For me, the worse part of the Christmas season is the day we have to put away all of our festive and beloved holiday decorations. I mean, who wants to be the people with a Christmas tree up in April? The holiday season is over and here it comes- the winter ennui (that’s my “Vocabulary Word of the Day” and it means boredom)! I look around, and within an hour my formerly happy, cozy home looks empty and sullen, with a pile of dead pine needles covering the floor! So this year, when I take down the Christmas décor, I am going to hang up winter décor!

Yes, in our house, January will be the month to decorate and celebrate the winter season with a variety of fabulous winter-themed décor such as snowmen, snowflakes, and snow, snow, snow!
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Gift cards are great gifts, but something seems lacking when you give them in regular envelopes or ordinary paper cards. For an extra special touch, crochet one of these cute animals to hold your gift card. Each animal is crocheted seamlessly in the round from the top down, amigurumi style. The small parts are sewn on in addition to the pocket on the back of the animal that holds the gift card. The pocket can also hold small presents, such as candy, or jewelry. The pattern contains 6 popular animals for you to crochet: bear, bunny rabbit, cat, dog, elephant, and lion.

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Christmas isn’t complete without a messenger, so crochet an angel to let everyone know the season is upon us. Flat angels can be incorporated into your Christmas decor in many ways–as ornaments, table decor, wreath accents, and more. This angel is made with mesh wings and has a bell-shaped skirt.

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Woo-hoo! We’re back with a very special yarn for you. I am very excited about this one because I’ve been a fan for ages but have just gotten into really working with this yarn. The yarn I’m reviewing is Be So Sporty by Kristin Omdahl. Kristin Omdahl is a celebrated crochet and knitwear designer. She is also an independent businesswoman and a single mom. After selling crochet and knit patterns, authoring many books, and partnering with Eucalan to create her own scent of wool wash, Kristin launched her yarn line, Bamboo So Fine. I’ve watched the line expand from one yarn weight to two, and from six colors to the current seventeen.

Yarn Facts: Kristin’s descriptions really say it all! “Be So Sporty Yarn by Kristin Omdahl Yarns is a beautiful, 100% bamboo, sport weight yarn. Spun, milled and hand dyed in the United States of America; this lustrous and silky soft yarn gets even drapier and silkier after hand-washing in your favorite delicate wash. The colors are bright, saturated and inspired by tropical flowers and the sea.” Are you interested? The yarn comes in hanks of 325 yards and Kristin has tons of pattern support in both crochet and knit. Be So Sporty Yarn comes in 17 colors that are great to wear.

What’s this yarn like? It’s so interesting! The bamboo yarn is really compelling and I like what I can do with it. I usually work with more pliable yarns but since I am in a warmer climate, working with fibers like bamboo and linen makes a lot of sense for me. The yarn is easy to work with and the colors are absolutely beautiful. I recently purchased the Be So Sporty Sampler Kit which includes samples of each of the seventeen colors, totaling about 400 yards of yarn. It also comes with three patterns. It was a treat working with the yarn and seeing how the colors work together. I am making Kristin’s Slouchy Hat, which features a knit headband. I will have to figure out how to modify that to crochet!

Kristin listed some surprising properties of bamboo in her newsletter. I thought I would share them here because it’s such great information. She writes,

“I just love how much my Kristin Omdahl Yarns feel like silk! Slinky and sensuous, it drapes and moves like a far more expensive yarn, and also has exciting extra benefits.

Why Bamboo?
– Bamboo is softer than cotton, with a texture similar to a blend of cashmere and silk.
– Bamboo has twice the moisture absorbency of cotton along with extraordinary soil release.
– Natural antibacterial elements in bamboo fibre keep bacteria away from bamboo fabrics.
– Bamboo is eco-friendly and biodegradable.
– 100% bamboo yarns show great elasticity.
– A garment of bamboo fibre can absorb and evaporate human sweat in a split second. Garments made of bamboo keep you cool and comfortable and never stick to the skin, even during the hot summer.
– The anti-ultraviolet nature of bamboo fibre makes it especially suitable for summer clothing.”

I had purchased a hank last year but wondered what I would make with it. To me this is a very special yarn, so I wanted to make something perfect. Well, the hank was passed around the yarn store a few times (to lots of “Ooo’s” and “Aaahs”) and I just finally got it back. I now have two gorgeous options, both patterns written by Kristin herself. My skein will become either this cowl or this scarf.

