I've
always been partial to making snowflakes of the paper kind. What a
great way to while away an hour or two clipping away and making flake
after flake. At this time of year, they make nice decorations that people of all ages can make.
I was so excited to receive this great new book from St. Martin's Press the other day called 100 Snowflakes to Crochet by Caitlin Sainio (nice interview with the link).
Considering the season, I thought it would be fun to try out a few of
the patterns. I used a thinish cotton and a smallish crochet hook that I
had on hand. Just want to admit that I am not the best crocheter! I
picked random designs and followed the instructions which are very
clear. It was a nice way to spend a couple hours one evening. These
snowflakes would make lovely ornaments, holiday cards, and fund-raising
craft items. I'm going to starch mine and hang them on our tree when I
get a minute.
I liked the book so much, I asked St. Martin's for a book for a giveaway for one of my lucky readers. Here's how you enter.....
Answer the following question:
What is your favorite WINTER activity? It can be a memory from childhood or your present day life.
US addresses only. Contest closes Thursday December 20th
at 11:59 p.m. so we can get the book in the mail to the winner before
the holidays. As always, leave an easy way to get a hold of you - email,
Rav ID, or blog address. Good luck everyone!
78 comments:
My favourite winter activity is sitting on the couch with a good book, soft blanket, and soup bubbling away on the stove.
(That sounds so good... I'm going to do it this weekend!)
PS. I'm elcmum on ravelry.
Thank for for the give away opportunity! My favorite memory is when I was a child, I had a horse and I loved riding year round. So, in the winter, I would put small bells on my horse's bridle and I loved the sound of it as we went along through the snow. I hadn't thought of this in a long time, so thanks for regenerating it for me!
Merry Christmas,
Val in Kansas
My favorite winter activity is driving around with a hot cup of cocoa admiring Christmas lights in the neighborhood!
Living in South Carolina, my winter activities tend to be more like biking, and walking on the beach and all the other outdoor things my pale, sun-sensitive self can't do in the summertime. However, as a child in Wisconsin curling up in front of the fire with my knitting was a favorite snowy day activity.
When I was young it was helping my mom bake cookies, and frosting the cut out sugar cookies
Fracksmom on Ravelry
My favorite winter activity is sitting in front of the fire with an afghan on my lap knitting or reading and watching the snow fall outside. And we have a LOT of snow usually in my town because of the lake effect. Thanks for sharing the book. Your snowflakes are beautiful! You can email me at lerounds@sbcglobal.net.
Winter is my favorite season here in Minnesota. The colder and snowier the better. My favorite winter activity is to snowshoe in the northern woods right after a fresh snowfall. With the snow clinging to the trees and mounding on the tree stumps, it's like walking right into Narnia. I always expect to see Mr. Tumnus peeking out from behind the pines.
Walking the dog when it is snowing hard!
Walking around the neighborhood and viewing the lights
JaneSezKnit on Rav
RavID berrygal
Sledding with my toddler with the non guilty knitting comes in 2 nd
When I was little I remember baking spritz cookies with my mom and my sister and listening to Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton sing Christmas duets. I remember thinking they looked like Mr. and Mrs. Clause and wondering if Kenny led a double life. My mom still makes a kitchen full of spritz cookies every year. When I eat them it takes me back.
My favorite winter activity is staying in the house in front of my fireplace with a glass of wine and a pile of knitting.
We'd shovel our snow into one big pile (well, as much as we could) - then dig a tunnel into it for an igloo and also sled down it! Hope we get some snow this winter!
I always always always loved Christmas Day afternoon, after all the presents are opened and the turkey is baking. We watch a new movie from Santa and smell the delicious upcoming meal and enjoy the warm fuzzies of being a family in love with each other. anythingbutsnow on Ravelry
When I was a child we lived in Massachusetts for a few years. A 10 minute walk or so thru the woods behind our house was a cranberry bog which would get flooded in the winter. We used to go ice skating on it every afternoon. The protruding plant parts and irrigation pipes definitely improved our skating skills!
One of my favorite winter memories/activities was snow skiing in the Rockies. My dad and his extended family built a log cabin (with their own hands!) high up in the mountains of Colorado. We would be the first people lined up at the ski lifts, eat our lunches on the ski lifts, ski all day, and then come home to a hot meal and family time at the cabin. At night, there were always a million stars shining brightly and coyotes howling in the distance. Such great memories for me!
