Day 3 of Winter – Series 4 Edition

This is part 3 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.

Warm, neutral colors are essentials in my wardrobe, especially for Winter. I find those warm tones make the typically gray weather feel brighter, and they also tend to be flattering on all. I wanted to design a matching hat and scarf set for the 12 Days of Winter kits this year that felt elegant and still fun. Looking at colors of our Adore yarn, I was immediately struck by the combination of Sand (129) and Powder (104), and how it reminded me of my favorite winter beverage. So I designed the Chai Latte Set!

I’m a spicy food girl. The hotter the better, and one cuisine I adore is Indian. The depth of flavor, richness of the food, and variety always appeal to me. This decadence in spice doesn’t just apply to food in India, it also applies to beverages. A warm chai latte, to me, is like the essence of winter time. Delicious spices meld with tea and milk to make a cozy drink I cannot live without. Below, you’ll find a recipe for a homemade chai latte that is sure to warm you up during the cold months!

Makes about 4 mugs of Chai

What you need:

• cinnamon sticks – 2-3
• cardamom pods (whole)- about 8
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 star anise
• sliced ginger – 1 piece
• 3 black tea bags – Assam or English Breakfast tea works well
• Your milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar

1. Using a dry skillet, toast the spices until they are fragrant, watching them carefully so they do not burn.
2. Add the spices, ginger, and tea bags to a small pot with 4 cups of filtered boiled water, and leave to infuse for approx. 10 mins (or longer if you want it strong).
3. Heat milk with brown sugar and stir. Once the sugar is dissolved, use a milk frother or whisk to lightly foam the milk.
4. To serve, use a strainer to strain the spices, ginger, and tea bags from the tea. Add the sugared milk, leaving the froth. Stir to combine. Finally, spoon the froth on top and you are ready to enjoy!

Once you’ve made yourself a nice mug of Chai, sit down with the Chai Latte Set kit and get to knitting! This set features a stranded colorwork snowflake on the front and back of the hat, each end of the scarf, and a lovely snow flurry-esque motif on the scarf body. The scarf is knit as a tube, so you never have to worry about seeing your floats when you wear it. A lovely pom pom adorns the top of the hat, and fringe is added to the scarf.

Adore is a blend of superwash fine merino and acrylic. It is a super-soft yarn, with a saturated and varied color palette. I ‘adore’ Adore, because it really is a luxurious yarn in a very affordable skein. Plus, it is easy to care for, so it makes an excellent choice for garments and accessories that will be worn often.

I hope you all enjoy your Chai Lattes, and knitting the Chai Latte Set! Remember, you can find the kit, along with the other 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find the one closest to you.