This is a gift guide with an agenda: to help you make values-aligned decisions about how you spend your money this season while giving the people you love beautiful, meaningful things they will cherish. Each and every thing I am recommending here is something I personally have already purchased or received, and many of them are offerings from dear friends and local-to-me artists and creatives.

This list is also intentionally QTBIPOC forward, with the goal of redirecting resources from the corporations/billionaires that fund fascism and instead funneling them into the hands of the people on the front lines in the collective struggle for liberation.

Ok y'all... begin by bearing with me because I gotta plug my own stuff! ◡̈

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My own stuff:

Give the gift of learning how to knit to fit

You can buy a gift certificate for any of my online classes! Just like the regular registration, I am offering gift certificates at pay-what-works pricing. In addition, this weekend only, you get a free pattern of your choice with purchase of any online class, whether you are buying it for yourself or as a gift.

Quick knitted gifts from my patterns

Looking for something that is small and fast enough to knit between now and Christmas? I have two hat patterns that are sized from newborn through adult large and include instructions in different yarn weights: the Fireside Beanie (and matching Kindling Mitts) and the BB Beanie. You probably have yarn in your stash that would work for either of these patterns! I've also got two dog sweater patterns in my library: Ursa Canis and the Harness-friendly dog sweater.

Custom watercolor pet portraits

This weekend only, take 15% off your order for a custom watercolor pet portrait. Please note that orders placed through the end of next week, December 5, will ship in time for Christmas!

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Other people's stuff:

Star Child Astrology

My sweet and brilliant friend haya (they/them) is a Sudanese artist and astrologer. They view astrology as a lens through which we can grow deeper understanding of ourselves, our lives, and what we are here for. You can learn more about them on instagram @star.child.astrology, send them an email, or book directly. They did a reading for me last year that I found really powerful, grounding, informative, and inspiring all at once!

Prairie Fruit Arts

I am absolutely smitten with my fat butch 4 fat butch print from Prairie Fruit Arts. This Canadian polycule-run business puts out beautiful pieces celebrating queer and trans experiences, including prints, coloring books, stickers, and clothing.

Min Amanne Tatreez

Traditional Palestinian embroidery, Tatreez, is a form of cross stitch done with varying techniques, motifs, and colors hailing from different regions in Palestine. I was fortunate enough to attend a Tatreez circle and film screening with Amanne in San Francisco this fall, and I literally could not put my embroidery down once she had taught me what to do! She sells a range of beautiful kits and digital patterns.

The Herbal Alchemist

Honestly if you have followed me for any amount of time you have probably heard me rave about the Herbal Alchemist — I LOVE everything I have ever gotten from here! My all-time favorite is the Sweet Serenity Body Oil, which smells absolutely divine and makes my skin feel luscious without any greasiness. I also love the Golden Glow serum and the Warm Vanilla Cinnamon Whipped Body Butter. Literally, everything at the Herbal Alchemist is incredible! Buy it all!

Mudwitch & Emotion Potion

San Francisco based ceramicist and artist Vivi makes the most delightful pieces — including the two most used dishes in my apartment. Their workshop in the city, Emotion Potion, offers amazing classes, and Vivi stocks plus size vintage workwear that is hard to find anywhere else.

Diaspora Co.

I have been obsessed with everything this queer-owned business does since I first took a cooking class that featured their spices several years ago. In particular, the Pragati Turmeric really is that good, and I have been dying to try the Popcorn Seasoning. Plus the spice tins are beautiful and would make such sweet stocking stuffers!

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If you've made it this far...

I want to end with just a few more recommendations. Cut Off the Spigot, an account dedicated to finding alternatives for the things we have come to rely on big, badly behaving corporations for, just published The Most Comprehensive Alternative Gifting Guide You'll Ever Need. This is a great resource if you are searching for something specific and want to be sure to support values-aligned businesses.

Lastly, I offer you a zero-cost gift idea for the queers in your life: in case you (or they) didn't know, Leslie Feinberg's essential queer tome, Stone Butch Blues, is available online for free. It is a heavy but powerful read, and I imagine it would have meant a great deal to me when I was coming into my queerness if a friend had given me the gift of offering to read and discuss this book together.

Okay y'all, that's it! Wishing you a sweet holiday season, filled with cherished moments with loved ones. Thank you, as always, for continuing to welcome me into your inbox.