7 Positively Simple Cozy Crafts to Make for a Very Hygge Winter
The chill in the air announces more than a season’s change; it’s an invitation to unwind and luxuriate in comfort.
The Danish tradition of hygge, a sense of cozy contentment and well-being, has gained global popularity for precisely this reason. Its popularity is not transitory; searches for “hygge” on Pinterest have exploded, typically reaching over 285% during the colder half of the year.
In the meantime, the craft business has experienced a significant resurgence, with studies showing that over 63% of American homes participate in at least one craft activity. These numbers tell something I always suspected: we have a deep, human need to create warmth and shelter with our own hands.
This winter, let’s discover that cozy contentment together in simple, accessible crafts that warm your house and nourish your soul.
Chunky Knit Blanket
I don’t think anything is as homely as a massive blanket that you have made for yourself. A chunky knit blanket is not just a decorative item; it’s something you can touch and associate with warmth and a sense of security.
The repetitive, rhythmic motion of arm knitting is extremely calming, and you’re free from the digital distractions to just create. The reward is a warm, heavy wrap that exclaims, “snuggle up with a good book and a mug of something warm.” This pattern brings you back down to Earth to the comfort you’re seeking.
How to Make It: You won’t be using any knitting needles here, just your arms. Purchase four to five skeins of merino wool yarn or jumbo-weight chenille yarn. Begin by creating a slipknot and placing it on your right wrist.
Cast 20-25 stitches by bringing loops of the working yarn through the wrist loop. Once you have your preferred width, transfer the first stitch from your right arm to your left. Then, pull a new loop of the working yarn through the next stitch on your right arm and slide it onto your left.
Continue this process until all stitches are on your left arm. Repeat back and forth for each row until the blanket reaches your desired length. To finish, knit two stitches, then lift the first stitch over the second and off your arm. Knit another one and repeat until you have one loop remaining. Cut yarn, pass the tail through the final loop, and tie off.
Estimated Cost: $40-$80, depending on the yarn you select.
Hand-Poured Scented Candles
Smell is a powerful memory and mood trigger, and candlelight is at the center of hygge. By making your own hand-poured candles, you can have fun developing scents that truly make your home smell like home. I love mixing scents like cedarwood, vanilla, and orange to make the perfect harmonized winter fragrance. The actual process is one of precision and patience. Watching hard wax melt and re-solidify at a snail’s pace is a soothing, uncomplicated process.
Lighting one of your homemade candles adds a personal touch of satisfaction to the cozy atmosphere that it produces.
How to Make It: You’ll need soy wax flakes, candle wicks with bases, a pouring pot (or a heat-proof pitcher set in a large saucepan of water), and fragrance oils. You can purchase a complete kit online to simplify the process.
Melt the wax flakes on low heat until they’re completely liquid. As it is melting, affix a wick to the bottom of the middle of your jar or container with a dab of wax or a wick sticker. Once the wax is melted, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
Then, add your fragrance oil (approximately 1 ounce of oil per pound of wax). Carefully pour the scented wax into your vase, keeping the wick in place with clothespins or a wick-straightening device. Let the candle sit for at least 24 hours before trimming the wick to about a quarter of an inch.
Estimated Cost: $20-$30 for a starter kit that will make several candles.
Dried Orange and Cinnamon Garland
Natural home décor is one of the cornerstones of simple, country life. A garland of dried orange and cinnamon arouses more than one sense, filling your home with the warm, citrusy spice of the season and adding stained-glass beauty to your windows.
This craft reminds me that beauty can be simple and inexpensive. The act of carefully slicing the fruit and waiting patiently for it to dry has you in tune with the slow, contemplative pace of winter. It’s an eco-friendly ornament that honors the season’s modest offerings.
Instructions: Thinly slice two to three navel oranges and gently dry them with a paper towel. Place the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Dry them in a 200°F (93 °C) oven for 2 to 3 hours, turning them halfway through, until they are dry and partially translucent.
Allow the slices to cool completely. Thread twine or jute string through orange slice tops with a skewer or large needle, interspersing with cinnamon sticks. Bay leaves or star anise can be added for extra texture and scent.
Cost estimate: Under $10 worth of oranges and spices.
Clay Pinch Pots
Clay is a raw, sensual medium to work with that immerses you in the present moment. No special tools are needed to make pinch pots, only a block of air-dry clay and your hands. The very act of crafting something helpful out of a raw hunk of dirt is wonderfully satisfying.
