The Slow Season Collection: From an Idea to Three Crochet Designs

Three crochet designs, a palette inspired by nature, and a reminder that sometimes we need to slow down.

There is something about autumn and winter that makes me want to slow down. Maybe it’s the shorter days, the colder weather, or simply the feeling of wanting to spend more time at home, surrounded by things that bring me comfort.

And what better way to slow down than with a crochet project?

This is where the idea behind my new Slow Season Collection comes from.

For me, crochet has always been about more than making something to wear. It’s also about the process. Taking a ball of yarn, working one stitch at a time, watching a project slowly take shape, and enjoying the little moments along the way.

With this collection, I wanted to create garments that are comfortable, wearable, and interesting to make, without being unnecessarily complicated.

After months of designing, crocheting, making changes, starting over, and figuring things out, all three designs are finally finished. The patterns are written, the video tutorials are ready, and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Starting with the designs

Before choosing any yarn or deciding on colors, I started by thinking about the garments I wanted to create.

One thing I knew from the beginning was that I didn’t want overly complicated stitch patterns.

I love experimenting with crochet stitches, but I also believe that a beautiful garment doesn’t necessarily need an intricate stitch pattern. Sometimes, simple stitches combined with thoughtful construction and a few interesting details can create something much more special.

That became my starting point.

I wanted to explore different silhouettes and construction techniques while keeping the actual crocheting process enjoyable.

For the Ease Poncho Sweater, I wanted the relaxed shape of a poncho but with the practicality of a sweater. Something with plenty of room around the body, beautiful drape, and textured details that would give it character.

With the Unwind Sweater, I wanted to explore a modified drop-shoulder construction. The vertical ribbed texture creates a simple, almost minimalist look, while the shoulder shaping makes the design a little different from a traditional drop-shoulder sweater.

And for the Wander Cardigan, I wanted a comfortable, everyday cardigan with interesting construction details. The combination of a modified drop shoulder, sloped shoulders, and borders worked directly into the fabric became an important part of the design.

Three different garments, each with its own personality, but all following the same idea: simple stitches, thoughtful details, and enjoyable crochet projects.

Choosing the color palette

Once I had a clearer idea of the designs, I started thinking about colors.

I knew I wanted an earthy palette for autumn and winter.

Olive green was one of the first colors I had in mind. I love how versatile it is, and how it works almost like a neutral while still bringing some color into an outfit.

Brown was another color I really wanted to include. It’s warm, timeless, and pairs beautifully with olive green.

And to balance these deeper colors, I wanted something lighter and more neutral.

The result was a combination of olive green, warm brown, and a soft, light neutral.

I didn’t necessarily want every garment to match perfectly. I wanted them to feel connected, like pieces that could belong in the same wardrobe.

I also tried to imagine how the colors would work with the different textures and silhouettes. A simple stitch pattern can look completely different depending on the yarn and color you choose.

Finding the right yarn

Choosing the yarn was probably one of the most important parts of planning this collection.

And I didn’t start by looking for a particular brand.

First, I thought about the type of fabric I wanted each garment to have.

I considered the fiber content, the yarn thickness, the drape, and how the finished garment would feel when worn.

For autumn and winter garments, I wanted yarns that would feel comfortable and warm without making the finished projects unnecessarily heavy or stiff.

The poncho sweater, for example, needed a yarn that would allow the fabric to fall naturally around the body. For the other garments, I also needed enough structure for the shaping and stitch details to remain visible.

Only after deciding on these characteristics did I start looking at different yarn brands.

And there was another important consideration: the price.

I know how quickly the cost of yarn can add up when making a sweater or cardigan, especially for larger sizes.

I wanted to find yarns that met my requirements without making the projects unnecessarily expensive.

So I compared different options, looking at fiber composition, thickness, meterage, and price.

Some of the yarns I initially liked were beautiful, but they were also quite expensive for a full garment.

Eventually, I found more affordable alternatives that offered the characteristics I was looking for.

For me, choosing yarn is always about finding a balance. The most expensive yarn isn’t necessarily the best choice for a particular project, and an affordable yarn can produce a beautiful garment when it is suited to the design.

I think this is also an important part of designing crochet patterns: considering not only how the sample will look, but also how accessible the project will be for the people who want to make it.

When the designs started to take shape

Of course, having a plan doesn’t mean everything works exactly as expected.

And this collection was definitely a reminder of that!

Some ideas looked great in my head but needed several adjustments once I started crocheting.

The poncho sweater was probably the best example. I knew what kind of silhouette I wanted, but finding the right balance between the neckline, shoulders, and generous body width took quite a bit of experimenting.

There were moments when I wasn’t sure the construction would work the way I imagined.

But that’s one of the things I enjoy most about designing. Sometimes you need to see an idea in yarn, make a few mistakes, undo your work, and try a different approach.

The Unwind Sweater and Wander Cardigan also gave me opportunities to experiment with garment construction and explore how relatively simple stitch patterns can be used to create different shapes.

In the end, each project taught me something.

And I hope that when you make these designs, you’ll enjoy not only the finished garment but also the process of getting there.

Why I called it the Slow Season Collection

The name came after I had already started working on the designs.

I was thinking about what connected these garments, beyond the colors and the fact that they were designed for autumn and winter.

And I realized that the connection was the feeling I wanted them to represent.

Slowing down.

Life can become so busy that we sometimes forget to enjoy the simple things.

For me, crochet is one of those activities that encourages us to be present. To take our time. To enjoy making something with our hands without always rushing toward the finished result.

That’s also why I chose names like Ease, Unwind, and Wander.

They remind me that we don’t always need to hurry, that creativity doesn’t have to follow a straight line, and that sometimes the most enjoyable part is simply allowing ourselves the time to make something.

The Slow Season Collection is almost here!

I’m so happy to finally be at this stage.

All three garments are finished, the crochet patterns are ready, and I’ve completed the video tutorials to guide you through the projects.

The Slow Season Collection will be launching very soon, and I have a little something planned for my email subscribers.

Everyone subscribed to my email list will receive an exclusive discount code for the collection when it launches.

If you’d like to be among the first to see the new patterns and receive your subscriber discount, you can sign up below.

I can’t wait to share these designs with you and see how you make them your own.

Until then, I hope you find a little time for yourself, pick up your crochet hook, and enjoy a few slow moments.

Happy crocheting!

Katerina