By Nicki Byrnes
August 16, 2023
A brisk chill in the air, the warm glow of logs burning in an outdoor fire, and a star shooting across the dark night sky. These are all classic Fall moments my latest design embodies, now on stands and in stores in the Autumn 2023 issue of Crochet World!
When I saw the theme would be Cool Nights, I thought about what I want to wear on an idyllic Fall night – sitting by a bonfire in chilly temperatures, looking up at bright stars in a dark sky, and staying warm wrapped up in something cozy. I knew I wanted to design a hat and scarf set made of soft wool yarn for warmth and texture, vintage-inspired stripes and tassels reminiscent of the 70s, and a combination of dark and light like stars in the night.
I chose a winter white color to reflect the warmth the season brings and a dark hue to symbolize the shift in daylight hours and increasingly dark days. An oversized construction was a must because it is as comforting as a favorite blanket wrapped around your shoulders and lends to a casual look that is both cute and effortless. The scarf is designed to be wrapped twice around the neck and tied, or left open for the tassels to hang. It can also be wrapped just once with the ends left to hang long.
A coordinating hat with a fun, oversized pom pom completes the look. It is based off my pattern for the perfect chunky beanie. It is a winter staple that I love to make, because it is a fun pattern repeat, takes very little time, and looks great in a multitude of color combinations. I love it solid and striped, and use different color combinations for the oversized pom pom to create various effects. For example, I’ve made it solid for everyday wear, a white/red/pink combo for Valentine’s Day, and Bengals-themed for game days.
The coziness and versatility of this set are my favorite part. They feel hygge with their oversized design, warm wool blend, and pronounced texture, and can be styled so many ways. I mentioned the different look wrapping the scarf once vs. twice, tied or left open creates, but it also can look significantly different depending on what it is paired with. I like it worn with a basic, such as a trench coat for city-chic look, a casual plaid shirt, or a chunky sweater for the ultimate cozy girl aesthetic.
This is a great project for beginners just learning to follow a pattern and put their skills into practice, as well as experienced crocheters who will find it satisfyingly quick and fun. It’s a pattern to save and use time and again, changing colors to give it a new look. The scarf takes less than two skeins of yarn per color, which leaves plenty of yarn left over to make the coordinating hat with its cute, big pom pom.
Both patterns are provided in the issue. Let me know what you think of my latest design and enjoy some behind-the-scenes photos below!
nickibyrnescrochet.com 