Winter is a difficult time for me, I don’t like the cold (and it doesn’t like me). I love grey and I love verdant plant life, however at this time of year, everything is white and grey outside. I’ve found ways to make it better including stronger lighting and designing something in a bright yarn. Even with preparations sometimes it tries to get the better of me.

My solution is to spend the cold winter time caring for my tools, embracing the comforts, and learning new things. While these are self-care routines I use year round, I like to be more mindful now. I try to pay more attention to a specific detail instead of simply going through the motions.

Tool Care

Yes, I believe strongly one must always care for one’s tools. It’s a sign of respect for our work.

If you’ve followed my posts, it’s known I like to review my yarn and fiber stash a few times throughout the year. Everything is kept in closed bins away from any curious feline who currently chooses to reside with us. This review involves taking everything out, generally bin by bin. As I look at and think about what I have, I am better able to evaluate what I might need or what I no longer wish to keep. In the winter, I also replenish the lavender sachets I keep in every bin.

Dry winter heating can do damage to wood and leather, so I make sure to give some extra attention to those items. I’ll wipe my bamboo hooks and needles clean, but I pay specific attention to my beloved wooden bowl (turned by my father) and our kitchen counter. Each quarter I rub them down with a blend of melted beeswax and mineral oil (1:4 part): allow to sit for 20-30 minutes, and then buff dry. In the winter I supplement this more regularly with warmed mineral oil rubs. Yes, yes I know. I bought a very large bottle ages ago. I’m exploring alternatives for the future. Saddle soap is my current go-to for leather car. Don’t forget about the leather handles of bags too!

Embracing comforts

There is never anything wrong with a simple stitch project. I might want to knit a big cozy blanket or work a simple plain weave. I’m almost finished weaving what I warped in October. I am looking forward to getting this off the loom and sewing it into its final project. I need to weave in the ends of this blanket. Both of these projects have helped boost me out of the dark drabs of winter blues.

New and/or Complex projects

The third way I care for the winter blues is to try something completely different or work on something very complex. For reasons yet unknown, this morning I checked out a book from the library on learning to make Andean Braids. I think the colorful cover snagged me. Last year I focused on inkle loom patterns and I would love to return to an idea I have there. I also keep looking at various long neglected WIP¹ projects and wonder what will excite me.

The featured kitten is Grace, who we fostered in 2014.

This is a 2025 update of a post first written in 2015.

1. work in progress ↩︎