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Making Winter: A Hygge-Inspired Guide to Surviving the Winter Months
Banish those cold-weather blues and embrace winter with the power of crafts and the Danish practice of hygge!
Want to survive those dark and freezing winter months? The Danish do it with hygge—a concept that’s all about coziness, simple pleasures, and the company of loved ones. Embrace this warmhearted philosophy with these 25 creative crafts and recipes, which range from gorgeous trinkets to snuggly woolens and tasty treats. You don’t have to be an expert with a crochet hook or a whiz in the kitchen to complete the projects, which include easy-to-follow instructions and photographs. Make vintage ornaments, bake plum and orange blondies, crochet boot cuffs, and more—and you’ll feel hygge warming you no matter how cold it is outside.
Want to survive those dark and freezing winter months? The Danish do it with hygge—a concept that’s all about coziness, simple pleasures, and the company of loved ones. Embrace this warmhearted philosophy with these 25 creative crafts and recipes, which range from gorgeous trinkets to snuggly woolens and tasty treats. You don’t have to be an expert with a crochet hook or a whiz in the kitchen to complete the projects, which include easy-to-follow instructions and photographs. Make vintage ornaments, bake plum and orange blondies, crochet boot cuffs, and more—and you’ll feel hygge warming you no matter how cold it is outside.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2017
14 people are currently reading
1189 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 16, 2018
Living in Minnesota, I really need help keeping happy in the winter months. I had high hopes for this book but it wasn't a good fit. There are lots of complicated crochet crafts, baking recipes and projects. For instance, you're supposed to buy real silver clay and press leaves into it and treat them to make pendants that become real silver. It requires a camp stove and a lot of materials. The finished piece of jewelry is very pretty but I don't have the motivation, time or money to buy a bunch of supplies to make a cast silver necklace of a leaf. With a gluten free family, the baking recipes weren't of use (and they were quite complicated for the most part anyway).
Also, a lot of the projects involve using things like colorful leaves and berries. Deep in winter in Minnesota, we don't have these materials. Perhaps in less wintry places you can still make colorful leaf wreaths and gather hawthorn berries for booze in the winter time but those aren't really options here.
The author seems very sweet and the pictures are lovely. These would be fun projects for someone who is very good at crocheting and doing fancy projects and wants to spend a lot of time "making winter." I think I need a book for lamer people who want to hang out in sweat pants and can barely get up the energy to make dinner come February. :)
Also, a lot of the projects involve using things like colorful leaves and berries. Deep in winter in Minnesota, we don't have these materials. Perhaps in less wintry places you can still make colorful leaf wreaths and gather hawthorn berries for booze in the winter time but those aren't really options here.
The author seems very sweet and the pictures are lovely. These would be fun projects for someone who is very good at crocheting and doing fancy projects and wants to spend a lot of time "making winter." I think I need a book for lamer people who want to hang out in sweat pants and can barely get up the energy to make dinner come February. :)
January 18, 2018
A gorgeous little book! One I will return to again again & will have a prominent space on my best book shelf. Beautifully written & full of wonderful little projects, recipes and snippets.
November 13, 2021
This was a fun book experience that made me want to buy crochet hooks and bake rolls. It was lovely with photos and just made you want to cozy up with a blanket.
January 25, 2020
Cozy, beautiful photos. I enjoyed the anecdotes and wish it was more of those, as I likely will not do any of the crafts or try any of the recipes. Overall, a beautifully put together book but not what I was looking for in a Hygge book.
January 8, 2018
I love the philosophy of Hygge and feel like I’ve got Hygge 101 understood. With no real convincing necessary, I’ve bought a few extra pairs of soft fuzzy socks, lounge pants and blankets. I’ve got some great Hygge friendly recipes (yes, I am making soup again tonight) and already felt like a glass of red wine or a hot chocolate is perfect this time of year.
So, this sounded like the next phase of Hygge. I already know what it means and I know that I enjoy it. Why not try some new ideas inspired by the concept?
Well, here’s the issue for me with this book. The majority of the little projects are knitting or crocheting. Which would be fine if I knew how to knit. It doesn’t really matter how easy the projects are if you don’t know how to knit.
Also, the author recommends taking a walk outside several times in this book. I don’t know about winter in your part of the world but in Pennsylvania it was below freezing temperatures for more than a week.
We had to get a space heater to get the washing machine to run. Taking a walk outside is not going to make me enjoy winter more.
I don’t want to be a spoil sport. I’ll take full responsibility for buying this book online without seeing it in person first. If I had seen it myself, I would have known that I was not the target audience.
Someone who is a knitter, a gardener or craftier than I am, might love this book. They probably would actually because there are some very nice ideas.
