Making Winter Wonderful {Work with Your Hands}

“Useful and ornamental needlework, knitting, and netting are capable of being made, not only sources of personal gratification,
but of high moral benefit, and the means of developing in surpassing loveliness and grace,
some of the highest and noblest feelings of the soul.”
~ The Ladies’ Work Table Book, 1845

 

The snow is gently falling out my bedroom window. I have a little one napping beside me and a hot cup of tea to drink and a pile of crochet yarn to tackle. It is a wonderful way to spend a few quiet hours in the afternoon.

When I discussed with my daughters what makes winter special for our family, one of the girls said, “How can you not like winter?! I would never get to sew if we didn’t have winter!”

 

It is true. Our winter afternoons are filled with handiwork pleasure.

On the topic of winter and enjoying the season as of such, I must mention that we have a quiet time in our home during the littlest one’s nap time. Everyone indoors is encouraged to do something quietly, the boys can play outside or work with their legos, or help their dad with a project. For the girls, we use this time to enjoy our handiwork. If you do not have a quiet time in your house (and especially if you have a large, busy family!), you should try it – it’s a blissful hour or two where everyone can work on something that they enjoy, no loud noises, a peaceful reprieve from a regular busy day. I make sure we do not have to cook at this time – that the cleaning is done (the house is never perfect, but the majority of the work is done before this) and all the girls know we will have a break to do our cozy crafts.

 

 

{sewing a new dress}

Somewhere along the motherhood journey  — thank to the teaching of my grandma, who patiently helped teach nearly all of my daughters how to crochet — and our creation of a family, handiwork became something so enjoyable for us. Some of the girls sew, others crochet or work on embroidery, some paint and make homemade soaps … but whatever we do, it is a relaxing and wonderful day to spend our winter afternoons. There is no pressure that they must accomplish this task ; this is something they enjoy – and something we cannot do in the summer hours when our fingers are stained with garden dirt at the sunshine at the seashore beckons us for a romp and swim.

 

{A crocheted Bible case}

Indeed,  winter afternoon hours are the perfect opportunity to work on our homey projects … the girls will listen to audio dramas or simply just have quiet time while they work on their projects or sometimes they will just be curled up in a cozy corner of the house, enjoying their time.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps you have already read about the health benefits of working with your hands, actually producing something with your fingers. It is very relaxing, of course, it teaches patient and encourages my girls to be creative. For me, I find crocheting to be very calming.  Passing these skills down to our daughters – or learning it for ourselves – helps keep these crafts alive, passing down the information and the know-how from generation to generation.

 

 

So there you have it – we love winter for our down time, the carefully guarded lifestyle of quiet afternoons slotted for beautiful, creative moments.

January 30, 2025 - 1:35 pm

Rachel What a beautiful beckon to cultivate loveliness and harmony in a happy home! Thank you for sharing!

January 22, 2025 - 2:47 am

Ruthie Dear Gigi, You’ve taught your young ladies to be so industrious! I love the different skills being used. The soaps are darling, the dresses and blankets are so lovely. The Bible case is a treasure around a treasure. Thankyou for sharing these moments.
Ruthie

January 21, 2025 - 9:54 pm

Lily Taylor Aw, i love this post! And yes Winter is such a good time to do crafts and i love listening to audio drama’s while i do it too 🙂
From lily, 14

January 20, 2025 - 4:14 pm

Penny Price There’s a saying isn’t there
Out of your head and into your hands
So good to pursue crafts for peace of mind

January 19, 2025 - 5:58 am

Gigi Ana, you are so blessed with so many grandchildren! God is good! I hope I, too, one day have a life full of grandchildren! 🙂 You sound like a very wise woman … we have found someone to help teaching knitting to our girls, as I cannot knit, but only crochet. Both skills are valuable!
P.S. That is very hot, indeed! Stay cool!

