up with a plan! 
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Here at Janie Crow we tend to come up with a series of social media posts that run across the twelve days of Christmas and this year we have created a list of ideas that focus on things you can do to give yourself a little bit of TLC each day. Some of our suggestions will take just a few minutes and some will take longer, but most are free and (we think) relatively easy to slot into busy lives.

​We will be posting our plan daily on our social media channels between 25th December and the 6th of January, but if you like to be organised and enjoy forward planning, you can find most of our ideas in this blog post. If you're one of those more spontaneous people then you could stop reading right now and simply follow us on either Instagram or Facebook and see our ideas on a daily basis. Either way we hope you will enjoy completing some of our ideas.

Take a Power Nap

I have always envied those people who can drift off quietly for forty winks in any situation. You know the type - the kind of people who are able to grab a little snooze on a plane, train or sat in a queue at the Doctor's surgery. I have spent years not being able to sleep anywhere but in my bed, but as I have got older I find that in the right circumstances, I can kind of drift off for a couple of minutes. I am not totally sure I sleep, but even just resting my eyes and sitting serenely for a few minutes can feel really rejuvenating. 

If you are one of those fabulous people who can take a nap at the drop of a hat, then our first TLC tip for the festive season is to make sure you catch a bit of day-time shut eye at some point during a busy day. If, like me, you're not the snoozing type then how about you try practicing a bit of mindfulness or meditation instead. Crochet can really help with this as the rhythmic and repetitive nature of making stitches can assist you to move into a meditative state.

If all else fails, how about taking the time to change your bedding instead? Getting into a freshly changed bed at the end of a busy day can feel so good! I have already lined up one of our brushed cotton, winter duvet sets to change the bedding to a day or two after Christmas. The smell and feel of fresh sheets and pillow cases is such a comfort after a tiring day, especially if you are able to have an extra long bath or shower ahead of padding off to bed.

Do Something Different with the Left-Overs

We have hosted a big family get together at Christmas for the last couple of decades (!) and it is a forgone conclusion that however carefully we plan our menu, we always end up with some left overs. This year will be a much smaller family gathering for us, so we will need to err on the side of caution when it comes to our shopping lists compared to previous years, but I am hopeful that there will be enough bits and bobs left over so that we can come up with a few other meals to use them up.

Andy says he always prefers our second Christmas dinner, which we tend to have a few days after the big day. We reheat the nut loaf or veggie wellington and add some freshly roasted potatoes, parsnips and whatever veg is needed to make the plate look colourful. Emma says that they call this left over meal 'picky tea' in her house and that it is also one of her favourite meals of the festive season. Gemma says that one of the things she loves most about Christmas is eating things she wouldn't normally - like stinky cheese!

​Of course there are the old favourite left over recipes, like turkey soup and turkey curry (can't help but think of Bridget Jones's Diary and Mark Darcy in that sweater!), but in our house it is the vegetables and cheese that could be left over in abundance, so this year I have already bought a bag of pasta macaroni so that a mac and cheese can be made at some point.

Toasted left-over sandwiches are also very yummy, especially if you have some stuffing and crispy lettuce and pickle to hand, or you could try making a lasagna - always a great way of using up left over food. You can find some more ideas over on the BBC Good Food website by following this link.

Go for a Walk or Explore your Neighbourhood

I started a walking habit this year and try to go for a good long stomp at least twice a week. We are lucky as we live near some lovely countryside, but I also enjoy road walks where I can take in the local houses and gardens and peer into the shop windows! I read a book called '52 Ways to Walk' earlier on this year after a recommendation by my friend Sarah at Inside Crochet Magazine. The book recommends walking in all kinds of situation and challenging yourself to take a different walk each week. You could try walking in the rain, a walk in the cold, or walking just to get lost (I haven't given this one a go yet!)

A walk over the festive period is a great way to get some air and a little bit of exercise. Why not grab a flask of festive drink (a good glug of Bailey's in coffee is always a favourite for us) and a cosy warm scarf (or even a crochet blanket) and head out to discover parts of your neighbourhood that you may not have seen before.

