Winter Accessories

January 3, 2014 Snowstorm

New York has already had a pretty eventful Winter.  At least four snowstorms and an Arctic Vortex later I think snow gear is a must.  In not a big hat person, but a headband, scarf, and gloves are a must before I dare to brave the cold temperatures.  Over the years of of my favorite things to make are crochet scarfs.  Not only are scarfs a fun accessory but for people like me, who don't tolerate the cold very well, they are a very practical and essential part of any winter outfit.

The advantage of being able to make your own scarfs is the color and materiel options are endless and I can make the exact size and design I'm looking for.  Since the scarf rarely leaves my neck, even once I'm indoors, it is great to be able to match them to some of my favorite outfits.  There are also some pretty fashionable ways to wrap or tie scarfs, so being able to add the extra length I prefer is another great reason I make my own.


With the recent temperatures plummeting so low my car's tires actually stuck to the ground, and wind chill numbers around -15 my scarf of choice for this winter is something thick, plush, and extra warm.  After a quick trip to the craft store (ok, maybe it wasn't so quick, but who could blame me for spending so much time there when there are so many great craft options?!?!) I decided on a deep burgundy red color.   Bernat's Soft Boucle Yarn caught my eye because of the rich color and the new "quicker and thicker" design.  FYI, I did notice a notable difference though in color and texture between dye lots so make sure you buy enough of the same lot for your intended project if you go with this yarn.  While some yarns you can get away with mixing lots, this is definitely not one of them.  Also, if you are new to crochet or knit this may not be the best yarn for you.  It is woven in a loose manner that some new crafters find hard to create with as it is easy to place the needle through the thread of yarn instead of under it.

Just as the label promised this yarn was plenty thick and it does work very quick. The yarn label called for a "L" crochet hook but since I was concerned with warmth I choose a "K" crochet hook to keep the stitching a little tighter.  While a single crochet scarf would have almost totally eliminated this problem, I wanted to make sure the soft plush quality of this yarn wasn't lost in smaller tighter stitches.  For this reason I decided to create the scarf in double crochet stitches with the slightly smaller hook which gave me the desired look, feel, and warmth.  I'm a huge fan of infinity scarfs right now so with that in mind I began crocheting away.  The picture on the right (don;t mind my pjs) shows the work in progress scarf after only a short time.  I made the scarf about 70 inches long before closing the infinity circle (a good length if you like to double the loops around your neck for a little extra warmth) and about 10 inches thick.

After completing the scarf I had some yarn left over.  I could have held onto the remaining yarn for a future project but all I could hear was a little voice in my head telling me my yarn stash is big enough. But... I refuse to waste craft materials... sooo... I decided the perfect solution was to make a matching headband!  After completing a basic headband I stitched a portion of the headband together creating a pinched bow effect.  Overall I am very happy with the yarn and the finished product. After only one night of cuddling up and crocheting I have two great new Winter Accessories.  I'm ready to face the next round of of Arctic Vortex cold expected within the next two weeks!

Finished Scarf and Headband (Color appears lighter due to camera flash)

Creative Christmas

This time of year a lot of people reflect on what they are thankful for.  While there is a very long list of things for which I am grateful, among the things at the very top of the list is my family.  For more reasons than I can count my family has allowed me to grow into the woman I am today, they have supported me in my goals, and have shown me unconditional love.  They have also taught me that imagination is not just for kids, dreams can become a reality, and I can create anything I put my mind too.  It is because of this that I have been able to see my hopes for Handcrafted Holidays come together with each piece I create.










My mom is one of the most talented and creative people I know.  She used nothing more than her imagination, a pair of scissors and  floral wire to build Window Designs by RoseAnn (windowdesignsbyroseann@msn.com).  While she exercises her talents year round, Christmas is where she truly shines.  Each tree she decorates is a work of art that captures the fun and magic of the holiday season. Recently, she was asked to do a live TV segment for Arise 360 Entertainment to share some decorating tips and tricks.  Take a look at the Christmas Decorating Segment.