There are a few recipes in the book and I do see myself making the chocolate lava cake some time.
The pictures in the book are beautiful.
I am sure someone else would appreciate this in a different way. It wasn’t a great fit for me.
So, this sounded like the next phase of Hygge. I already know what it means and I know that I enjoy it. Why not try some new ideas inspired by the concept?
Well, here’s the issue for me with this book. The majority of the little projects are knitting or crocheting. Which would be fine if I knew how to knit. It doesn’t really matter how easy the projects are if you don’t know how to knit.
Also, the author recommends taking a walk outside several times in this book. I don’t know about winter in your part of the world but in Pennsylvania it was below freezing temperatures for more than a week.
We had to get a space heater to get the washing machine to run. Taking a walk outside is not going to make me enjoy winter more.
I don’t want to be a spoil sport. I’ll take full responsibility for buying this book online without seeing it in person first. If I had seen it myself, I would have known that I was not the target audience.
Someone who is a knitter, a gardener or craftier than I am, might love this book. They probably would actually because there are some very nice ideas.
There are a few recipes in the book and I do see myself making the chocolate lava cake some time.
The pictures in the book are beautiful.
I am sure someone else would appreciate this in a different way. It wasn’t a great fit for me.
January 8, 2018
Cozy, accessible projects. Can't wait to make the chocolate mug cake, and definitely want to throw a craft night and try out the silver fossil pendants with friends.
January 3, 2025
I loved the hygge suggestions and ideas on making the most of winter. A bit too many crochet projects (since I don’t know how to crochet) but I did appreciate the handmade gift ideas and food recipes.
December 26, 2017
This is a very pretty book. I enjoyed flipping through it, though it is targeted towards people who don't like winter.
January 3, 2019
Expected something a little different from this. Had higher hopes for more substantial craft and recipe ideas as well as better suggestions to make the winter months a little less dreary.
January 25, 2019
This a cozy cookbook, crochet pattern book, and book on hygge all in one. I felt cozy and calmer just reading it. The photography and illustrations are lovely.
I plan on making all the recipes and doing many of the crafts. A great winter book.
I plan on making all the recipes and doing many of the crafts. A great winter book.
January 3, 2019
Inspiring and cozy ideas
Love the ideas about making plans throughout the winter to bring comfort and happiness during the cold dark dreary days, especially if you get down during these months. Although I wouldn't necessarily do the exact ideas in here, it did leave me inspired to create my own set of activities that I'm looking forward to and will carry on every year.
Love the ideas about making plans throughout the winter to bring comfort and happiness during the cold dark dreary days, especially if you get down during these months. Although I wouldn't necessarily do the exact ideas in here, it did leave me inspired to create my own set of activities that I'm looking forward to and will carry on every year.
February 16, 2018
Twee crafts. Unappetizing and/ or complicated recipes. Two stars because I realize that just because this stuff isn’t my thing doesn’t mean others won’t positively adore it. Mug chocolate cake might be good.
September 20, 2017
I want to make everything in this book (except the cocktails), which almost never happens with craft books.
January 10, 2018
Lovely. I won a copy of Making Winter from Goodreads. I keep it near by as I enjoy going through it and it takes me back to my Danish heritage.
February 8, 2018
Easy to read within a day, but full of inspiring and delightful creative ideas! I love the way Ms. Mitchell writes, with wry humor.
March 11, 2018
Delightful. :)
March 1, 2022
I discovered this book last year when I was really interested in read a lot of books that dealt with hygge and cosiness and leaning into and appreciating the season of winter. What better time to read it than a late February, rainy afternoon? Admittedly, I have not tried any of the activities included in this book, but I definitely want to. There is a lot of great inspiration! I am actually thinking about taking a walk right now, cutting a branch from a cherry blossom tree, and taking it inside to force some blooms. I've never tried it, but have always thought it was interesting. The baked goods seem marvelous (the Chelsea buns and lemon bars! <3). I really have to compliment the photography. Each photo so perfectly captures winter cosiness. The front cover with the rustic wooden background, pastries, and yarn really speaks to my soul. The author really likes to crochet, so now I'm thinking I need to move on from the basic knit and purl stitches and try something new. Besides the photos, my other favorite part of the book were the little descriptive paragraphs before each activity. The author definitely has a way with words and writes so well about winter I'm almost sad to see the season go. Bottom line, I want to read more from this author. Second bottom line, read this book if you think winter is a time of limited activity. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new and creative (like crafting!)