If you don't fancy a walk, then how about getting on a bus to see where it takes you? You could visit your local museum or library, or even come up with a route that involves a quick stop at a local pub or coffee shop so that you can warm up, have a drink and a pee before heading back home.

Plan a Movie Night

One of Gemma’s favourite things is to go through the TV magazine ahead of the holiday period and plan what her and her family are going to watch. For Gemma this means picking out shows such as the Gruffalo and Tabby McTab as her girls are younger viewers. 

Last year Andy and I watched ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for the first time. We loved it and may well watch it again at some point this year. We are also looking forward to the Gavin and Stacy special on Christmas Day as the gang from Billericay and Barry Island have become very much a part of our Christmas tradition - we always watch the old Christmas specials and still laugh at Smithy saying 'Mature - as in mature cheddar!' when they're singing Do They Know its Christmas!  

Review Your Year

As time seems to pass by so much faster as we get older it can be easy to feel like you don't achieve as much as you (think you) used to, but looking back on what you've done over the last year can bring things into perspective.

You could look back through your diary or calendar or look at old emails to get an idea of what you've been up to, or you could choose to just sit for a while and scroll back through the images on your phone. I am sure you will soon get an idea of just how much you have achieved.

I love how my crochet projects help punctuate the year and I really like the way they can evoke memories of a time in my life when I look at them. I have projects that remind me of when my children were younger and some that remind me of trips and holidays.....

​When you look back on your year, try not to dwell too long on things that are negative. Looking back on things that have happened can be cathartic and can aid in healing and help in the process of moving on, so it's important that you acknowledge them. As Emma says right at the beginning of this piece 'Let go of all the stuff that doesn’t serve you or reminds you of sadness and slam something bloody marvellous in its place instead!’​

Make Some Plans

I've just talked about looking back over your previous year, but another positive thing to do is to make plans for the next one.

I've already spent time adding dates onto my 2025 calendar and I love making lists of things I would like to do at the beginning of a new diary, but if you are not a diary fan you could write your aims and plans on small pieces of paper and pop them in a jar, or simply pin a list to your note board or pop one under a magnet on the fridge. 

In 2024 I challenged myself a little and made a few plans that got me right out of my comfort zone, and although these things felt pretty terrifying at the time and I very nearly backed out, having some scary plans in the mix felt incredibly character building and ended up being really positive for me.  

When planning my year for Janie Crow I often download (free) printable calendars. I have already printed off a few versions of this one, which shows the whole of 2025 as an A4 layout (click on 'Download the 2025 Year Planner') and I also print the monthly versions which you can find here.

If you don't like the idea of a written list then you could create a vision board. I think using Pinterest to do this would be great and I might well have play with my own board over the festive holidays. You can find information on how to create your own vision board by following this link.

Make a Sustainability Resolution

The New Year is traditionally a time when we make resolutions. Mine are usually pretty traditional - get fit, loose weight, buy more yarn - you know the type, but this year I will be making a new sustainability resolution as well.

I haven't decided quite what it will be yet, as we have made quite a few changes at home over the last five years so that we have very little plastic waste and are conscious of our general consumption (food, heating etc). At the moment I am thinking that it would be good to source as many 'new' things as possible second hand. I love vintage things for the home anyway and have recently discovered the joy of Vinted, so this might well be what I opt for. I would love to know what changes you have made to live a slightly less 'wasteful' life.

Organise a Trip

Looking forward to a special trip helps us get through the dingy days of January and February, so Andy and I often plan our holidays and trips at this time of year. We are not alone, as I think Christmas is prime time for booking holidays, and the travel companies know to offer great deals and offers this time of year.

If you like the look of my trip to Peru last summer and have a generous savings pot then you may be interested in the two trips to Peru that Stitchtopia have in place for 2026, or, if you would rather stick a little closer to home, you may fancy joining me at the Swiss Yarn Festival in April.

