Crocheting in All Climates & Seasons
By Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 16 CommentsBefore we get started I want to thank everyone for their great comments on my recent post about crocheted works in progress. I feel a Crochet Spot Challenge coming on! π
How does the weather affect your crochet?
I got to thinking about this question while reflecting on my own changed crochet habits since I moved to southern Florida where the temperature ranges from ridiculously hot to warmish. Truthfully, it is a weird weather pattern to me! I spent the vast majority of my life in the northern United States, so I have endured cold winters and have inspired my crochet! Luckily, I never felt too cold to crochet like Rachel once did. π
My favorite yarn is worsted weight wool and wool blends. That was perfect for the chilly, cold and freezing seasons I used to experience. When I moved down here I found that most of the year I had to scale down both the yarn weight and warmth. That makes sense, but here’s the thing – I love crocheting cold weather items like big, chunky scarves and cozy hats. I don’t necessarily go gaga over warm weather items!
Since I’ve been here for over two years now, I’ve noticed a sharp drop in my crocheting of scarves and an increase in my crocheting of small items and accessories like handbags. The truth is that most of the year it’s just to hot to think about scarves, but not these days!
So what about you, my friends? Have you ever noticed a change in your crocheting habits with the weather? Have you ever moved to a vastly different climate and noticed a difference in what you are drawn to crochet (or not crochet)? Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.
My yarn changes in the winter months. Here in WV it gets COLD and those little fingerling weight yarns just wont keep us warm. My blankets get made with wool, my rugs and shrugs out of bulky. I love thick warm yarn! I’d be interested in a crochet-spot challenge! I follow you on Bloglovin! Thanks for a great blog to read about my favorite subject, crochet!
~Crystal
Woohoo, Crystal! Stay tuned because we do have a challenge a-brewing! Glad to hear about your bulky yarn obsession. Γ°ΕΈββΊ
Yes, definitely. For several years, I lived in south Alabama just a few miles from the beaches at the Gulf of Mexico, and there is no real winter of any kind. I could get by with just a sweater almost all of the time and I’m native to north Alabama. I never crocheted any scarves or warm weather clothing items at all. Of course, the native Lower Alabamians were bundled up to the gills! (Yes, they’ll tell you they’re from LA!) I crocheted worsted-weight afghans most of the time because the A/C vent hit right where I sat on the couch to watch TV. Now I’m back home (yea!!) in north Alabama where it gets a little colder for a little longer and I’ve crocheted several scarves in delicious yarns. Weather has to affect one’s crocheting habits, I think.
I live in the Mid-Atlantic area next door to Washington, DC. We have all 4 seasons here, and I definitely find myself changing my patterns according to the weather. Right now, it’s cold and often it’s also been wet – rain or snow. Great weather for working on afghans. As the weather warms up, I find myself going to smaller and lighter weight projects. Place mats for my kitchen table, coasters for cold drinks on the deck, and occasionally I try my hand at crocheted jewelry. I found that I can make some beautiful necklaces and bracelets by crocheting small beads and crystals onto thin wire ( about a 20 gauge). In late summer I start thinking of Christmas gifts. Mittens and scarves are at the top of my lists, but I also will work on an afghan for someone special. So far, my hooks don’t get much time to collect dust. Just wish I could figure out a way to crochet and drive!
I think four seasons are definitely charming and can be great for crocheting diverse items! Crochet and drive? If you figure out an *ACTUALLY SAFE * way to do it, let me know! π
I can relate! When I lived in Mexico (after Chicago) no one could understand how I could stand the 70 degree weather with no coat! They were like the “LA” people!
I live In Northern Territory, Australia where it is hot all the time but I crochet mainly worsted-weight yarns and some bulky. I enjoy challenging stitches and patterns and my motivation is there are a lot of people in Eastern Europe who are cold in winter so I crochet for Mission without Borders and I try to make each item a little different to what other people make. I too would like to figure out away to be able to do housework and crochet at the same time so that I could see more finished items for the time I put in, rather than the same piece of housework back needing to be done again not long after I just finished it.
Sue, interesting! I love the motivation of sending items to those who need them! It is also interesting to hear about your climate in Northern Australia. Thanks for reading! π
I know climate has an influence on what I want to make with my yarn arts. I live in north Florida. I’ve only been crocheting just under a year now, and definitely can see it! Before that I was a knitter. In summer I knit things like tank tops and lacy shrugs, ponchos and stuffed toys. In winter it was sweaters, scarves, hats, afghans and heavy ponchos. Things are similar with my crochet now. I started with crochet in late March last year…and was making things for the house…tissue box cover, amigurumi fruit (from Rachel’s patterns) table runner, and other little items like that. Then in summer the amigurumi bug bit big time and I was making all manner of stuffed critters and dolls, with some washcloths and project totes and pouches thrown in. Now it’s actually rather chilly in this part of FL, I’ve made an afghan, some more amigurumi, and am currently working on a sweater/shrug in Lion Brand Homespun. I am thinking of another afghan…only making it a lapghan, and I want to make a baby blanket and hat for my soon-to-arrive grand daughter. So, yeah…the big heavy projects I think interest me more in the winter, even though my climate here isn’t cold very long at all. The spring and summer is a great time for fun house decoration projects, useful stuff like washcloths, and fun things “just because”.
I hear you, Emma! And, wow, you’ve done a lot if crochet in just one year! Very impressive! π
I live in Yap Micronesia and it is hot/warm most year-round. After stopping (because of work) crocheting for many years, I began to crochet again last year. I use mainly worsted yarn and do small items, but did complete an afghan in November. Because my granddaughter moved to north Florida and have two children, I’m going to start using chunky yarn, heavier yarn for her children’s afghan. But I think weather definitely does some determination about what you crochet, but with all the varieties of yarn and patterns available, one has to “look outside the box” so to speak. Love your Blog.
Just a tip. I live in north Florida and the only winter we have here lasts approximately 2 weeks. It’s either hot or broiling the rest of the year. When you make the afghans for the children, I’d strongly suggest you use a soft worsted weight, or something light and fluffy like a boucle.
Flora, welcome back to crochet! So glad you’re making things again!! I used to have a student from Yap! It sounded like a really interesting place. Great to hear from you. π
I live in a state that has;distinct seasons, very cold winters and very hot, humid summers. For years I didn’t crochet anything during the summer. I didn’t like touching the “warm and cozy” yarn. For some reason two years ago I started enjoying crocheting during the summertime again. I’m glad. π
Erin, yay for summertime crochet! π
I live in the Pacific Northwest where we have four seasons. I hate summer and hot weather, which to me is anything over 65 degrees Fahrenheit. I have a hot “inner” temperature which seems to be getting worse due to medical issues. I also have less energy and get depressed in the summer. So I have to leave the afghans and bigger projects aside in the summer; I can’t stand having an afghan even touching me. I make smaller things like coasters when it’s hot. I’m glad it’s winter now, I just started an afghan. π