The Royal School of Needlework Wall Calendar 2025 – A Year of Pure Stitching Joy

If you’re anything like me, you get just as excited about a new calendar as you do a fresh skein of embroidery floss. And let me tell you, the Royal School of Needlework Wall Calendar 2026 did not disappoint. In fact, it made me want to reorganize my whole craft room just so I could hang it somewhere with maximum visibility.

I originally bought this calendar as a “just because” treat (okay fine, it was technically for planning out project timelines, but let’s be honest—it was mostly for the eye candy). And as soon as I opened it, I audibly gasped. The photography is stunning. Each month features a high-resolution image of an embroidered piece from the archives or classrooms of the legendary Royal School of Needlework (RSN), and it’s like a monthly museum visit—without the entry fee.

The RSN has this magic way of showcasing traditional techniques in a way that feels fresh and inspiring. I found myself lingering over every photo, spotting things like a particularly delicate silk shading or a goldwork flourish that made me say, “I need to learn how to do that!”

Each image includes informative captions, too—not too wordy, just enough to give you context about the piece or technique. It adds a little story to the artwork and I found myself looking forward to the first of each month just so I could flip the page.

Functionally, this calendar holds its own. There’s ample room for notes in the date boxes, which is a must for someone like me who likes to scribble things like “order more hoops” or “Mom’s birthday – make stitched card.” I’m currently using it to track my WIPs and embroidery goals, which is oddly motivating when surrounded by such beautiful inspiration.

Plus, it makes a gorgeous backdrop for flat-lay Instagram shots. (If you know, you know.)

If you’re a needleworker, embroiderer, textile artist, or just someone who loves looking at gorgeous things crafted by hand, this calendar is for you. Even if you don’t do embroidery, the artistry alone makes it a lovely piece of wall decor. I could also see it being a thoughtful gift for a stitching friend or your local guild’s secret Santa swap.

Honestly, the RSN Wall Calendar 2026 feels like the stitching equivalent of a warm cup of tea and a cozy chair. It’s not just a calendar—it’s a yearlong celebration of needlework at its finest. And every time I glance up at it, I’m reminded of the beauty that comes from slowing down and stitching with intention.

5/5 floss skeins. Would absolutely buy again.
(And yes, I’m already planning to frame some of the pages when the year’s over. Waste not, want not!)

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It might seem weird to feature a book about protest movements around the Fourth of July, but as Rise Up! Powerful Protests in American History reminds us, protest is patriotic and part of the very fabric of American life from the beginning.

This picture book, written by history teacher Rachel C. Katz and illustrated by Sophie Bass, tells a rhyming story of how Americans have stood up throughout the nation’s history to protest and spread the word about injustice and unsafe conditions. From the Boston Tea Party to modern movements like the Standing Rock pipeline protests and the Obergefell case, it touches on women’s rights, environmental activism, civil rights, Pride, access for disabled people and more.

The illustrations, often based on historic protest signs and artwork, help tell the stories, while a timeline, map, and overview of each event for further discussion. Readers will learn about Silent Spring and The Jungle, the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike, the Seneca Falls convention, Robert Smalls, the Delano Grape Strike and the movement to un-dam the Klamath River, to name a few.

Each event includes a few bullet points to provide context about what happened, why and what the result was. The book reminds readers that protests are not always effective, or don’t always get the people involved what they want right away (since it took women 72 years to get the right to vote after Seneca Falls, for example).

This book is a great way to introduce kids to the long and proud history of protest movements in the United States and could prompt discussions about current events and things happening that they might want to see changed. It could also be used to start kids researching different protests discussed in the book for further learning. You can talk about how art can educate people and encourage kids to make their own art pieces to educate others about something important to them.

Rise Up! is a great starting point for learning about the history of protest and the effects it has had on American history. The publisher’s website has more resources for teaching with this book at the link below.

About the book: 48 pages, hardcover. Published 2025 by Barefoot Books. Suggested retail price $17.99.

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