We are at the beginning of March, with a waning moon in the night sky, but that doesn’t stop us from considering the moon to come. The March full moon is set to arrive on the 14th. The most common name for the March moon is the “Worm Moon”. The term was created by native Americans who noticed that as the earth began to warm up, worms came out and started to enrich the soil. This appearance of life was a harbinger of the warm days to come.
While many of us tend to think of the worm as creepy crawly creatures, they are essential to environmental health and much admired. It turns out that they also are a source of inspiration.
In researching the moon and the role it plays with fiber artists, we came across a wealth of interesting projects. Here’s a small sampling of some of them!
Worm Inspired Stitch Patterns
A worry worm can be crocheted or knitted and makes a good choice for bookmarks or kids. Take a look at “Wurm” a free pattern found on Ravelry. The spelling is German for worm, and the ribbed resemblance to our crawly friends is unmistakable. Imagine those wonderful full worm-like ribs interspersed with a beautiful contrasting color yarn like these two from Symfonie Yarn’s Viva. The DK yarn weight like Viva would give it just the right amount of body. Keep in mind that Viva comes in over 80 colors, semi-solid and variegated, so if these colors don’t appeal, you have lots of options.
However, this is more than just another full Moon! There is going to be a Total Lunar Eclipse, also known as a Blood Moon on the 14th. During a lunar eclipse, the Sun, Moon, and Earth all align so that the Earth comes in between the Moon and Sun. This means that the Earth will cast a reddish shadow over the Moon, causing sky gazers to name it “The Blood Moon”.
A partial lunar eclipse will start at 11:57 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, March 13. But the most dramatic portion — when the moon turns totally dark — will occur between 2:26 a.m. and 3:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14. If you are one of the intrepid souls who decides to stay up, here’s a warm idea: Since weather can still be quite brisk in mid-March, you might wish to warm up with a Shawl. We think Symfonie Yarn’s warm and luscious Bella would be the ideal choice.
Baby Blanket
The charming quote is made visible using the popcorn stitch. What a nice way to welcome a new baby. The white version shows up well so that the quote is easy to read. To make sure this blanket is warm (and soft) enough, you might consider using a lovely light shade, such as one of these. Bella is 100% worsted weight merino yarn, and it is also machine washable and dryable. No need to worry about any felting –it will keep a new little one soft, warm and cozy no matter how many times it goes into the laundry.
Cardigan
If a shawl is not your thing, you might consider this flattering cardigan. It comes in a variety of sizes and is an easy knit the original pattern suggests 2 fingering weight yarns held together, which results in a dk weight. Viva would be a perfect replacement. The designer recommends a circular needle in a 24-40” width to accommodate a generous number of stitches, most of which are garter stitch – aka pure knitting pleasure. (Note: Please remember to always check your gauge to obtain the right size and appearance.)
If you are a knitter or crocheter, we’ve got some inspiring ideas. It’s going to be spring soon and it’s time to be prepared for the warm weather.
Just in case you need a little more warmth this March, here’s one of our favorite cool weather recipes: Cocoa for Knitters & Crocheters
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1–2 Tbsp. sugar
Kosher salt
1 cup milk or any combination of milk, half-and-half, or cream, divided
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
Marshmallows or Sweetened Whipped Cream for serving (optional)
Preparation
1. Whisk 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, 1–2 Tbsp. sugar, a pinch of kosher salt, and about 2 Tbsp. from 1 cup milk or any combination of milk, half-and-half, or cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat on the stovetop until cocoa and sugar are dissolved, 1–2 minutes. Whisk in the remaining milk and heat mixture over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it is hot, about 4 minutes more. Stir in ¼ tsp. vanilla extract, pour into mugs, and top with marshmallows or Sweetened Whipped Cream.