Cold Weather Crochet by Marlaina Bird Book Review

Cold Weather Crochet by MarlaIna Bird

I love winter and was immediately drawn to the front cover of this book, full of cozy crochet garments and accessories. Oh yeah, and some afghans to snuggle up with too! For 35 years before I became a professional designer, I mostly worked on crochet during the winter months, because being indoors most of the time drew me to working on those warm accessories I made as gifts. After becoming a designer, I began working every day of the year on projects since it was a big part of my income.

But this cozy looking cover with the warm hooded scarf, white background and soft lights brought me back to those magical days of big snowflakes falling while gazing out the window. As an adult I moved from the deep south to northeastern Ohio, known as the “snow belt”, and even though I live in southern Ohio now, we get plenty of snow. People don't understand why I love snow so much especially growing up in the deep south. I love cuddling up on the couch with a warm afghan, and hot chocolate, sitting in front of the fire with loved ones. Winter was also the time I'd get together with a group of ladies once a month on a cold day, to visit, eat lunch and crochet. The older women helped the younger women, not only with our crochet, but giving us much needed advice on being a young wife and mother. I give those women, who've already passed on, much of the credit for me becoming a designer.

Sorry I got on a nostalgia trip, but those are the thoughts that affected me while browsing through this book. Marly has so cleverly come up with such an interesting variety here. These is something for everyone to keep them busy for years to come. Read more about Marly, her YouTube Podcast, and other books at the bottom of this post.

Thrummed Slippers - Slipper is inside out at right

My favorite project in the whole book and what immediately got me excited were the cute, quirky Thrummed Slippers. I love anything that's multicolored, not to mention they remind me of gumballs, a favorite childhood memory. I actually like the slippers best when they are turned inside out!

Another favorite is the green Cabled Shawl, not only because I love textured cable stitches but because green is one of my favorite colors.

Cabled Shawl

If you've never made cables before, I believe  this would be a good one to learn on.

The Favorite Socks look so comfy and are calling out to me even though I don't have time to make them right now.

The Hooded Scarf reminds me of a fantasy world and maybe that's why they chose the magical font for the titles. Very unique.

I'm happy Marly added the Lace Motif Wrap simply because I love lace!

Another thing you don't see much in books are men's items. You'll find 2 hats for your hubby or boyfriend.

African Flower Afghan

The colorful African Flower Afghsn is beautiful and I just love the colors.


Other perks of this book that Marly and Interweave have put together are:

1. Plenty of beautiful pictures
2. Much needed stitch charts and schematics
3. Instructions for hats include sizes sm, med and lg (up to xl on slippers)
4. Extra notes with each pattern
5. Variety of yarn weights from # 1 (fine) - bulky
6. Variety of stitch patterns - cables, shells, open lace,  lose stitch projects and lots of color!

More projects!

Hat and Chevron Cowl

Lace Motif Wrap

New Favorite Socks

A Little About Marly Bird

My Ravelry username is MarlyBird and my website is marlybird.com

Marlaina “Marly” Bird fled the world of financial services to launch her Yarn Thing podcast and hasn’t looked back since. To Marly, a bi-craftsy girl who both knits and crochets, the yarn is the star, not how you work with it.

She’s the co-author of Curvy Crochet (Leisure Arts, 2011), I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting Entrelac (Leisure Arts, 2014), and Knitting for Dummies 3rd ed.(Wiley, 2013). Marly is also creative director for Bijou Basin Ranch Yarns and you’ve seen her designs in Love of Knitting, Love of Crochet, Knitter’s, Knit Simple, Interweave Crochet, Knitscene, Inside Crochet, Wild Fiber and Petite Purls, and in many collaboration knitting and crochet books. In her spare time she raises three kids with her husband in suburban Denver.

Marly has 3 classes available on Craftsy.com-- Curvy Crochet, Curvy Knits, Mittens & Gloves Galore.

I guess the one typical thing for me is every Tuesday at 10am I do the live podcast. It can be found atwww.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing or on my website www.MarlyBird.com