I’ve heard the excuse that it’s too hot to crochet, but never that it’s too cold. But this week felt like it for me. Although the weather isn’t freezing here in PA, with the heater not working, it sure seems like it.

When I go to pick up my crochet hook, I wished it wasn’t metal, knowing how cold metal is when it’s left sitting in a cold room. Perhaps that’s why plastic hooks can be great. Even as I work with the hook, it does warm up, but my hands don’t! I thought about wearing gloves, but they just get in the way.

Instead of crocheting, I should have ran around the house to keep warm. Or if I’m brave enough, I could have crocheted while running…but I’ll save that challenge for a different day.

Have you ever felt that it was too cold to crochet?

For the blistering cold winters, crochet an absolutely easy neck warmer to wear! This neck warmer pattern uses super bulky weight yarn and a large crochet hook to make your project fast to complete. You can also adjust the size of the neck warmer by following the instructions within the pattern. Skill Level: Finished Size: 12″ (30.5 cm) wide, 6 1/2″ (16.5 cm) tall

Materials: Super Bulky Weight Yarn (approximately 50 yards) Crochet Hook N (10.00 mm)

Gauge: not really important, be sure to measure the neck warmer to create the size you desire.

Crochet Pattern: Neck Warmer
Round 1: ch 40 (or a chain that can fit over your head), sl st in first ch made forming a loop, be sure not to twist chain: 40 ch
Round 2: ch 3, dc in each ch around, sl st in top of beginning ch-3: 40 dc
Round 3: ch 3, dc in each dc around, sl st in top of beginning ch-3: 40 dc

Repeat round 3, five times or until the neck warmer is as tall as you desire.

If you need help crocheting this neck warmer, let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

How to Wear the Neck Warmer: This simple neck warmer can be worn in different ways! The pattern makes a loose cylindrical like shape that should fit over your head. If you would like to wear it the way it is photographed in the picture, simply fold part of your neck warmer over so that it lays flat and snug around your neck. You don’t need anything to hold it together when you fold it.

Looking for another pattern? The Easy Slip-On Neck Warmer is designed so that no buttons and no sewing is required! The neck warmer is able to slide over your head, and still fit snugly around your neck. It is a great addition to your fall or winter accessories that will keep you toasty warm. Although the neck warmer will fit most adults, the instructions are written so that you can adjust the size if you see fit. You can even make it into a child sized neck warmer. Feel free to make it taller, shorter, looser or tighter if you prefer. Click here to see this pattern!

Here is a video from ABC that talks about “new” crochet fashion for the fall/winter. The pull tab bags remind me of my City Hat with Brim Crochet Pattern, since it uses pull tabs as well. The jewelery is pretty neat and gets me thinking about starting to crochet jewelery!

Take a peak at the video for yourself:

What do you think?

Lots of skeins of yarn these days are rolled up so that one end of the yarn runs through the middle of the skein. Although it is sometimes easier to find the end of the yarn that is on the outside of the skein, using the end on the inside has its advantages. Using the center end will not cause your skein to roll all over the place when you crochet or knit and you will not have to put down your work to unravel the yarn.

However, the middle end of the yarn maybe be hard to find! Here are 3 easy steps to find the center strand of the pull skein:

1. Insert your thumb and index finger of one hand into the center of the skein. Do the same with your other hand, entering it into the opposite side of the skein.
2. Squish the skein so that your fingers can touch. Feel around to find the very center of the skein.
3. Pull the center of the skein out with one hand. (you will pull out extra yarn with it, but the end of the skein should be there too)

Before you begin crocheting with the center end of your skein, make sure that the outside end of the yarn is visible too. Sometimes the outside end is tucked into the skein, but this can cause it knot up if you don’t pull it out before your start working.

Keeping your yarn clean and traveling with it can be a hassle without a proper container or bag to put your work in. There are some clever containers that you can make at home by reusing / recycling materials.

The basic idea is to use a container and poke a hole at the top so that your strand of yarn can go through it. You can use any container you like, such as an old storage container, food container, or small canister. If your container is big enough you can also store your hooks and pattern sheet in it too!

Here are some examples of yarn containers:

These containers I found at instructables.com. They have a tutorial there for making these yarn containers as well. Looks like they just used good old food containers.

This container I found at Drenka’s Blog. She used an old plastic container that used to hold spices and even decided to decorate the container with a ribbon.

There are also yarn containers that you can buy in the store if you’re not into doing it yourself. They are nicely designed in different sizes and come with a handy handle. (Err..that should be a crochet hook in the picture)

Do you have a yarn container idea you would like to share?

This set includes 5 flower patterns and 3 leaf patterns! Embellish you clothing, bags or hats with these easy to crochet flowers and leaves. The flowers include a carnation, daisy, frilly flower, loopy flower and rose bud. Each flower can be adorned with 3 different leaf sizes. To download this pattern, visit the Crochet Spot Store. Free to download for all Premium Pattern Members, just log into your account for access. Skill Level:

Finished Size: appliques range from 1″ (2.5 cm) – 3″ (7.5 cm) wide

Materials: Medium Weight Yarn (small amount of each color) Crochet Hook G (4.00 mm) Yarn needle

By purchasing this pattern or becoming a Premium Pattern Member, you will be supporting Crochet Spot in creating the tutorials and patterns you love on this site! Visit the Crochet Spot Store to download this pattern and to check out other crochet patterns you may like.

If you need help crocheting the flower appliques, let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

HAHA! I found these comic strips, the “Pickles” by Brian Crane, and they were talking about crochet! They gave me a little giggle so I thought you might like to read them too!

This makes me wonder if a crochet pattern for a jock strap exist…

This mesh dishcloth is fast and easy to crochet! It can be used to clean your dishes and so much more! Make one for your sink, stove and counter top clean up. Plus use another one for bathroom cleaning or even for your car. Use cotton yarn for extra absorbency. The mesh texture helps lather soap and reduce the weight of the cloth as water is being absorbed.

Skill Level:

Finished Size: 5″ (12.5 cm) square

Materials: Medium Weight Yarn (approximately 50 yards – use cotton yarn for good absorbency) Crochet Hook J (6.00 mm)

Gauge: not that important

Crochet Pattern: Dishcloth
Row 1: ch 24, dc in sixth ch from hook, (ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch) across: 10 dc
Row 2 – 9: ch 4, turn, (skip 1 ch, dc in next dc, ch 1) across, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch: 10 dc
Finish off.

Want more dishcloths patterns? Check out 5 Absolutely Fast Dishcloth Crochet Patterns. Download this pattern at the Crochet Spot Store. Need help? Let me know and I’ll be glad to help!