My favorite Winter hobby is crocheting. I usually start late September and continue through March. My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was eight or nine, and I picked the hobby back up in 2009. Since 2009, I’ve crocheted numerous wraps, capes, cloaks, hats, gloves, and afghans. I’ve even done a few hand towels and sweaters.
Choosing Yarn
I typically choose yarn according to the projects I’ll be working on. For Afghans and hats, I choose a medium weight yarn and typically use two threads together. This adds depth and variety to the patterns. Depending on the size of the afghan I buy between four and eight skeins of yarn. A hat typically takes less than one skein of yarn.
For capes, cloaks and wraps, I buy super bulky and start with ten skeins of yarn. The reason for this is that super bulky yarns do not come with a lot of length. One skein might only do a row and a half depending on the width of the project.
Hand towels, washcloths, and towels require cotton yarn. This is become those items need to be designed to get wet and take abuse. Cotton absorbs water where synthetic materials do not. One ball of cotton yarn typically makes one wash cloth. Two balls make a hand towel, and four to six balls make a towel.
Gloves can be made out of any type of yarn. If I’m making a pair of standard winter gloves, I use a medium weight yarn. One skein usually makes both gloves. Though, I buy two skeins just in case. If I’m making designer or lace gloves, I use crochet thread and buy two skeins. The reason for this is that lace gloves are more intricate, use a smaller needle, and take up more yarn for their size.
What I’m Working On This Winter
This Winter I am working on two hats, a wash cloth, and a scarf. I’m working on the hats because I lost all my hats from last year, and crocheting my own hats is typically cheaper. Plus, losing my crocheted hats doesn’t bother me as much as losing a store bought hat. Crocheting my own hats is typically cheaper. All I really lost was the time it took to make them.
Wash cloths are simply a curiosity for me this year. I want to see if I can make a better wash cloth than I can buy in the store. If I can, I’ll start making wash clothes regularly.
I’m making a scarf because I have leftover yarn from last year, and I don’t have a scarf for this year. My scarf will likely be multicolored and made of scrap yarn that really isn’t long enough to do anything else with. All in all, I have enough yarn and enough projects to keep me busy all winter long.