Turning Wintry, and some Patterns Published

December doesn't seem like December without any snow.

It's been cold and clear - blessedly clear, after our murky November - but dry as a bone. Many Wisconsin natives seem to like it this way, but I've never lost my SoCal-bred excitement at the sight of white stuff falling from the sky and sticking to the ground. (Sticking being the key word.) I get a little antsy when Christmas decorations begin to appear, while the earth remains obstinately bare and the forecast is empty of flakes.

This week the temperatures dropped from autumn-ish 30s to winter-is-coming teens. And late last night, when Mr. M went to lock up the porch, I heard him exclaim in surprise. "You got your wish!" he called. He stuck his head outside and took a deep sniff. "It smells amazing."

Sure enough, the ground was covered in unexpected snow, all sparkling under the street lamps. The air smelt scrubbed and fresh, as if the snow had cleaned it on the way down. A soft silence lay over the land.

Today the forecast reads: "A period of accumulating snow is expected across southern Wisconsin from late afternoon Friday...."

Decorating for Christmas suddenly makes more sense.

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In keeping with the wintry theme, here are some recently-published patterns:

Love of Crochet Winter 2017

These lacy little Star Flakes are quick-to-work thread crochet, stiffened with a simple glue solution. (Fun fact: The star on the lower right is made in one continuous round.)

The Star Flakes look lovely hanging on a tree:

Next up, the Icicle Social Scarf:

The scarf's lacy end panels are trimmed with joined snowflake motifs, and its body works up quickly in easy offset clusters. The pattern could easily be widened to make a lovely stole.

This scarf was designed last winter, and submitted in the spring, so as you can see I have snow on my mind in other months than December!

Be sure to check out Love of Crochet Winter 2017 for many more beautiful wintry patterns.

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Interweave Crochet, Winter 2018

My original name for this hat was Twist and Shout, but Interweave slotted it into a fairy-tale storyline and changed its name to Grimm:

The Grimm hat is anything but, featuring a kicky two-colour, picot-edged, back loop slip stitch ribbing band, worked in offset rows for a visual twist. The hat's crown features an almost-lacy stitch pattern that marries well with worsted weight yarn while providing textural contrast to the stripes. The mini-sample I submitted to Interweave (right photo, above) sported a fun tassel. The tassel was not included in the final pattern, but would be easy to add for a whimsical touch.

Interweave Crochet Winter 2018 is full of stunning cold-weather patterns. You can scroll through the lookbook here, and order a copy here.

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There are lots of other projects on the Micawber hook right now, but most of them are book-related and won't be appearing for some time yet.

What are you crocheting? (Or knitting?)

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