Waiting in Color: The Meaning Behind Our Advent Stole Collection

Advent is a season unlike any other, quiet, contemplative, and filled with the sacred tension of waiting. It’s the time when the church slows its rhythm, leaning into anticipation and hope as we prepare for the coming of Christ. At Carrot Top Studio, our Advent Stole Collection celebrates this holy season through color, texture, and symbol, visual storytelling meant to deepen the worship experience.

The Power of Visual Connection in Worship

Before words are spoken, visuals often speak first. Color, pattern, and form can evoke feelings that words cannot, especially during seasons of reflection like Advent. In worship, visual connections invite the congregation to engage not just with their minds but with their hearts. A stole in the right color, a flickering candle, or a simple Advent wreath can turn a familiar story into a living moment of encounter.

That’s why we see each stole as more than fabric; it’s a visual prayer. It helps bridge scripture, tradition, and the sacred imagination of those who gather each week.

Why Blue and Purple? The History of Advent Colors

Traditionally, purple was used during Advent, symbolizing both royalty and repentance. It echoed the solemn tone of Lent, a call to prepare our hearts for the King who is to come. But in more recent centuries, blue has become another beloved option. It reflects hope, expectation, and the dawning sky before sunrise—a visual metaphor for waiting on the Light of the World.

Both traditions are meaningful. At Carrot Top Studio, we honor them through carefully chosen fabrics—rich purples that feel like stillness before dawn, and luminous blues that shimmer with the promise of coming light.

Highlights from This Year’s Collection

Peaceful Expectation

A dove bearing a laurel branch, an enduring symbol recognized worldwide, reminds us of God’s everlasting love and the hope we hold during this sacred season. The rich variations of blue evoke the spiritual journey of Advent: from stillness and longing to expectation and joy.

Labyrinth stole

The labyrinth is a tool to facilitate prayer, meditation, and spiritual formation. Perfect for Advent! This stole is for one who is called to use a labyrinth or encourages others to do so. The images on this stole are based on the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral, France.

Each piece is designed to make a visual connection to the season’s message, turning the sanctuary into a space that reflects Advent’s rhythm of waiting, preparing, and hoping.

A Season for Reflection and Beauty

Whether your congregation worships in blue or purple, traditional or contemporary style, the message remains the same: light is coming. These stoles are crafted to reflect that promise—to help clergy embody the sacred anticipation of the season.

And if you’d like to go deeper into the intersection of art, faith, and creativity, join us on Substack. There, we share behind-the-scenes reflections, creative resources, and devotional thoughts that expand on the themes you find here. Subscribers receive both free inspiration and bonus materials throughout the liturgical year.