Kn1tgrl on Ravelry
I'm SO not a outside winter activity kind of girl... but it seems I'm in good company with many of those who have commented before me! I love a snuggly day with soup simmering and a classic old movie on the TV, and of course my knitting in my lap. Ah, but I do wish my current house had a fireplace!
Thank you for the generous giveaway!
My favorite winter activity is making english toffee. I use my grandmother's recipe and her very old cast iron skillet. I make it every year at the holidays.
hands down, it was the arrival of my great aunt Sister Annunciata!!!
She was a Sister of St. Joseph, and one of the most lively women I ever met. When Sister arrived, it was the signal, cookies were baked, pies were made, and could that woman skate! It was a huge deal to get in the car and go skating on the local pond with her. Quite a novelty as you can well imagine, long flowing black robe and a pair of hockey skates!!!!
Carolyn
My favorite winter activity is baking biscotti and then sitting in front of the wood stove with one and a cup of coffee.
My favorite activity is visiting the Christmas tree made of lights at Zilker Park in Austin, TX. The tree is huge and you can walk underneath it. When my kids were younger they would spin around and get themselves silly and dizzy. Now as teenagers they still like to go and spin beneath the tree. I love the traditions that continue especially silly, dizzy, spinning ones.
My favorite activity as a child was playing in the snow or ice skating. Now I am content to be inside baking or knitting. Nothing like a snowstorm to put me in the mood for a chocolate cake with carmel or peanut butter icing!!
RavID CJEnders
Childhood memory - making snowmen and playing (snow fights) with my brothers!
Ravelry ID- elliemae
I love to cozy up with a book or knitting!
knitsnspins on Rav
I love either getting out to go sledding or curling up by the fire to knit!
I have to say knitting and watching tv... I guess I can do this in any season, but I do a lot more of it in the winter than any other time of year.
rav id: Nassau
My (and my hubby's) favorite memory was when we lived out East and took a daytrip, just the two of us, to Shenandoah National Park. We drove through the mountains, the trees bursting with color and wildlife. When traveling up to one of the higher points, it started snowing! We quickly jumped out of the car and started playing, jumping, laughing, and dancing in the snow. This is one of the most precious moments because it was the last time I could physically jump or run, for soon after, my MS disease progressed. So, the moral of this story: live your life to full, don't wait to make a memory! :) Happy Holidays, everyone!
elegantknitdesigns@yahoo.com
My favorite meory is singing in my church childrens choir...maybe 1959? It was a cold night in Minneapolis and we got to go downtown somewhere and sing! it was marvelous... truly a holiday to act like an important kid!
Ruth
I live in Texas now so my winter activities could be yard work! We do get cold(ish) weather and when we do, knitting by a fire is high on the list. I made dozens of snowflakes like these as a kid. I love them!
My favorite winter activity is baking and candy making. It's a nice way to warm up the house, and then enjoy the fruits of your labors sitting in front of a fire. We have a gas "wood" stove now, and I sure enjoy the ease of it versus the building and maintaining of a fire with wood or coal. I'd love to win this crochet book and make snowflakes! Thanks for the giveaway.
My favorite winter activity is skiing. I grew up in Maine, but never learned to ski until I turned 40! I get a huge kick from sailing along on top of the snow, even if I still am only comfortable on the easy slopes. I also enjoy the quiet moments going up the mountain on the lift, looking right into the tops of the trees. If it is snowing, all the better!
I love to sit in front of a fire with my dogs and knit. When I was young I loved to build snowmen in the winter and and bake cookies. My sister and I used to bake 14 different kinds of cookies every Christmas.
I almost bought this book, so would love to win it...
My favorite winter activity..is actually a non-activity...I'm a teacher and my favorite winter activity is getting that phone call saying it's a SNOW DAY!!!! The first one is always so fantastic! Then to sit inside all day and do whatever I want and watch the snow fall knowing I don't need to go anywhere...if only I had a fireplace....(and we try not to think of making that day up in the summer! Just enjoy the day!)
Spinning in front of the fire, listening to the gentle whirr of the bobbin punctuated by the crackle and sizzle of the logs. Oh, and a glass of wine never hurts!
Happy holidays to you and yours.
Jill
(mossway on Ravelry)
My favorite winter activity is drawing up a chart to count down the days until spring! I am not a fan of cold weather, obviously. Reading and sewing indoors are my primary activities this time of year....
two, one inside and one outside.
outside: making homes for my pet guinea pig and taking him for rides in it on the snows crust.
inside: cutting wax paper snowflakes and melting shaved crayon in between layers, hang in windows... was beautiful i thought! So have drooled for this book.
