It's officially December - and time to cozy up and get crafting. So today, I've got a guest post written by Kathryn Vercillo working in collaboration with Marly, featuring Marly Bird's Top 10 Free Patterns for Winter Crafting - in both crochet and knitting!
Disclaimer: This guest post is provided by Kathryn Vercillo and Marly Bird, and all opinions are their own.
Marly Bird’s Top 10 Free Patterns for Winter Crafting
Marly Bird is a prolific, talented knit and crochet designer, author, YouTube instructor, and teacher. She offers a plethora of free knitting and crochet patterns on her site. She loves collaborating with other knit and crochet designers (Moogly and Marly have worked together) and often brings the craft community together with stitch-alongs and multi-designer themed projects.
With so many amazing patterns of hers to choose from, it might be hard to know where to start. So she’s dropped by today to share her top five winter crochet patterns and top five knit patterns for winter. Note that some of the patterns on the knitting list also include a crochet version. Marly celebrates being bi-crafty. She loves to make both crochet and knitting patterns (and, like Moogly did with the Strikke Cocoon Cardigan) often makes a project available in both versions.
Top 5 FREE Crochet Patterns for Winter
Winter is all about staying warm and cozy right? Yarn crafts are about as cozy as life gets. Here are Marly’s top five coziest crochet patterns to indulge in crafting this winter:
Marly originally designed this a couple years back as a crochet-along. All of the parts are of course now posted, along with video tutorial instruction, so you can start and finish this winter crochet pattern in one go. It’s a fun design that utilizes surface crochet to add texture and a pop of fun to the design. Worked in a non-traditional shape, it builds your crochet skills. Then you have cozy crochet neckwear to wrap around yourself as you layer up to ward off the winter cold.
If you want to learn how to do planned pooling then Marly Bird has lots of resources for you, including a book she authored on the topic. This crochet hat and cowl set is a great planned pooling pattern set for winter. The cowl isn’t overly warm on its own but when paired with the hat you definitely block out any chill. And if the temperatures warm up during the day, it makes a great accessory on its own.
Each November, Marly Bird hosts the Turkey Trot, a make-along for both knitters and crocheters to enjoy. In 2019, the resulting make was this extra cozy poncho. Marly makes size-inclusive garments so the pattern is available for S-3XL. Don’t forget to go see what the new 2020 Turkey Trot pattern was too!
Everyone needs a good crochet blanket pattern to make during the winter. It feels cozy as it grows on your lap. And then you can use it to stay warm while you do the rest of your winter crafting. This one uses the mosaic blocks stitch so it keeps you interested and intrigued the whole time you work on it. Marly says, “The stitch pattern combined with the softness of the yarn made for this to be a very enjoyable project.”
This is the kind of crochet sweater that you can dress up or dress down. It’s also versatile in terms of the weather. In the winter, layer it over a long-sleeved shirt or dress or wear it underneath a heavier jacket. It pairs well with gloves and other accessories, whether or not they’re crocheted. The stitches are dense, not openwork, and yet the undulating design at the neckline makes it a special piece.
Top 5 FREE Knitting Patterns for Winter
And switching from hooks to needles, here are Marly’s top five warmest knitting patterns for this winter:
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3-in-1 Handwarmers (a knit and crochet pattern)
Here’s an example of one of those patterns that Marly made available to both knitters and crocheters. This is such a versatile pattern that you really have to check it out this winter. First of all, the pattern itself is a three-in-one hand warmers design. Some people like fingerless crochet gloves, some people like fingered mittens, and some prefer a convertible design. All of those needs are met here. Plus Marly gives video tutorial tips for changing the design to adapt if you need an easier pattern for the colorwork portion. This winter pattern launched as a stitch-along in November and is now available as a completed design.
Last year Moogly and Marly collaborated to make the perfect complementary knit and crochet shawls for winter. Moogly made the crochet version and Marly designed this knit shawl. It’s an easy knitting pattern worked in four different sections. The fun part is choosing the colors, and the order that you want to work with them in, which allows you to easily adapt this design to suit your own style. Once done, you have a knit winter accessory that wraps around your shoulders or keeps you warm tied up bandana-style.
This is another example of how Moogly and Marly came together to create crochet and knit versions of a project. This was the Leap Day Mystery Make-a-Long that resulted in the Stitch in Time Crochet Capelet and this Shoulder Hug Knit Capelet. You don’t normally think of a capelet as a winter accessory, but this one is perfect for cold weather. It layers really well with other clothing and accessories, so you can mix and match to suit the temperature. The neck detail is dense and warm. And it’s truly designed to feel like a cozy yarn hug, which we can all enjoy more of in the winter.
Marly says, “A gorgeous color and wonderful voluminous size makes this the wrap you’ll love to wear over most anything.” That really sums up precisely what is great about this cozy knit wrap for winter. This is a beginner-friendly knit pattern worked mostly in stockinette stitch with a garter stitch border for detail.
Here’s another beginner-friendly knitting pattern. Marly has provided a lot of detailed instructions that you can use if this is your first time knitting lace. Despite being lacy, it’s a very warm knit scarf. It wraps around you several times for maximum winter coziness.
And to wrap things up, here's a Pin to save this post with! I hope you've enjoyed this collection - and found some fantastic crafty inspiration!
This is a guest post by Kathryn Vercillo working in collaboration with Marly Bird. Follow Marly Bird on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest. You can also sign up for her free newsletter, which includes many links to new free patterns each week. And if you never heard Moogly on Marly’s YarnThing Podcast, check that out here.
Carol Corder says
I was taught to knit by my mother when I was 5 years old. I am now 74 years old and still love to knit. I was in the process of graphing out a Bernie Sanders mitten when I came across your completed pattern. Thank you so much. I enjoyed knitting these mittens. I appreciate your use of the post it notes put on upside down. So clever.
Judith K. Hawkins says
I made the "RED HEART COMFY CROCHET SWEATER" about 3 years ago. I had just begun to crochet again and didn't think of crocheting gifts for others .
I was just proud and happy I made this and it fit nicely.. We were in a restaurant and a lady stopped me and asked me if I made it. She wanted me to make her one. I was shocked and said thank you! I really missed an opportunity to make and sell one for her. I could have at least taken her name and phone number.
Anyway this pattern turned out beautiful for me and I thank Marley for her creation.!
Tamara Kelly says
♥ What a great compliment!