Cozy Comforts: The Winter Essentials And More!

Hey Makers! We have been loving this winter weather, mostly because of all the cozy fashion we get to make and wear. You can break out that signature oversized sweater and mittens and go have snowball fights, or use that fluffy and soft afghan to cozy up by the fire and watch movies. Scroll to find your favorite cozy project!

WEIGHTED BLANKET RELAXATION

Sleep through the night with the stress-free snuggle of a weighted blanket! **Cozy Weighted Blankets** is a craft sewing book that will transform your sleep with 15 family friendly projects destined to help you get a better night’s rest. Even the most restless sleepers deserve stress-free and sleep filled evenings, so craft your own weighted blanket, and avoid paying the high cost of readymade weighted blankets! From family sized wraps to throws just for you, you’ll find your perfect replacement to that childhood stuffed animal and fill your night with calming cuddles instead of restless tosses and turns. This is a project that takes a little bit of time and commitment, but trust us, it's worth it when you are relaxing by the fire.

KNIT COZY PILLOWS

Revamp your living room or office into a cozy den with just a few simple pillows! In **Cozy Pillows** you can knit 10 home décor pillows with eye-catching stitch patterns. Get creative with patterns like Eyelet Diamond and Cables, Six-Stitch Cable, Hourglass Eyelets, and more. Featuring yarn weights from light to super bulky, most pillows are for easy or easy-plus skill level; the bolster is for intermediate. You can have a range of pillows for all décor styles, and you can customize them to your liking with colors and accents! You can never have too many pillows.

COMFY AFGHAN MORNINGS

Share the coziness and beauty of Lion Brand Homespun yarn using any of the seven cuddly throws in **Homespun Comfort Afghans**. From ripples and braids to hexagons and strips, each crochet design works up quickly using our easy-to-follow instructions. This attractive collection of afghans will make great gifts for those you love! You can use bulky yarn for a fluffy wrap, or medium weight yarn for texture. This mustard yellow afghan is a great wrap for chilly mornings!

CAMPING WITH CROCHET

If you're in the market for unique winter patterns, then **Fair Isle Crochet** is your book. Fair Isle is a technique used to create patterns with multiple colors. Only two colors are used per row, and the unused color is worked over, weaving it into the fabric. Designer and instructor extraordinaire, Melissa Leapman will guide you through this new crochet technique, so don't worry! All designs are rated easy, so you’ll be finishing up your first project in no time. You can make projects like this Laurel Leaves Hat & Scarf, and look ready for any winer outdoor adventure. So pick up some colorful worsted weight yarn, and crochet away!

WARM HUGS FOR YOUR HANDS

Crochet the cutest, coziest mittens for yourself and all your cold-handed friends with this **Fair Isle Mittens** book! Every mitten in this book achieves its unique and colorful style thanks to designer, Lori Adams and her use of the Fair Isle Technique. Lori was inspired by knitted mittens that she had seen in a store, and knew that there had to be a crochet equivalent out there. So she created these great crochet patterns that look knit with simple stitches and a little patience! These heart patterned mittens that you see above are the perfect gesture to show someone how much you care about them. If you want a more in depth look into these Fair Isle patterns, **Lori has a great video** talking about her book!

COZY KITCHEN AFTERNOONS

Take your quilting to the next, totally trendy level with this **Modern Patchwork** book! Inside you’ll find 12 contemporary projects by some of today’s most skilled and accomplished quilt designers. Patterns feature bold colors with a mix of solids and prints and plenty of negative space. The result? Twelve truly stunning projects, including this culinary brights apron that you see above. You can be stylish as you make Sunday brunch! Aprons are always cozy because you get to make your comfort foods in style. It reminds you of your childhood when you were baking cookies with mom, or waiting on pies from grandma! So grab some fun fabric and jump on the modern quilt bandwagon with these fresh patterns that inspire your creativity.

SNOWY MORNINGS AND SOFT AFGHANS

You'll be on a crochet marathon when you see all of the patterns in **Crochet Afghan Revival**. This book has over 40 stunning afghans to spread warmth and joy and keep your fingers ridiculously happy! Inside you’ll see that traditional patterns meet modern color combinations, and there’s an afghan for every room, every style, every season, every mood, and every occasion. You’ll even discover a few coordinating pillow patterns! This snowball afghan is the perfect wintry blanket to decorate your couch with. The neutral colors will balance any colors in a room, and the variations of gray give the afghan depth and dimension. Most projects are rated easy with a few intermediate ones mixed in to keep you on your toes. So grab a hook and yarn, and crochet your way to comfort!

OVERSIZED COMFORT

Weekends are for comfort, and so are these crochet patterns from **Oversized Sweaters**! Lounge in a long hoodie or go downtown in a stylish sweater. Throw on a poncho or swing jacket for extra warmth or slip into a soft pullover and sleep in an extra hour or three. This book is all about looking cute and comfy, like this striped sweater that you see above. All projects are rated easy and work up quickly using simple stitches and medium to bulky weight yarn. The possibilities for maximum comfort are endless! Pick the sweater pattern that is right for you, and stitch yourself a new winter staple.

GO ANYWHERE OUTFITS

Cozy up with your yarn and this Casual Weekend Knits book – full of 25 go anywhere projects. And thanks to designer Andi Javori, you’ll have 25 phenomenal knitting projects to nourish your spirit and keep your fingers happy, like this pom-pom hat and mittens set! All of these projects are perfect for any occasion, and can be dressed up or down with the right accessories! They can also work up quickly with our easy-to-follow instructions. So grab your needles and knit away!

All of these books are the perfect guides to comfort, with projects that will last you well past winter! Have you made these projects? Share them with us! Be sure to tag us @leisureartsinc or use #leisurearts, we love to see what's going on in your studios. Be sure to check out all of these great items that we have up for grabs during our February giveaway! Remember to enter for a chance to win all of these goodies.

If you want to enter our February Cozy Comforts giveaway, click here.

Happy Making!

-Leisure Arts Team

Feb 1st 2021