I love to walk my dog in the snow, and then curl up on the couch with knitting & hot chocolate.
RobinV on Ravelry
My two favorite winter activities are snowshoeing, or any kind of winter hiking (above 20 degrees or so, please) and sitting inside knitting. Adore Snowflake Bentley, and so adore this book! Sarah
I like to read. During the summer growing season I tend to fall asleep as soon as I sit down after supper so it's real nice to have a bit more time for other things I like to do. This fall I discovered that while I was farming, one of my favorite authors published 3 more books!
Your friend across town, Laura
As kids, we went sledding until our feet were too cold to handle it any longer ... big kids taking care of small. Now as a non-kid, I like to read and knit ... no more cold toes, thank you very much!
bookboxer on ravelry
Ice skating. I'm not sure that this is my favorite winter activity, but it's the most exhilarating one to me. Five years ago I went to visit relatives in Hartford over the holidays. We went out and did a number of things with their kids. One day we went ice skating. I haven't skated since I was a kid. It made me feel like a five-year old kid (in a good way). It's playful and fun. When I came home, I bought a pair of skates. There's an outdoor rink in a park near my home. I try to ice skate there when I need an uplifting and fun experience.
Happy holidays to you and your family!
Robin
(minnknitter)
My favorite winter activity, aside from knitting while drinking a cup of hot cocoa, would have to be baking for the holidays. I love to decorate cookies and bake cakes. I still make the same sugar cookie recipe my Mom and I made when I was small. It brings back such wonderful memories.
msleoknits on Ravelry
My favorite winter activity, as a child, was building snow forts with my dad and the kids in the neighborhood. The forts with were big enough to play in... what fun!!
Many thanks,
d
www.yarnsista.com
Sipping tea, reading a book, and looking out on snow....which may be hard to do in Indiana this year.
Lovely book! My favorite winter activities are coming in from playing in the snow, getting out of wet, cold clothes and into something warm and dry, snuggling up by the fire with hot chocolate and some knitting - and doing all of this with my husband and kids!
Merry Christmas!
Favorite winter activity? As I read the comments there were so many memories that came flooding back. Just one? Almost impossible. Skiing with friends, making spritz cookies as a family. Watching the local school asketball games with the rest of the community. Knitting, weaving, wrapping presents. Ok. Here it is. Christmas Eve service with my family.
Ettenna (on Ravelry)
Sitting by the window, with a good book, watching the the critters visit our pond. Lisa vivianos3@aol.com
I love sitting and stitching and watching old movies. Crochet snowflakes are a favorite - instant gratification!
Kathleen (kwalton at restaurant dot org)
I grew up in South Dakota where there is snow from October to April - snow so hard it makes a crust and crackles when you walk on it. My favorite winter activity now that I am older is to stay inside with my knitting, a cup of coffee, goodies in the crockpot and watch it snow from my couch.
I love sitting by the window and drinking coffee with my hubby on snowy mornings.
jwinter on ravelry
I love building a fire outdoors in the snow in the winter - it brings warmth, and light, that wonderful smoky smell (that lingers even when I go inside - sometimes I'll even catch it on my knitting later!).
I love to be outside in Winter. Cold air is great for my skin!
lisaj @ ravelry
I love to be outdoors in the winter. Sledding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and I love the scent of pine,fresh air and woodsmoke that trails into the house with us.
A quiet walk in the woods will always be a favorite memory for me - the snow makes everything so hushed. To this day, I still love to walk in the snow.
How lovely! In winter I just love to watch the snow falling from INSIDE my cozy house with the fire roaring and candles glowing and my knitting!!
I love snowball fights!
Love the sledding with the little kids...even if it means we have to blow all the snow into a big pile in the backyard and use the shovels to carve out the 'runs'. Really dislike the spraying water on it to give it a bit more structural integrity...
Walking in the cold woods, and pausing part way to drink hot cocoa from a thermos!
Sledding was definitely my favorite winter activity as a kid, ice skating was also up there, but it was alot more work to shovel off the pond, and my ankles would get tired sooner than I got cold... Now that I'm more mature shall we say? I enjoy an outside walk, star gazing on those clear winter nights, and hunkering down with some knitting by the fire... doesn't get much better than that!
Thanks for the give away and such a great blog!