The texture of this yarn is smooth to the touch. It is plied with many smaller strands that are spun into the sport weight. While working on my slouchy beanie, I did get some splitting with this yarn, but I think it was due to the hook/yarn combo. I was not working with my favorite hook! Ripping back work made from this yarn is really easy as there’s definitely no halo to tangle. The yarn is very strong and appears to be durable as well. Because the yarn is hand-dyed, there is some slight variation in the hank’s saturated colors. In my sampler kit, I noticed the purple had the most variation but it was perfect for my project. I am looking forward to using this options for garments, accessories, and bags. To keep up with Kristin, subscribe to her newsletter. You can find back issues here.

Should I go shopping for this, and if so, where? YES! I recommend this yarn 100% with enthusiasm. The price is good for what you get, considering the high-end look of the yarn, the feeling, the versatility of the yarn and the incredible pattern support. Shop Kristin on Amazon or on her Etsy shop.

Had you ever heard of Kristin Omdahl before this? Have you tried her yarn yet? Which projects do you think would look great with this yarn? What other information would you like to know about the yarn? Which yarns would you like to see reviewed on Crochet Spot? Please leave your thoughts, ideas, and points of view in the comments below!

As a crochet-addict and mother of three, I am constantly trying to find ways to get my kids crocheting. The Chain Stitch Christmas Garland was perfect for us! This project is a great way to use the kids’ Christmas season excitement to teach them a few crocheting fundamentals. The garland is worked entirely in the crochet chain stitch, and the end result is a colorful, braided garland to hang on your tree, mantle piece, or anywhere else you wish. My kids chose to hand there’s on the cat; but that’s another story.

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This poncho has a classic look that will look great on all different body shapes and sizes this winter! The poncho is crocheted from the top down, seamlessly in the round, in one piece, creating rows of eyelets as you go. The eyelets not only create a simple and beautiful pattern, but helps the crocheter easily keep track of where increases are made. The ribbing texture along the cowl neck collar and the bottom edge of the poncho create a contrast to the lighter feel of the poncho’s body. The light (sport) weight yarn used in this pattern creates a nice, easy drape in the poncho’s body. The pattern includes 9 sizes, ranging from women’s X-Small to 5X, and also includes instructions for adjusting the size if you are in between sizes or simply want a custom fitted poncho.

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Sometimes all it takes is a little decorative touch to get things ready for the Christmas season. These little hats can be used all over to add a bit of festivity. You can use them as ornaments, gift tags, wreath accents, accessories for small dolls or figurines, or anything else you might need to make your holiday special. Try making two for a pair of earrings or turn a regular finger puppet into a Santa puppet.

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I’m really excited about this book because it explores a concept I have been thinking about for a long time. It also encourages creativity in the crocheter. That is a great combination, but we can’t expect anything less from legendary crochet designer Margaret Hubert. Today we learn a little more about the new book 10 Granny Squares 30 Blankets by Margaret Hubert and you’ll see how you can win a copy!

Okay, I have a confession to make. For many, many years I have been having a love affair. Yes, it’s true. I have been in love with cotton yarn, and not the high-end organic cotton sold in little yarn shops in the trendy section of town. I have been having a love affair with Sugar-n-cream and Peaches-n-cream yarn, the cotton used by crocheters to make dish cloths, bath scrubbies and other household items. Alright, maybe “love affair” is a bit melodramatic. Just a bit. Cotton yarn has a huge place in my home, not to make dishcloths and other small items, but to make afghans. “You make afghans out of ‘kitchen cotton’?!” you say. Yes, I absolutely do. And my afghans are the warmest, coziest afghans this side of the Mississippi. Well, maybe not this entire side of the Mississippi, but this part of Arizona.

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Requested by a Crochet Spot reader, this patterns uses my classic hooded scarf crochet pattern, with the addition of fox ears. This cute scarf can be crocheted in 3 different sizes: toddler, child, and adult. You can also customize the length and width of the scarf as you desire by following the instructions within the pattern. The front of the scarf is edged with a ribbing pattern to give the scarf texture. The deep pockets are placed on both sides of the scarf to help keep your hands toasty warm.

All purchases help to support Crochet Spot and are greatly appreciated! Please log in or create a new account at the Crochet Spot Store to purchase this pattern. Premium Pattern Members may log into the store and download the pattern for free.