January 19, 2025 - 5:57 am

Gigi I LEARNED TO KNIT WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD AND THE FIRST THING I REMEMBER I MADE WAS A DRESS FOR A DOLL THAT MY AUNT AND MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER SHOWED ME, SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT STOPPED AND TODAY I KNIT FOR THE WHOLE EXTENDED FAMILY, I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT I HAVE 9 CHILDREN OF MY OWN AND 3 ADOPTED, AND I HAVE 16 GRANDCHILDREN AND THE NUMBER 17 WILL BE BORN BETWEEN THE END OF APRIL AND THE BEGINNING OF MAY, WE ARE VERY BLESSED AND I THANK GOD FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY THAT HE HAS GIVEN ME. BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOURS. A HUG FROM HOT BUENOS AIRES (WE HAD 38 CENTIGRADES 2 DAYS AGO) VERY HOT RIGHT?

January 19, 2025 - 5:56 am

Gigi HI GIGI, WHAT A LOVELY MESSAGE, FULL OF PEACE, HARMONY AND LEARNING. WINTER IS MY FAVORITE SEASON AND I KNIT A LOT NEAR MY WOOD STOVE, ALTHOUGH IN THE SUMMER I ALSO DO IT, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH THE STOVE ON, BUT SITTING IN THE BACKYARD OF MY HOUSE. I LOVE CROCHET, KNITTING WITH 2 NEEDLES AND SEWING DOING MANY DIFFERENT CRAFTS, IT IS A TRADE THAT IS BEING LOST, BUT WE AS MOTHERS MUST INSTILL KNOWLEDGE IN OUR DAUGHTERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS (IN MY CASE).

January 18, 2025 - 8:41 pm

ANA HOLA GIGI, QUE ENCANTADOR MENSAJE, LLENO DE PAZ, ARMONIA Y APRENDIZAJE. EL INVIERNO ES MI ESTACION PREFERIDA Y TEJO MUCHO CERCA DE MI ESTUFA A LEÑA, AUNQUE EN EL VERANO TAMBIEN LO HAGO, AUNQUE NO CON LA ESTUFA ENCENDIDA, SINO SENTADA EN EL PATIO TRASERO DE MI CASA. AMO EL CROCHET, TEJER CON 2 AGUJAS Y COSER HACIENDO MUCHAS Y DIFERENTES MANUALIDADES, ES UN OFICIO QUE SE ESTA PERDIENDO, PERO NOSOTRAS COMO MADRES DEBEMOS INFUNDIR CONOCIMIENTO A NUESTRAS HIJAS Y NIETAS (EN MI CASO). YO APRENDI A TEJER CUANDO TENIA 11 AÑOS Y LO PRIMERO QUE RECUERDO QUE HICE FUE UN VESTIDO PARA UNA MUÑECA QUE ME ENSEÑO MI TIA Y MI ABUELA MATERNA, DESDE ENTONCES NO HE PARADO Y HOY KLES TEJO A TODA LA FAMILIA EXTENDIDA, YA TE DIJE QUE TENGO 9 HIJOS PROPIOS Y 3 ADOPTADOS, Y TENGO 16 NIETOS Y EL NUMERO 17 NACERA ENTRE FINES DE ABRIL Y PRINCIPIO DE MAYO, SOMOS MUY BENDECIDOS Y AGRADEZO A DIOS POR ESTA HERMOSA FAMILIA QUE ME HA DADO. BENDICIONES PARA TI Y LOS TUYOS. UN ABRAZO DESDE LA CALUROSA BUENOS AIRES (TUVIMOS 38 CENTIGRADOS HACE 2 DIAS) MUCHA CALOR VERDAD?

January 18, 2025 - 7:55 pm

Brenda Awh, my heart is full xoxo

January 18, 2025 - 10:57 am

Susan lane Winter is such a special time to do handicrafts, lovely quiet afternoons by the fire with some knitting or crochet. I find working seasonally so helpful, the busyness of summer and autumn in the garden and preserving food, then the peace of winter to rest and time to enjoy hobbies. God bless you all. Sue from UK.