I use my completed pots as tea bag holders, salt containers, or for small trinkets. Each pot is a one-of-a-kind expression of the fingers that shaped it, with each flaw contributing to its character and charm.
How to Make It: Start with a small ball of air-dry clay. Place your thumb in the center of the ball and press down halfway to the bottom. Pinch the clay between your thumb and fingers, shaping it softly and evenly as you rotate the pot in your hand.
Continue this action, moving up the sides to your shape and desired thickness. Smooth out any cracks with a bit of water on the tip of your finger. Dry the pot completely for 24-48 hours.
Upon drying, you can leave it au naturel or paint it with acrylics and varnish it with a matte or gloss finish.
Estimated Cost: $10-$15 for each block of air-dry clay.
Mulling Spices DIY
It is easy to make your own mulling spice sachets to bottle the scent of winter. These little packets of heat may be steeped in wine, cider, or juice to perfume your entire home with warm comfort.
Assembling them is a celebratory sensory exercise, measuring out cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and star anise. I love preparing a large quantity to share as loving, homemade gifts. It’s almost like sharing a person the secret recipe for instant coziness, a speedy way to add a hygge moment whenever necessary.
How to Prepare It: Combine whole spices in a bowl. A good recipe to begin with is 1/2 cup of broken cinnamon sticks, 1/4 cup of whole allspice berries, 1/4 cup of dried orange peel, and two tablespoons of whole cloves. Combine them well. Cut little squares of cheesecloth (5×5 inches) and place two to three tablespoons of the spice mixture in the center of each.
Fold the edges and tie them tightly with a kitchen string to create a small sachet. To drink, add a sachet to a pot of your desired beverage and heat.
Estimated Cost: $15-$20 for bulk honey, which will make dozens of sachets.
Infused Honey
Taking the humble pantry item to the sublime is a tiny yet precious act of love. Infused honey is a delicious treat and a classy, golden addition to your dining table. I infuse honey with rosemary, lavender, or chili flakes.
It’s lovely, simple, requiring no more than time. Drizzling flavored honey of your own over oatmeal, toast, or into a cup of tea personalizes an ordinary moment and makes it feel decadent.
How to Make It: You’ll need a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, quality honey, and your chosen infusion ingredient. For a warming winter flavor, add a few cinnamon sticks and a piece of ginger to the jar and pour the honey over them. Shake the jar well and store it in a warm, dark place for at least one week, turning the jar over daily or approximately every day, to allow the flavors to blend.
Strain out the ingredients or leave them in for a rustic look.
Estimated Cost: $10-$15, depending on the grade of honey.
Pressed Flower Bookmarks
This craft combines the delicate art of flower pressing with the peaceful pleasure of reading. Pressing flowers and leaves found on an evening walk home in late autumn preserves a fragment of the outdoors to be loved throughout the winter. Creating a bookmark from the delicate, paper-thin plants is a contemplative process that requires a gentle touch. Every time you open your book, you’ll find a small, beautiful memory of nature’s work. It’s a simple way to bring the outside in and add a personal, beautiful touch to your reading time.
How to Make It: Press flowers or small leaves between sheets of parchment paper in a heavy book for two to three weeks, until they are completely flat and dry. Cut a piece of heavy cardstock to the size you have chosen for your bookmark. Using a small brush, apply a thin layer of craft glue to the cardstock and gently set your pressed flowers on it. You could use tweezers to position them evenly. Let this dry completely.
To add more strength, you can laminate the bookmark or seal it with a clear product, such as Mod Podge. Punch a hole at the top and add a tassel for a finish.
Approximate Cost: Under $5 if you have a simple arsenal of craft supplies.
Key Takeaways
A hygge winter is not about getting out the checkbook or creating elaborate projects. It’s about intentionality.
- Create with Your Hands: Engaging in handmade crafts, such as knitting or working with clay, helps you stay in the present moment and provides much-needed relief from screen time.
- Engage Your Senses: Smells projects (mulling spices, candles) and natural materials (dried oranges) create a cozy, multi-sensory space of warmth.
- Make It Yours: Creating your own décor and functional items invests your home with personal meaning, making your living space a true sanctuary.
- Be Simple: The most evocative hygge moments often arise from the simplest activities. These crafts are designed to be simple, affordable, and richly rewarding.
- This winter, grab a project, gather your supplies, and enjoy a peaceful afternoon crafting something lovely and comforting. You will find that the process itself is as fulfilling as the outcome.
