If you live in Canberra, you know that winter here is the real thing. Not Sydney-winter, where people wear puffer jackets over t-shirts when it drops below 18 degrees. Actual, proper, frost-on-the-windscreen, breath-misting-in-the-kitchen-morning cold. The kind of cold that makes handknitted woollens not just beautiful but genuinely necessary.
Which means Canberra is, honestly, one of the best cities in Australia to be a knitter. Here are ten projects we love for getting through the cold months in warmth, style, and the deep satisfaction of wearing something you made yourself.
1. A classic ribbed beanie
The perfect beginner winter project and a perennial favourite for experienced knitters too. A simple 2x2 or 1x1 ribbed beanie knits up in a weekend, uses about 100g of yarn, and is one of the most useful handknitted objects you can own in a Canberra winter. Try it in Fiddlesticks Peppin 8 for a quick, luxurious result - or Cleckheaton Echo 10ply if you want to explore the colour range.
Never knitted in the round before? We teach a 2hr course that covers knitting on a fixed circular, the magic loop method and double pointed needles (DPNs). Drop in store or give us a call to find out more.
2. A chunky cowl
A cowl is the most efficient warmth-to-effort ratio in knitting. Cast on, knit in the round, cast off. Done. A simple stockinette or ribbed cowl in a 10ply or 12ply yarn will keep your neck warm through the entire Canberra winter and takes less than a week of evening knitting to finish. Heirloom Merino Magic Chunky is particularly beautiful for cowls - the vibrant colours glow in the cold-weather light.
3. Handwarmers or fingerless mitts
Fingerless mitts are one of those projects that seem almost too quick to be satisfying - until you’re typing at your desk with warm hands while everyone else shivers. A basic pair of fingerless mitts can be knitted in a single long weekend, and there are dozens of beautiful free and paid patterns available. Try them in a fine merino 4ply like Fiddlesticks Bellissimo 4 for elegance, or a sturdy 8ply like Heirloom Merino Fleck for everyday wear.
4. A pair of hand-knitted socks
If you haven’t knitted socks yet, winter is the perfect time to start. There’s nothing quite like putting on a pair of handknitted wool socks on a cold Canberra morning. Sock knitting has a small learning curve - turning the heel is the moment most people feel proud of themselves - but once you’ve made one pair you will knit socks forever.
We love Lang Jawoll Superwash for its soft and sturdy texture, Fiddlesticks Jester for playful self-striping, and Opal Aquarell for its beautiful watercolour progressions.
Woolshed tip: Our sock knitting classes are one of our most popular offerings. Check with us for the next available date.
5. A simple yoke sweater
If you’re ready to knit your first garment, a top-down yoke sweater is the perfect place to start. You knit the whole thing in one piece from the neck down, with no seaming required - and the satisfying moment when you separate the sleeves and the body comes together is one of knitting’s great pleasures.
The Laine Publishing books we stock feature several beautiful, approachable yoke patterns. Knits to Wear by Kutova Kika and Everyday Knits by Paula Narkiniemi are both excellent starting points.
6. A warm shawl or wrap
A large triangular or rectangular shawl is wonderfully meditative to knit - the same stitches, row after row, with the gradual satisfaction of watching it grow. Worn as a wrap over a coat or layered at home, a handknitted shawl is both useful and beautiful.
For a really sumptuous winter shawl, try a mohair-blend or alpaca yarn. The halo of a fine mohair knitted at a loose gauge creates a fabric that is extraordinarily warm for its weight.
7. A hot water bottle cover
Practical, quick, and deeply appreciated as a gift. A simple knitted hot water bottle cover takes an afternoon and transforms a basic household item into something lovely. Knit it in a chunky or bulky yarn for speed, or take your time with a textured stitch pattern in 10ply.
8. A baby blanket
Winter is baby shower season, and a handknitted blanket is one of the most treasured gifts you can give a new parent. A simple garter stitch or moss stitch blanket in a soft, machine-washable merino is achievable even for relatively new knitters. Heirloom Merino Magic or Bellissimo 8ply are both perfect choices - soft against newborn skin and easy to care for.
9. Colourwork mittens
If you’re looking for a winter project that will genuinely stretch your skills and produce something stunning, stranded colourwork mittens are it. Working with two colours at once sounds intimidating but is much more approachable than it looks, especially with a yarn guide thimble to manage your strands. The result is a pair of heirloom-quality mittens that will last for years.
A non-superwash 4ply such as Millpost Merino is very forgiving for tension while knitting colourwork. Or, try one of the Zealana possum fibre blends.
10. Just cast on something new
Honestly, the best winter project is the one you’ve been putting off starting. The one you’ve had saved on Ravelry for months. The one where you bought the yarn and haven’t quite found the right moment.
Winter is the perfect opportunity. Come into the Woolshed and we’ll help you get it started.
Find your winter yarn at the Woolshed
Everything mentioned in this post is available in store in Manuka, and much of it is in our online shop too. If you’re not sure what weight or fibre to choose for your project, our team is always happy to help you find exactly the right yarn.
Address: Shop 2B, Manuka Court, 11-17 Bougainville Street, Griffith ACT 2603
Phone: (02) 6295 0061
Hours: Monday–Friday 10am–5pm | Saturday 10am–4pm