If your budget won't stretch to an organised craft break, then maybe you could plan your own and arrange to stay somewhere with a yarny heritage, or simply book a local day workshop at a yarn store. You can find local knitting and crochet groups listed over on the Knitting and Crochet Guild website.

Move!

I have already mentioned the health benefits of walking, but how about ramping it up a little and doing some exercise at a higher intensity?

I know there is a lot of pressure at this time of year to plan big changes for the New Year, but my advice is to start small and build on good habits bit by bit. No pressure - no massive gym memberships or mad exercise regimes, just aim to walk more or go for a weekly swim maybe?

Those who follow Janie Crow on Instagram may remember how popular our posts about Menopause were back in October, with lots of women talking about how exercise, especially weight bearing, has really helped them navigate this time of life. You can find our Instagram posts regarding Menopause here and here (read the comments too as they are super interesting) and you can read Emma's fabulous blog post here too. 

Have a PJ Day

Towards the end of the Christmas break I think it would be lovely to schedule in a final pyjama day. A day of knit and crochet, or perhaps a bit of sewing or reading, whilst sitting on the sofa in comfy, soft clothes sounds like the epitome of TLC to me, especially as we head back towards 'normal life' in 2025.

I love the idea of getting up, having a shower and then slipping on a fresh pair of pyjamas in order to spend the day at home and I will definitely be planning a PJ day for Saturday 5th January. I hope to use the day to plan some new yarny projects for 2025 and finish off all the left over food and drink, as well as immersing myself in some final festive movies and finishing off the jigsaw!

If you do fancy getting involved in a new project and like the idea of a year long project, how about getting involved in the Janie Crow Temperature Blanket project - you can find more information by following this link.

Why not indulge in an episode or two of a favourite podcast or if you've not listened before, try one out. We have some favourites here, one of mine is Fortunately with Fiona Glover and Jane Garvey

Emma is an avid podcast listener and while her normal fare of UFOs, Cryptids or True Crime might not be everyone's taste, she does also recommend Ramblings with Clare Balding as a lovely gentle way to spend a half hour! You can find that one here.

If reading print is more your thing then spending an hour or two immersed in a good book is the perfect accompaniment to a PJ day. It is so wonderfully indulgent isn't it! Emma suggests "The Winter Spirits" - a selection of short ghost stories, perfect for frosty nights!

Declutter your Home and Mind

The twelfth day of Christmas is the day that the festive decorations should come down, although Gemma and I usually do this much earlier than the 5th January as we like to go into the New Year with them already packed up and stored away. The house always seems so bare when they are down, so I often have a good clear up and move things around at the same time so that the rooms take on a fresh look. My mum always buys flowers to replace the decorations in January and I think this is a great idea - flowers or a new house plant could be just the thing you need to brighten things up and bring some colour back into the house.

​You could use this day to clear up something specific like your wardrobe or your yarn stash, or you may just fancy organising your yarn into new projects and planning your makes for 2025. You could dig out all your WIPs and make a plan to finish some of them. Winding off skeins of yarn ready for new projects could also be a great thing to do.

Start a New Project

I always think that one of the best bits about starting a new project is choosing the yarn and the pattern you want to make and then launching into it - all fresh and ready for something new. Using the first couple of balls of yarn in a knitting or crochet project is by far my favourite part as my enthusiasm often wanes the further I get into it. The same applies to my crochet design process - making the mood boards and first few layout drawings is by far my favourite part!

There is nothing wrong with having a few projects on the go at the same time. I have learnt that having two or three on the go at once helps me work through them at a faster rate and with more commitment. Having projects pitched at different skill levels also helps draw me through projects as I can match the difficulty of what I am working on to my mood or situation.

Heading into the New Year with a new project on the go sounds like a great plan to me, and I hope that, along with some of our TLC suggestions, it will set you up for a positive start to 2025.

Wishing you a Very Merry Festive Season and a Happy New Year from us all at Janie Crow!