The craft calendar

How to use this

How far ahead should I make seasonal craft items?

About 8 weeks. Search and Pinterest interest for a holiday starts climbing six to eight weeks before the date, and both platforms need time to circulate something new. A design finished the week before the date has missed almost the whole season.

When does Christmas craft buying actually start?

Earlier than most people expect. Serious buying starts in October and the bulk of it is done by the first week of December. If you are cutting Christmas stock in December you are selling into the tail, not the peak.

Why do Pinterest pins need such a long lead time?

Pinterest behaves like a search engine rather than a feed. A pin gets distributed gradually as it accumulates saves, so it needs weeks of circulation before it reaches the people searching for that season. Posting on the day is close to useless.

Which craft seasons are worth the effort?

Christmas is the largest by a distance, followed by Halloween and back to school. Mother's Day and Father's Day are short but reliable. The smaller single-day holidays like St Patrick's Day have a hard stop and very little tail, so they suit made-to-order rather than stock.