February 19, 2024
January is my least favourite month so I loved this book which seeks to inspire the reader to take a new view on winter. Instead of huddling inside and avoiding life for a month, Emma reminds us that there's much to love in this time of year - cosy chats by the fire with crafting friends and homemade cake, or brisk walks in nature foraging for our next creation.
Beautifully photographed, as I expected having encountered Emma via her nature photographs on Twitter, and elegantly written with plenty of inspiration to get going rather than slumping through the darker winter days.
The selection of winter-banishing creative projects were exactly my sort of thing with their focus on nature, crochet, baking, jewellery, and art and I've marked several to pursue soon and during next January. First up will be her homemade firelighters for my fire-pit this summer - a fab use of old candle stubs and next will be a pen sketch of feathers.
Simple instructions are provided for everything and apart from the silver clay pendant, I had most of the items needed in my craft stash. I would suggest taking a skim read during the autumn though as some require items from that time to be saved for use in winter.
Some projects might need to be tweaked to your own preferences - gin based cocktails could easily be done with rum or vodka, for example, and recipes with honey could use a different sweetener. I took them as a starting point. I'm looking forward to trying several of them.
Beautifully photographed, as I expected having encountered Emma via her nature photographs on Twitter, and elegantly written with plenty of inspiration to get going rather than slumping through the darker winter days.
The selection of winter-banishing creative projects were exactly my sort of thing with their focus on nature, crochet, baking, jewellery, and art and I've marked several to pursue soon and during next January. First up will be her homemade firelighters for my fire-pit this summer - a fab use of old candle stubs and next will be a pen sketch of feathers.
Simple instructions are provided for everything and apart from the silver clay pendant, I had most of the items needed in my craft stash. I would suggest taking a skim read during the autumn though as some require items from that time to be saved for use in winter.
Some projects might need to be tweaked to your own preferences - gin based cocktails could easily be done with rum or vodka, for example, and recipes with honey could use a different sweetener. I took them as a starting point. I'm looking forward to trying several of them.
August 30, 2022
This was a cute and fun little book. I personally love winter so I didn't appreciate the doom and gloom of getting through winter, but I realize that there are Summer Lovers out there who do suffer through the long, dark, dreary days that I, myself, love. ;)
The crafts in this book aren't kid friendly, though I don't think one should expect that just by looking at the cover. But the crafts are cool and I love that she uses crochet patterns instead of knit, as I am personally a crocheter and not a knitter. The recipes were okay, the molten lava cake in a mug was probably my favorite as I am more likely to make that than the other recipes. That being said the other recipes didn't look too difficult so a typical, non-professional, at-home baker would be able to make them (that's a big plus to this book!). I enjoyed the nature elements she includes throughout the book a lot. The entire mood and aesthetic of the book was beautiful and simple, using the minimalist hygge culture.
Would recommend to anyone - especially the Summer Lovers who are looking for activities to get you through the winter months.
The crafts in this book aren't kid friendly, though I don't think one should expect that just by looking at the cover. But the crafts are cool and I love that she uses crochet patterns instead of knit, as I am personally a crocheter and not a knitter. The recipes were okay, the molten lava cake in a mug was probably my favorite as I am more likely to make that than the other recipes. That being said the other recipes didn't look too difficult so a typical, non-professional, at-home baker would be able to make them (that's a big plus to this book!). I enjoyed the nature elements she includes throughout the book a lot. The entire mood and aesthetic of the book was beautiful and simple, using the minimalist hygge culture.
Would recommend to anyone - especially the Summer Lovers who are looking for activities to get you through the winter months.
May 30, 2020
nonfiction (crafts and jewelry-making)
I thought this might be interesting to look at during the pandemic since it deals with combating cabin fever and the isolation of Danish winters.... It's ok.
There are some cute crochet projects (I don't crochet), some tasty looking baked good recipes (I can't eat wheat), some easy-looking jewelry projects (that require the buying of supplies), and an assortment of other, nature-based crafts (which I'm not particularly inspired to do, but someone else well might).
Coping with isolation takeaways: there are psychological benefits to repetitive motions (the author mentions painting with watercolors, but knitting would also work--or petting a cat or dog); try to go outside when possible, or find ways to bring nature indoors (as with forced blooms and preserved plant decorations).
I thought this might be interesting to look at during the pandemic since it deals with combating cabin fever and the isolation of Danish winters.... It's ok.
There are some cute crochet projects (I don't crochet), some tasty looking baked good recipes (I can't eat wheat), some easy-looking jewelry projects (that require the buying of supplies), and an assortment of other, nature-based crafts (which I'm not particularly inspired to do, but someone else well might).
Coping with isolation takeaways: there are psychological benefits to repetitive motions (the author mentions painting with watercolors, but knitting would also work--or petting a cat or dog); try to go outside when possible, or find ways to bring nature indoors (as with forced blooms and preserved plant decorations).
