Anyone can start knitting and there are several good reasons why you should consider it. In fact research confirms that knitting can help to relieve stress and assist people to deal with mental health issues.

Considering we all live in a stressful world this is definitely something that everyone can benefit from. Of course you’ll probably have an image in your head of two elderly ladies clinking needles while sharing the latest gossip. Once this may have been right but now knitting has become exceptionally popular with people of all generations.

The great thing is that it’s easy to start and surprisingly therapeutic to do. All you need is to click this link and choose your yarn, a set of needles and your favorite beginner pattern. It takes a few moments to learn the basic stitches and then you’ll be off!

Here are some great projects for any beginner:

Scarf

In essence this is simply a row of stitches repeated over and over again unit you reach the desired length. The initial row will dictate the width of your finished scarf.

Of course there are a variety of different stitches you can use and advanced versions will allow you to add in different colors and even monograms. But, your basic one color pattern is a great starting point.

The Hat

A hat may seem complicated but it’s actually almost as easy as the scarf! In fact the simplest form of hat is made in the same way as a scarf. The wider your row of stitches the taller the hat will be. The length of the knitting will reflect the diameter of the head.

Once you’ve made a straight piece simply seam the two ends together to make a circular opening for a head. The top will scrunch slightly. You can stitch a bobble to it or tie a bow through it to make it a bobble hat!

If you’re feeling adventurous you can even try mixing the colors or using multicolored yarn.

The Blanket

This is also the same premise as the basic scarf. However, you’ll be looking to make this with a closer stitch and significantly wider than the scarf.

The easiest way for a beginner to achieve this is to knit several scarves and then seam them all together. In this way you can make the blanket as big as you like and add an array of color to it.

Socks

What’s better at keeping your feet warm in the winter than a pair of wooly socks? These may seem more complicated but they are actually a very similar process to the hat. You’ll need to start with a strip of knitting; this time it is the width that will dictate the height of the socks on your legs. Then knit the rows and simple wrap them together to make a tube. Stitch the two sides into a tube and the seam the end to stop your toe poking out.

They may not have a heel point but they’re a great way to start knitting and build your confidence.

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As it happens every year, of course, the cold seasons have returned – and this time with a vengeance in certain parts of the country. The East Coast of the US is always frigid once November and December roll around; this time, the West is also experiencing frigid days. So much so that even in Southern California, people are breaking out the winter wardrobe basics, gloves, and beanie hats.

Functionality is one thing, but there’s no reason you should have to sacrifice fashion completely just to keep warm. There are plenty of options that allow you to keep the cold at bay, while also extraverting your own personal sense of style. The windbreaker jacket, hat, gloves and scarf you wear ought to put your personality on display; winter accessories are no reason to eschew the image you present to the world at the expense of being properly bundled up. With that said, let’s check out the following winter accessories and what attributes you should consider before investing in them

Winter Socks: Cold Starts From the Bottom

The types of material used in making thick, warm socks for the winter months runs the gamut. You can find them made from lambswool, cold-resistant leather blend, polyester blends that don’t shrink in the wash, and cotton blends that help them retain their softness. Furthermore, the long socks can be great for fashion lovers, since you can get rings of color in them that peak out from the region between the top of your boots and the bottom of your pants or skirt. This color burst works especially well when you have dark winter colors forming the bulk of your outfit.

Some of the color options for winter socks include navy, forest green, desert beige and mustard to break up the sameness of your dark apparel. For an optimal walking day out, you want to make sure the socks provide warmth without being so thick as to exacerbate sweating in your shoes.

Protect Your Extremities with Gloves

It’s common knowledge that – especially for women – your core will extract heat from your fingers and toes in a bid to keep itself warm when the temperature outside dips. For this reason, gloves are crucial accessory once the wind becomes biting. Leather is a tried and true fabric that keeps the wind out, and in so doing, maintains the warmth you left the house with. Wool is another winner in the winter; it actively keeps you warm and has fibers that naturally wick away moisture. Sheep have known this for thousands of years, after all!

When going the hand gloves route, consider darker colors such as gray, navy or black; these can match any assortment of clothing under the sun. If you know what you’re doing and your wardrobe agrees, then add some color like striped patterns or designs to your choice of gloves.

Neck Scarves

For an added layer of warmth, consider this quintessential fashion accessory for keeping your neck warm. After all, it’s a relatively thin area of the body, and can lose a good amount of heat if left unadorned in cold weather. A dark, bold color probably isn’t the best for this one, as the expectation of color and style is center-stage with a neck scarf. Nonetheless, you might be able to pull off the navy wool; depending on the rest of your outfit.

Keep in mind that scarves, more than any other accessory, are considered “extra”; thus, they are more easily given to experimentation of style. So although wool is very warm, cashmere or merino might be more functional and less irritating against your skin – especially after a prolonged escapade into the elements. There are few items of clothing (accessories, that is) more beautiful than an elaborate scarf twirling around the coat rack after you take it off at your destination.

Hat or Cap for Your Head

When it gets really cold, a hat or beanie is no longer considered an accessory, but instead a pretty much mandatory part of your ensemble. Only people who live on the East Coast of the United States or around frigid zones such as Minnesota, need to concern themselves with hats for every trip outside. Even so, you want the correct fabric – something that’s protective and warm, but also soft enough to reside on your scalp for much of the day. Since your head is not as sensitive as your neck, wool hats or beanies are a good bet. As for colors, black never fails to disappoint; but a more invested color like dark green or burgundy can work wonders with the right outfit.

Shopping for winter accessories can be quite the bit of fun; you get to consider beanies and gloves that possess just as much style as functionality. It’s not only practical, but a chance to show off your personal style.