Today, on the winter solstice—the longest night and shortest day of the year—I’m taking the Winter of Care and Repair Challenge again. It feels right to start this Challenge at this time of the year—the quiet hinge between the seasons—when the night has stretched as far as it can and the slow return of longer days begins.
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| Winter of Care and Repair 2025. |
From December 21, 2025 to March 20, 2026, the Winter of Care and Repair Challenge carries us through winter’s dormancy to arrive at the spring equinox, when balance returns and the days and nights meet again. The Challenge was created by Jeanna Wigger, @thepeoplesmending, and co-author of the book, “Stitch it Don’t Ditch it.” It’s an invitation to slow down during the three months of winter to focus on tending to what we already have—belongings, relationships, self, or community.
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| Winter of Care and Repair, IG post @thepeoplesmending. |
This is the third time I’m participating in the annual Challenge. I like that it doesn’t have a strict set of rules. Participants choose their own pace and projects—mending clothes and linens, repairing household items, finishing neglected works-in-progress, prepping a garden for Spring planting, or simply caring for the tools and materials that support us in our everyday lives.
Basically, the heart of the challenge is “care instead of consumption, and mindfulness instead of haste and waste.” Some people document their work on social media [#winterofcareandrepair2025], others keep it private. If you’d like a WoCaR [Winter of Care and Repair] tracker, visit Check Your Thread @checkyourthread, for a downloadable tracker.
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| Mending a frayed binding on a quilt. |
My hands are already busy with this challenge as my current mend is repairing a frayed binding on this well-loved quilt.
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| Repairing worn areas with new 4-patches. |
I’ve repaired the center section with appliquéd patches over worn areas, darning a few holes, and lastly, working on the binding. It’s been slow, mindful work, honoring the warmth through the years it has already given. Each stitch is a small promise to keep this special quilt useful and in good condition.
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| New pillowcases. |
Alongside mending, there’s making. New pillowcases came together today as a Christmas gift for a special friend—a simple, practical gift made with love and care. The fabric was chosen with her in mind: chickadees and dogwood blossoms. This is a reminder that repair isn’t only about fixing what’s worn, but also about creating comfort and maintaining connections with special people. It’s perfect that this Challenge coincides with the Christmas season.
As we settle in for winter, I’m inviting the rhythm of “care and repair” to be a guide. Mend what’s frayed, make what’s needed, and move gently through the season until Spring returns.