January 10, 2023
Quick read. Gorgeous photos from cover to cover.
I have enjoyed reading up on Hygge and what makes you life more Hygge. This book although it’s beautiful didn’t necessarily help me understand it more nor did it provide activities that I felt were easy for everyone to do. However I did look Emma up on Instagram and throughly enjoyed her information there and look forward to reading her other material etc.
I love the authors way of sharing things we can do during the winter months to bring us more joy and happiness.
The book overall was lovely but left me wanting more activities that I could actually do.
I have enjoyed reading up on Hygge and what makes you life more Hygge. This book although it’s beautiful didn’t necessarily help me understand it more nor did it provide activities that I felt were easy for everyone to do. However I did look Emma up on Instagram and throughly enjoyed her information there and look forward to reading her other material etc.
I love the authors way of sharing things we can do during the winter months to bring us more joy and happiness.
The book overall was lovely but left me wanting more activities that I could actually do.
February 25, 2024
This book made me feel warm and cozy. I love the idea of crafting and baking as a way to counter the grey days of winter. An honest disclaimer: this book was a gift. I’m not sure if I would have paid full price for it as most of the crafts (crocheting) I probably won’t attempt. But, that said, there are some delicious looking recipes that I’d like to try and never say never to trying to learn a new skill (crocheting again). Also, the silver fossil pendant craft is intriguing - silver jewelry from clay?! What wizardry is this? Already thinking of possibilities other than plants. So, overall, this was a sweet hygge inspired book.
February 7, 2018
I love the Danish concept of Hygge-creating and living life with intention to enjoy the beauty of life's every day pleasures;
This concept seems especially appealing in winter when there seems to be a natural opportunity to focus on slow food, music, feeding the birds, making art , reading ...
Creating a calm and beautiful home and inner world are goals of mine. My wonderful Grandmother Emma was a Danish immigrant and I feel like I am in touch with her and her culture reading this lovely book full of charming pictures and ideas ....
This concept seems especially appealing in winter when there seems to be a natural opportunity to focus on slow food, music, feeding the birds, making art , reading ...
Creating a calm and beautiful home and inner world are goals of mine. My wonderful Grandmother Emma was a Danish immigrant and I feel like I am in touch with her and her culture reading this lovely book full of charming pictures and ideas ....
February 8, 2021
I am a bit disappointed to see that the book has been “rebranded” to jump on the hygge bandwagon: my version is “a creative guide...”. There are some good ideas and beautiful photos. I agree that some of the activities are tricky-as a knitter, there are in fact no knitting activities, only crochet. The author is based in England so some of the activities won’t work for those whose winters are extremely severe. In summary a nice picture book but several of the activities you can’t simply pick up without prior skills or preparation
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October 15, 2021But if bcc
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
This book is filled with words to inspire and beautiful photos and illustrations. Winter can be long and dark. This book is the perfect pick me up if you’re feeling a little blue or restless. The pages are filled with nature based crafts, recipes, journal ideas and advice for getting outside. I personally believe there is so much importance to mental health and being in nature. The two go hand and hand.
I might have to purchase this one.
I might have to purchase this one.
January 17, 2022
For anyone who just wants to wish winter away, this book is for you. Embracing all the seasons is a worthy goal, but winter has its challenges. This is any easy and beautiful read that offers many coping strategies to survive winter, and make it hygge. There are crafts, recipes - for food and cocktails, and many ideas for making home and body cozy in the cold months. The author has also created an Instagram hashtag (#makingwinter) with thousands of beautiful and inspiring photographs.
January 17, 2023
I was hoping for more recipes and memoir-style writing, reflections on what hygge means and how it can be philosophically and practically woven into everyday life. It is a nice book, but a bit too focused on crafting for me, and not enough connection with the author. I suspect my disappointment is due to misplaced expectations, however, and not necessary a reflection of the actual quality of the book. Others may find it quite lovely indeed.
January 16, 2020
The cover photo and some of the other photos inside this book are beautiful. I didn't personally break out my crochet hook, though, as the patterns seem too complicated for my own practical use, and unfortunately, the recipes were out for my family as well as we can't eat dairy or flour! Inspiring beauty for sure but I'm glad I got it from the library and didn't purchase this one.
February 2, 2020
Warm and cozy and inspirational! I think it is a very good resource for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder because it reflects on what makes winter sad and hard to get through, and what you can do to brighten it up. While not every craft or recipe grabbed my attention, I do recommend the Mug Chocolate Cake recipe, it is delightful and delicious without being too sweet!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews