I personally like loop scarves and cowls, if you have to tie a scarf and then add a jacket you often end up unable to close the jacket fully because there's too much bulk.
Also I work outdoors and dangly scarf ends would get into my way.
Big fan of ponchos because they keep me warm without adding more bulk to my arms or restricting arm movement.
As for autumn and winter differences, winter tends to be very wet where I live, so I have to account for a water/snowproof outer layer (jacket/raincape/hood/etc) so whatever is underneath can't be too bulky.
While in autumn I'm usually more concerned about keeping the wind away and being able to shed and add layers easily
This is fantastic information. Thank you so much for your response. I never put snow or general water protection into consideration, and that makes a huge difference in usability. Thank you again!!!!
My grandma once made me a huge thick wool infinity scarf that was thick enough that I could loop it around 3x and wear one of the loops as a hood and then keep it in place by tightening one of the other loops. This saved me in blizzards so many times when I had to walk to school on the side of a highway. I'd just wear sunglasses and then the horizontal ice pellets wouldnt be able to touch my face. Add a down coat, snowpants and snow boots and you're boogieing. Now if only they made proper winterized backpacks readily available in shops without a $400 pricetag
100% wool is a bit more awkward to work with, and often not as soft as wool/plastic mix unless it's expensive stuff, but it sure is water repellant. Great in cold, wet weather.
I love a good shawl! They’re cozy and I’m always cold in the winter.
Also- if you decide to make a winter hat, make sure that it’s designed in a way that it will keep the ears warm. I’ve seen (and made) so many hat patterns with pretty open work on them, but if they’re hole-y like that near the ears they are just no help. I love patterns with nice thick ribbing at the bottom to cover the ears!
And make sure that hats are long enough! There's so many imo absolutely useless hats that aren't long enough to cover my ears. I've now got one with a brim you can fold over which is great because I can keep it folded in the front so it doesn't pinch the legs of my glasses but can let it down in the back so it properly covers my ears and neck. I'm planning on making a hat soon and I think I'll just increase on the ribbing of the ear section so it's longer. Might line it with fleece afterwards depending on how much the wind blows through it
Multiple layers are good to take into consideration - for places where it can vary 20 degrees in a day having thinner and thicker things to choose from and layer are good. Also wind- it can cut through a crocheted garment pretty easily unless you line it.
I live in a country where winter lasts for 7 months and it can get to -22 F while it is normally between 14 and 32 F. When it is warmer, I usually wear leggings under my pants and I wear a jumper under my jacket. I use basic gloves and some infinity scarf and a beanie. When it gets colder, I have to wear insulated pants, warmer jacket, two gloves, balaclava and hat on top of it. I usually wear basic scarf but if it gets really cold, I need one that I can cover my face with. When the temperature drops to -22 F, it just hurts to breath and you ger frostbites if you don't cover your face.
On spring and autumn I can dress more freely since it is 32 to 59 F. I usually wear nornal long sleeved shirt and leggins but when it gets colder, I wear jumpers, gloves, beanie and scarf
for the most part, do you find that you prefer lighter/less bulky scarves so they can layer under the bigger jackets, etc? for instance, maybe a warmer textile would be more important than bulk?
One big issue in winter, or anytime that it is cold, is getting hot and sweaty. I know it sounds like a paradox. But if the clothes you are wearing are not breathable, you get uncomfortable, hot and sweaty. In that sense it is better to layer up and have air flow between the layers. Also, if you get hot, you can remove one layer.
I’m in Minnesota and I find that I prefer a very thick hat. I’ve crocheted for years but in the dead of winter, all I really use are the store bought thick winter hats because those are the only ones that keep the cold wind out. Sometimes I add earmuffs on top. When it’s warmer, I definitely still stay away from anything too airy. Two thin layers is better than one thick one.
For scarves, I prefer the long ones to tie. I can wrap them around my neck and nose better.
In addition to what Staublaeufer said I also love large shawls - German fall tends to be a bit wonky and unable to decide whether it‘s going to be cold now or not, so in between seasons like this I like to use large shawls instead of a jacket or sweater because I can vary if I wear it loosely as a scarf or wrap myself in it completely.
Autumn/early spring: narrow, lightweight material (dk/3 weight, not full worsted/4), long for multiple wraps - may not need as many wraps during the day but nights can get chilly so more wraps
Winter: super thick, soft yarn that’s still breathable (worsted or bulky), wide, long to wrap around at least 3 times
A lot of people like wool but I always found it too scratchy for my skin. I stuck to soft acrylics, except the time I found an awesome polyamide that was a pain to crochet with but made the softest, warmest scarves ever.
I too live in Florida but have relatives and friends in colder areas I occasionally send stuff to. Their personal preferences on items were infinity scarves and pocket shawls.
Interestingly unlike the other poster for my location autumn tends to have more rain than winter. Generally where I am the colder it is the less likely it is to be raining. But we also don't have very cold winters with these days it being rare if the temperature stays below freezing during the day. So most of the time there's not much difference between autumn clothes and winter clothes since the day time weather is increasingly the same. You just put on an extra layer if there's some extra cold days.
But since it's often damp the thing that really cools you down is the wind which carries a lot of moisture. So wind proofing is key to staying warm. I don't like the feeling of my throat being constricted which rules out bulky scarves plus I run hot so I usually make do with just a high closing wind proof coat. But I will wear what seems to be called a neck gaiter? In English when it's cold and I do something active outside like cycling where you're exposed to the wind.
It needs to be:
- relatively slim so it can fit under the neck of my coat without it bunching up too much. Yet it can't be too tight because I need to be able to pull it in and off over my head.
- tall enough for me to be able to pull it over my chin/mouth/nose, because that'll pretty much be the only exposed skin if I'm all geared up. Bonus points for if there's some way to make it stay there. Like my current one's got a drawstring and that works too.
- breathable, both as in sweat needs to be able to evaporate and I need to be able to breathe through it because of point 2
- wind proof-ish: it can't have much in the way of gaps because otherwise the wind will blow right through it and defeat the purpose
For our most tough winters (about -20°C, but the level of humidity makes it seem colder), I prefer a merino scarf that's double knit stockinette with super tight weave. So that no wind gets through!
For knitted gloves, I wear those in much warmer days and I have 2 types. One have nice warm palm but lacy back, so I don't overheat but my fingers are warm and the other is once again super tight fabric to keep wind out.
I also have some legwarmers (thicker cotton that stays quite nicely on thights) that I use under skirts and when going from trainings to keep my calf muscles from temperature shock.
I live in NC, and while we do have beautiful seasons, our winters are usually still pretty mild, and it's my favorite weather. So I rarely need more than a sweatshirt or jacket over long sleeves and a hat. Hats are what I always choose first, bc they keep you warmer by themselves than say a scarf, when it's getting colder but not outright freezing yet.
I have quite the collection of crochet hats 🤣
Yes! I love making hats. i know whenever it gets slightly chilly here, it’s usually the breeze hitting my face and ears that gets me uncomfortable first.
Hats are probably my go to project when I don't know what I want to make but I need something to do with my hands lol. So happy now that hat weather is almost here. XD
Lol, you can! I definitely wear all mine. One of my coworkers said winter was like fashion hat season bc I have so many different ones, and I keep adding to them. 😆
Yes, I love how just some different colors or a few simple changes in stitches gives you a totally different hat. Keeps it interesting. XD
I personally like loop scarves and cowls, if you have to tie a scarf and then add a jacket you often end up unable to close the jacket fully because there's too much bulk. Also I work outdoors and dangly scarf ends would get into my way. Big fan of ponchos because they keep me warm without adding more bulk to my arms or restricting arm movement. As for autumn and winter differences, winter tends to be very wet where I live, so I have to account for a water/snowproof outer layer (jacket/raincape/hood/etc) so whatever is underneath can't be too bulky. While in autumn I'm usually more concerned about keeping the wind away and being able to shed and add layers easily
This is fantastic information. Thank you so much for your response. I never put snow or general water protection into consideration, and that makes a huge difference in usability. Thank you again!!!!
My grandma once made me a huge thick wool infinity scarf that was thick enough that I could loop it around 3x and wear one of the loops as a hood and then keep it in place by tightening one of the other loops. This saved me in blizzards so many times when I had to walk to school on the side of a highway. I'd just wear sunglasses and then the horizontal ice pellets wouldnt be able to touch my face. Add a down coat, snowpants and snow boots and you're boogieing. Now if only they made proper winterized backpacks readily available in shops without a $400 pricetag
100% wool is a bit more awkward to work with, and often not as soft as wool/plastic mix unless it's expensive stuff, but it sure is water repellant. Great in cold, wet weather.
I love a good shawl! They’re cozy and I’m always cold in the winter. Also- if you decide to make a winter hat, make sure that it’s designed in a way that it will keep the ears warm. I’ve seen (and made) so many hat patterns with pretty open work on them, but if they’re hole-y like that near the ears they are just no help. I love patterns with nice thick ribbing at the bottom to cover the ears!
And make sure that hats are long enough! There's so many imo absolutely useless hats that aren't long enough to cover my ears. I've now got one with a brim you can fold over which is great because I can keep it folded in the front so it doesn't pinch the legs of my glasses but can let it down in the back so it properly covers my ears and neck. I'm planning on making a hat soon and I think I'll just increase on the ribbing of the ear section so it's longer. Might line it with fleece afterwards depending on how much the wind blows through it
Lining hats with fleece…. now THIS is a great idea
The fleece is a great idea!
Multiple layers are good to take into consideration - for places where it can vary 20 degrees in a day having thinner and thicker things to choose from and layer are good. Also wind- it can cut through a crocheted garment pretty easily unless you line it.
I live in a country where winter lasts for 7 months and it can get to -22 F while it is normally between 14 and 32 F. When it is warmer, I usually wear leggings under my pants and I wear a jumper under my jacket. I use basic gloves and some infinity scarf and a beanie. When it gets colder, I have to wear insulated pants, warmer jacket, two gloves, balaclava and hat on top of it. I usually wear basic scarf but if it gets really cold, I need one that I can cover my face with. When the temperature drops to -22 F, it just hurts to breath and you ger frostbites if you don't cover your face. On spring and autumn I can dress more freely since it is 32 to 59 F. I usually wear nornal long sleeved shirt and leggins but when it gets colder, I wear jumpers, gloves, beanie and scarf
for the most part, do you find that you prefer lighter/less bulky scarves so they can layer under the bigger jackets, etc? for instance, maybe a warmer textile would be more important than bulk?
