Craft guide

Seasonal crafts through the British year

Easter bonnet parades, village fête bunting, pumpkin lanterns and homemade crackers: the calendar is full of reasons to make something.

Seasonal crafting is as much about timing as it is about supplies. Craft shops start stocking the next season's materials months in advance, and popular items like cracker snaps or Easter kits can be harder to find in the final week. Here's what the year looks like for UK crafters, and what to stock up on.

Spring: Mothering Sunday & Easter

Mothering Sunday falls in March in the UK (earlier than Mother's Day in the US), so card supplies need to be ready by early March. Easter brings school bonnet parades, egg decorating and chick crafts.

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Summer: fêtes, weddings & school holidays

Bunting for garden parties, street parties and village fêtes; favours and signage for weddings; and a long summer holiday to fill with kids' crafts.

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Autumn: Halloween & Bonfire Night

Halloween decorations and costumes, then paper lanterns and firework pictures for the 5th of November. Keep real flames away from paper crafts; LED tea lights are the safe choice.

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Winter: Christmas

The busiest crafting season of all: Christmas cards, crackers, advent calendars, gift tags, wreaths and handmade presents. Start early if you're making cards in bulk.

Shop cracker kits Shop Christmas card kits