Camerlyn on Rav
Merry Christmas Kristin, Mark and Julia
I love the crochet snowflakes. Years ago, my Mom made me a several to go on my Christmas tree. Each year I hang them and know all the love Mom put into making them. No pattern she just sat down and made them. Hands down my favorite winter activities are when our daughter comes home and we get to bake and shop together, but mostly have the time to catch up in person!
My favorite winter activity is: knitting (of course) by the fire (preferably) with hot cocoa (yum!). These snowflakes look so fun to make. What a cute book! Bren7na on Ravelry.
I enjoy walking during the early part of a snowfall and trying to catch snowflakes in my mouth! Even now, it makes me feel like 10 all over again!
I love watching it snow from inside by a fire. I've just started making snowflakes-this book would be perfect!
oops forgot my id Rav Jods
My favorite outdoor activity was sledding with my friends and family and then coming inside for hot cocoa with lots of marshmallows. I also loved this with my children when they were younger. Now I take my beagle out and he is so funny in the snow. The hot cocoa is still a favorite activity, whether I go outside or not.
Just an FYI: I live in CT about 15 miles from Sandy Hook. The CT PTA is collecting snowflakes to hang in the Chalk Hill Elementary School in Monroe, CT where the teachers and students of Sandy Hook Elementary will return to class after the holiday break. I think crocheted snowflakes would be a great addition.
http://www.ctpta.org/SANDY-HOOK-FUND.html
Tracie Nixon - ravelry: TracieNix
Hi Kristin, my most favorite memory is when my mom used to take my 2 brothers and me into downtown Buffalo, NY to see the wonderful decorated windows of the department stores. Then we would have lunch at a tea room. A very special treat. And of course we always decorated a tree and I still still do 70 years later. Many happy times. HelzHart@aol.com
Wow, thank you for bringing up these memories. Although this is the second Christmas without my Mom, I miss her more this year.
As a child my bothers and sister and I would make snowmen and angels in the snow. Being the third child, my snow suit was well worn, my hand knit mittens miss-matched and my boots had seen lots of wear. To keep my feet warm I wore 1 sock, next covered my foot with a bread loaf bag, followed my another sock.
As we got older my Mom would take us to NYC to see the window displays and the tree in Rockefeller Plaza. We would travel the Long Island Rail Road and use the subway system- my Mom would have us travel in the first card so we could see what the conductor saw. We would visit Grand Central Station and she would share stories of her Dad, my Grandfather, as he was a "rail man". My Mom's reward to herself was a cup of coffee at a Chock Full Of Coffee shop. My Mom would knit on the train, with her metal needles- the sound of which still relaxes me. And of course we were all dressed up on our trip to the city.
Thank you...Merry Christmas! Rav ID Johalley
Ice Skating! I lived by a lovely lake as a child and every day after school all the neighborhood kids went out with show shovels,cleared off the ice and skated til dusk. Fond memory.
As a child, I loved to skate when the pond by the house froze enough to be safe. As an adult I love to sit with a cup of tea and my knitting.
pulling taffy with my kids.. in a warm small kitchen.
Sitting in front of my outdoor fire circle surrounded by my cats and the brilliance of all the stars with a hot cup of tea
Lryansasscat@gmail.com
Xxx
Thank you so much for the wonderful blog. As a child i loved my fuzzy horses in the winter. mafaithful@yahoo.com
I have been trying to make snowflakes. Looks like this book may be the ticket. I used to love to make snow angels. Unfortunately, we don't seem to get much snow anymore. :) Our predicted snow has turned to rain.
Andrew Safie
Going in the hot tub....hot chocolate too
andrews.safie@us.army.mil
sleeping in my bed!
Snow is magical and I have many magical moments associated with snow. One was a winter camping trip where we snow shoed to a unheated cabin. It was beautiful but cold. Snowshoeing on a beautiful frozen river was a unique experience. We split fire wood by the light of a full moon for the wood but also to get warm by the work. Then there was the challenge of cooking in a fireplace. We were shocked to find out when we got home that the night time temperatures had been -25 and -20. No wonder we were cold even with winter down sleeping bags. Thank goodness for wooly hats, socks, sweaters, and mittens! gnlmutti@gmail.com
My favorite memory from my childhood is when we all would get our wooden sleds out and go to a big hill near our home and go sleding down it.
Then we all would come in and get warmed up by the fireplace and mom would make us some hot chocolate and some kind of cookies that she'd have baked up.
Post a Comment