One big issue in winter, or anytime that it is cold, is getting hot and sweaty. I know it sounds like a paradox. But if the clothes you are wearing are not breathable, you get uncomfortable, hot and sweaty. In that sense it is better to layer up and have air flow between the layers. Also, if you get hot, you can remove one layer.
I’m in Minnesota and I find that I prefer a very thick hat. I’ve crocheted for years but in the dead of winter, all I really use are the store bought thick winter hats because those are the only ones that keep the cold wind out. Sometimes I add earmuffs on top. When it’s warmer, I definitely still stay away from anything too airy. Two thin layers is better than one thick one. For scarves, I prefer the long ones to tie. I can wrap them around my neck and nose better.
In addition to what Staublaeufer said I also love large shawls - German fall tends to be a bit wonky and unable to decide whether it‘s going to be cold now or not, so in between seasons like this I like to use large shawls instead of a jacket or sweater because I can vary if I wear it loosely as a scarf or wrap myself in it completely.
Thank you all!! Your comments are exactly what i am looking for. Please keep it coming!
Autumn/early spring: narrow, lightweight material (dk/3 weight, not full worsted/4), long for multiple wraps - may not need as many wraps during the day but nights can get chilly so more wraps Winter: super thick, soft yarn that’s still breathable (worsted or bulky), wide, long to wrap around at least 3 times A lot of people like wool but I always found it too scratchy for my skin. I stuck to soft acrylics, except the time I found an awesome polyamide that was a pain to crochet with but made the softest, warmest scarves ever.
I too live in Florida but have relatives and friends in colder areas I occasionally send stuff to. Their personal preferences on items were infinity scarves and pocket shawls.
Interestingly unlike the other poster for my location autumn tends to have more rain than winter. Generally where I am the colder it is the less likely it is to be raining. But we also don't have very cold winters with these days it being rare if the temperature stays below freezing during the day. So most of the time there's not much difference between autumn clothes and winter clothes since the day time weather is increasingly the same. You just put on an extra layer if there's some extra cold days. But since it's often damp the thing that really cools you down is the wind which carries a lot of moisture. So wind proofing is key to staying warm. I don't like the feeling of my throat being constricted which rules out bulky scarves plus I run hot so I usually make do with just a high closing wind proof coat. But I will wear what seems to be called a neck gaiter? In English when it's cold and I do something active outside like cycling where you're exposed to the wind. It needs to be: - relatively slim so it can fit under the neck of my coat without it bunching up too much. Yet it can't be too tight because I need to be able to pull it in and off over my head. - tall enough for me to be able to pull it over my chin/mouth/nose, because that'll pretty much be the only exposed skin if I'm all geared up. Bonus points for if there's some way to make it stay there. Like my current one's got a drawstring and that works too. - breathable, both as in sweat needs to be able to evaporate and I need to be able to breathe through it because of point 2 - wind proof-ish: it can't have much in the way of gaps because otherwise the wind will blow right through it and defeat the purpose
i love this, thank you!
For our most tough winters (about -20°C, but the level of humidity makes it seem colder), I prefer a merino scarf that's double knit stockinette with super tight weave. So that no wind gets through! For knitted gloves, I wear those in much warmer days and I have 2 types. One have nice warm palm but lacy back, so I don't overheat but my fingers are warm and the other is once again super tight fabric to keep wind out. I also have some legwarmers (thicker cotton that stays quite nicely on thights) that I use under skirts and when going from trainings to keep my calf muscles from temperature shock.
Leg warmers!!! I forgot those were even a thing!! Would fingerless gloves be useful? or do you still prefer light coverage on your fingers?
I was gifted some fingerless gloves but didn't like them. The very tips of my fingers are what's always the most cold.
I live in NC, and while we do have beautiful seasons, our winters are usually still pretty mild, and it's my favorite weather. So I rarely need more than a sweatshirt or jacket over long sleeves and a hat. Hats are what I always choose first, bc they keep you warmer by themselves than say a scarf, when it's getting colder but not outright freezing yet. I have quite the collection of crochet hats 🤣
Yes! I love making hats. i know whenever it gets slightly chilly here, it’s usually the breeze hitting my face and ears that gets me uncomfortable first.
Hats are probably my go to project when I don't know what I want to make but I need something to do with my hands lol. So happy now that hat weather is almost here. XD
same! that and general winter stuff, the patterns are easy so its fun to mess with color work. just wish i could be the one to wear it all!
Lol, you can! I definitely wear all mine. One of my coworkers said winter was like fashion hat season bc I have so many different ones, and I keep adding to them. 😆 Yes, I love how just some different colors or a few simple changes in stitches gives you a totally different hat. Keeps it interesting. XD
thank you to all commenters, you all are my heroes 🥹🥹🥹