Into the Woods: Finding Inspiration in Winter Woodlands

Like many knitters and crocheters, I’m a winter person. There’s nothing better than wrapping up in my hand-knitted layers, stepping outside, and embracing the crisp, cold air. While we long for the bright bloom of spring, I still find magic in the quiet stillness of winter—especially in the woods.

In the depths of winter, the wood reveals its bare bones—a sculptural, ethereal beauty that’s often hidden in the lushness of summer. Without their leaves, the trees stand as silhouettes, their branches twisting into intricate lace-like patterns against the sky. The muted tones of bark, lichen, and fallen leaves create an ever-changing tapestry of texture and colour, a perfect source of inspiration for fibre crafts.

🧶 The deeply grooved bark of an old oak tree reminds me of the undulating lines of cables, twisting and intertwining like roots beneath the forest floor.

🧶 The delicate criss-crossing of branches against the sky suggests an airy lace pattern, perfect for a fine, ethereal shawl.

If you love the idea of translating nature’s textures into stitches, I have some upcoming cable knitting and lace knitting classes where we’ll explore exactly that—learning how to create structure and movement with stitches. If you’ve mastered the basics but haven’t tried these techniques before and want to take your skills further, these classes are perfect for you!

Crafting with a Woodland Theme

My love for woodland walks inevitably finds its way into my making. Whether it’s choosing patterns with woodland motifs, being drawn to a particular colour palette, or simply finding textural echoes of nature in yarn and stitchwork, I can’t help but see fibre crafts wherever I look.

Right now, I’m working on a beautiful appliqué hoop by Corinne Lapierre, featuring some of my favourite woodland creatures. I’m a sucker for anything with foxes! Many of Corinne’s designs are inspired by the quiet charm of the woods—if you love hand-stitching, take a look here. If needle-felting is more your thing, we also have some gorgeous woodland-themed kits by Hawthorn Handmade. I've put together a collection of Woodland Themed needlecraft kits here.

As part of my Into the Woods theme, I’ve been curating a selection of products that celebrate the textures, colours, and magic of winter woodlands. I was thrilled to team up with Janet Friel to bring this vision to life, and she responded to the theme with a set of beautifully handcrafted Into the Woods stitch markers. Each set features a tiny fly agaric mushroom, a watchful owl, and a delicate fallen oak leaf, all carefully sculpted in polymer clay.

Janet has also created a beautiful batch of handmade project bags, perfect for carrying your knitting or crochet projects into the wild. The fabric features a striking bare tree motif, capturing the stillness and quiet beauty of winter woodlands. These special pieces were designed with my Into the Woods theme in mind, making them a perfect pairing for your seasonal crafting.

These stitch markers and project bags were created in very limited quantities, making them extra special. Whether you're casting on with a deep, earthy woodland palette or simply want to carry a little bit of nature with you, these accessories bring a touch of the woodland into your crafting. Browse Janet's beautiful winter woodland themed accessories here.

Knitting Projects Inspired by Nature

On my (very long) knitting to-do list is Anna Johanna's beautiful Woodland cardigan from Strands of Joy by Laine Publishing.

With its gorgeous colourwork, it would suit most double knit woollen yarns, but I have my heart set on knitting it in Loch Lomond, a lofty, organic woollen-spun tweed that feels as light as air. The flecks of colour in the yarn remind me of lichen on bark, moss between tree roots, and dappled woodland floors. 

Here I show my choice of Loch Lomond for the project in shades "Silver", a beautiful soft, pale grey and "Moss", a mid-brown with more than a hint of mossy green.

A Woodland-Inspired Palette in Yarn

Nature’s colours are endlessly inspiring, and even in the muted tones of winter, there are rich and unexpected shades to be found. As I’ve been out on woodland walks, I’ve noticed how certain hues capture the quiet beauty of the season—and as it happens, these colours are beautifully reflected in Skadi by Hey Mama Wolf, a stunning new yarn I’m working with in my Sunray Shawl knit-along.

Some shades in particular remind me of colours I've photographed on my woodland walks - the deep browns of the forest floor, the ghostly-white of silver birch trunks, the golden yellow of lichen, the greens and purple-greys found in ivy leaves and berries, and the rich russets of winter leaves. They beautifully echo the natural tones that draw me in at this time of year, making me reach for fibre that reflects the landscape around me.

What colours do you find yourself drawn to at this time of year? Does the winter landscape influence your crafting choices?

• Cocoa Brown – the deep, earthy brown of the forest floor, rich with fallen leaves and damp, ancient soil.
  

  

• Wool White – the soft, ghostly-white tones of silver birch trunks standing tall against the winter landscape.
  

  

  
  

• Henna Red – the warm, russet glow of winter beech leaves and the last light of a winter sunset.
  

  

  
  

• Smokey Pine Green – the deep, shadowy greens of pine trees, ivy leaves, and mossy undergrowth.
  

  

• Andaluza Grey – the moody purple-grey of ivy berries, adding a quiet depth to the winter landscape.
  

  

• Mustard Yellow – the vibrant splash of lichen on tree bark, bringing brightness to bare branches.
  

  

As I photographed these skeins outdoors - laid against rugged rocks, framed by the rolling hills and trees of Chesterblade Hills - it struck me how seamlessly they belong in the landscape. These shades aren’t just beautiful to look at, but they carry the essence of the woods into our knitting, connecting each stitch back to the land.

Incidentally, I recently discovered that the way beech trees hold on to their russet leaves through winter has a name - marcescence. Isn't that beautiful?

Take a Walk and See What You Find

One of the joys of crafting is how the world around us seeps into our projects. I encourage you to take a walk—whether in a nearby forest, a park, or even your own garden—and notice the details. What colours stand out? What textures catch your eye?

Once you start seeing the world in stitch patterns and yarn colours, it’s hard to stop!