Tag: cowl

  • Beautiful Snowscape

    Beautiful Snowscape

    Snowscape Hat and Cowl knitting patterns by Bronwyn Hahn -- When the snow has fallen but the wind continues to blow, that’s when the snowscape really comes to life. The wind transforms the terrain into a frozen wonderland. The fine powder skitters along until it finally catches and holds tight, leaving ripples of snowy waves.

    As I admitted a few weeks ago, I’m not a big fan of winter. This winter has been particularly brutal for much of the country. And we still have several more weeks before we’re out of the woods. Mother Nature sure knows how to put on a show, however. Whether it’s snow or frost or ice, I can usually find beauty in it once I overlook the cold.

    Snow is in the forecast again this week. This time, it comes in the form of my Snowscape Hat and Cowl patterns. I was inspired by drifting snow and how it paints a peaceful picture despite the fierce winds and bitter cold.

    You can buy both patterns from my Ravelry store now! They’re on sale through March 10, 2019. Save $1 on either of the patterns or $3 when you buy the e-book! No coupon needed.

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  • Inspired by Winter

    Inspired by Winter

    True confession: I don’t really like winter. Or summer, for that matter. I prefer the moderate, comfortable temperatures of spring and fall. However, winter does provide such a lovely backdrop for daily life; I just prefer to see it from the warmth of my living room window. Despite my objection to the cold, I do seem to find great beauty (almost) every time I step outside. Besides, winter lets me enjoy my knitwear every day.

    I have three new patterns that were inspired by winter. The first is Frost Heaves Cowl, and it’s available now! (Watch for Snowscape Cowl and Hat to be released soon!) This pattern has been churning in my head for a couple of years now. First of all, the nerd in me just loves that there is a word for the geological phenomenon. Frost heaving happens when the top layer of soil starts to thaw as groundwater refreezes and pushes the soil upward. There’s a bunch of science involved, but the effect is completely fascinating to me. The cables in this cowl mimic the swollen mounds of earth, and the lacy, shivering ribs resemble the broken soil.

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  • Bronwyn’s Handmade Christmas November 2017: Quick Knits

    Bronwyn’s Handmade Christmas November 2017: Quick Knits

    It’s time for the final push! We only have one month until Christmas! Can you believe it?

    Every time I write about a new craft I’ve made, I feel a slight pang of guilt. I’ve always dabbled in all sorts of crafts, so it’s not like I’m a monogamous crafter or anything. Knitting is my main squeeze, though, so that is my go-to when I want to make a handmade gift. But wait a second. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to blog about knitting in, say, June when we still had several months ahead of us? Well, my favorite things to knit are accessories because they are quick and make a big impact with only a small amount of time and effort. I’m a procrastinator, and I know many of you are, too, so quick and easy are key features when you’re on a deadline.

    [It just occurred to me that knitting is a little like childbirth. Yeah, of course, you created this thing of beauty and the knitting project is your baby and all that, but I’m thinking about the effort you put in. You always hear moms bragging about how many hours they labored. It seems like the most dramatic stories come at the extremes: “I pushed for FOUR hours!” but also, “I only pushed for 22 MINUTES! I guess he was in a hurry.” (True story. 22 minutes for me. Not bragging at all.) So when it comes to knitting, we’re especially proud when we finally complete a sweater or afghan that took 2 years to complete but also when we whip up a cowl in only a few hours. Or is it just me?] (more…)

  • Windswept Forest

    Windswept Forest

    Windswept Forest is my latest knitting design — a cowl knit in the round using a simple lace pattern. For around $8, Quince & Co. Finch knits up quickly into a deceptively inexpensive gift for a friend or for yourself.

    The inspiration for this cowl came from a design challenge put forth by Frenchie, a.k.a. ArohaKnits. The challenge began with creating a mood board inspired by one of three themes: ocean, mountains, or forest. I focused on images of forests. I found lots of really cool photos of dense forests but was most intrigued by the windswept trees — trees with branches bent backwards at crazy angles. It’s amazing that some of these trees can possibly remain rooted in the ground. (more…)