Fun
The Night Before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas, at MDK HQ
Not a creature was stirring, not even a shrew
New Ancestral stockings were still on the needles
(Ann ditched out on them for a book on the Beatles)
The team was tucked up with their Nestlés of crunch
Still slightly heartburnish from hibachi lunch
And Kay in her Chanin, and Ann in her Dries,
Took a break from incessantly shooting the breeze
When out in the parking lot on the asphalt
They heard such a crash it made both of them vault
Away to the doorway they flew like a swarm
Punched in the numbers, switched off the alarm
The moon on the breast of the ancient tarmac
Gave a shadowy gloom to each crumble and crack
When, what did their wondering eyes spy indeed
But a U-Haul truck loaded up with Felted Tweed
With a movie star knitter, his eyes such an asset
They knew in a moment it must be Kaffe Fassett
Brighter than parrots his colors they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Treacle! now, Boulder! Now, Ultramarine!
On, Scarlet! on, Barbara! on, Vaseline Green!
To the top of the scarf! to the top of the shawl!
Now knit away! knit away! knit away all!”
So up to the flat roof the skeins all flew,
With 10-packs of Jane, and of Atlas too
And then, in a twinkling, they heard up above
A ballwinder cranking those yarns so beloved
They adjusted their specs in an effort to see
As Kaffe came bounding down through the HVAC
He was dressed like a rainbow, from his shoes to his hat
And his shirt had a pattern of purple ikat
His eyes—how they twinkled! his cheekbones how high!
The resemblance to Cary Grant made them all sigh!
A needlepoint canvas clenched tight in his fist
Kidsilk Haze encircled his neck like a mist
A wink of his eye and a shake of his sleeve
Soon gave them to know that his ends were not weaved
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his quilt
He moved patches around; then turned with a jilt
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the ductwork he rose;
He sprang to his U-Haul, Brandon M at the wheel
And away they both floated like fuzz off chenille
But I heard them exclaim, ere they drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
With heartfelt wishes for a joyous Christmas to everyone who celebrates, and peace and goodwill to all,
Kay and Ann
P.S. To Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably, much love—and thanks for always being good sports. Hosting Kaffe and Brandon at MDK in October was a mountaintop moment for us, a literal bright spot of 2025.
I love this!!! Merry Christmas to all, with lots of knitting and yarn! After reading this poem, I’m thinking it would be a fun Christmas activity to have family members all pick a Christmas poem or song to rewrite.
So a happy Christmas to all! That Night Before Christmas was so cleverly done… for us in the knitting world…
That was great fun! Marry Christmas all!
Thanks for this fun Christmas post and all others throughout the year.
Love to y’all-
“ soon gave them to know that his ends were not weaved” is classic!!
agree….favorite line!
Happy holiday ! Agree best line in amazing poem. Permission to leave ends. Which will eventually felt a bit. Kaffe is the best as is this joyous post !
Love. This. Post.
Thank you so much for this wonderfully apt twist (8 ply perhaps) twist on a classic! Loved it – and I enjoy your blog.
Happy Christmas from down under!
What a hoot! Happy Holidays to all. Your posts are a welcome part of my daily ritual.
Marvelous! There’s quite a a poet (or more than one!) lurking behind those needles. Wishing everyone in our MDK family a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you. Peace and goodwill to all!
Wow- you have outdone yourselves with this. What a wonderful way to start my Christmas holiday. Thank you both for being bright spots throughout 2025. Here’s to a wonderful 2026!
Just what I needed for a great holiday chuckle (as I quietly hoard the Kaffe color ways for a grand project in 2026 — just haven’t decided which)
Merry Christmas! Thanx for sharing!
Love it! Happy Holidays, All!
Well done! This is a keeper;) Merry Christmas to all y’all at MDK
Wonderful! Merry Christmas to all the MDK Team! Wishing you joy, love, laughter, and knitting time!
Thank you for all you do. The Kaffe and Brandon events were a highlight of my year. Your poem made me smile and remember how much joy I experienced that weekend. Happy Christmas to everyone at MDK Headquarters
What a lovely post!
Merry Christmas everyone xx
Merry Christmas – and very good cheer! – to you both, you clever knitting poets! You all (the whole team) wake me up every morning in a very good way.
(…and to all knitters still working deep into the night
I pray that your eyes have a very good light!)
(You’re contagious!))
Merry Christmas to all at MDK and to all the Daily Readers!!
Thank you so much for this wonderful Christmas knitter’s poem and for brightening my email box every morning. Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone at MDK and all Daily Readers!
Terrific! What a wonderful team effort—-and I have to assume that this lovely song is a result of input from multiple team members. Can’t wait for the audio version of this poem to be released—- perhaps with musical accompaniments ? Put me down for an order now? Maybe video, too? It would be a smash hit in the knitting world, where we are all of good cheer.
thanks such lovely sentiment for Christmas Eve.
Brilliant rewrite!
So clever! Merry Christmas to everyone at MDK!
You two are such clever writers!!!! Merry Christmas, and thanks for the continual stream of knitting goodness you send out daily. You are deeply appreciated, even if a tad enabling.
Happy Holidays Kay and Ann! What a wonderful gift to all of your readers and it reminds me to pick up my almost finished Kaffe inspired scarf of felted tweed stripes. ❤️
Five-star review! Two thumbs up! I love this, and all of you. Peace and good will to all!
“Away they both floated, like fuzz off chenille . . .” I’m still laughing!
I wasn’t sure about reading this (because I’m not a fan of Christmas) but I’m glad I did – it’s a very well done rendition of the original poem.
Loved this! Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all of the MDK staff and all the best for 2026!
I LOVE IT! I will always love Kaffe Fassett designs, his patterns, his fabrics, and the colors! I am all about the colors. And Felted Tweed will always be one of my favorite yarns of all time. Merry Christmas to everyone! And don’t forget the reason for the season.