Thursday 24 March 2016

Happy Easter

I am aware that I was getting into a blogging swing but March has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to post much. It was this time last year that illness saw the beginning of my longest break from the site. In a strange coincidence, exactly a year to the week, at the beginning of this month I was again undergoing surgery, related to the ongoing problems from last year, and I am currently having a little time 'off' work to recuperate. (I use the inverted commas as part of my problem is that I am never fully 'off' and have been trying not to answer too many emails or do too much work related knit and crochet!)


Anyway, I have been spending my 'free' time quite constructively, by finishing off a lot of non-work related projects, mainly baby themed for the baby boom that seems to be occurring presently! (More on that in a later post).
So do not fear, I don't plan to disappear again for any length of time. For now, I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Easter and remind you of a cute, simple, free knitting pattern for chick and rabbit egg cosies that I posted at Easter a few years ago. The images come from an Easter knitting class I ran showing some beginners how to make them. As usual, I love the quirky interpretations of the simple design that create distinctive personalities with only a few stitches and notions.

I have plenty planned for after the Easter break, including a new set of how to crochet tutorials and a post about some dolly beauties - the feet you can see below belong to them - who I was crocheting for over a year on and off and recently finally finished (sound the triumphant trumpeters!!)
Keep an eye out for all of that and more coming soon and in the meantime have a very lovely, relaxing Easter - don't eat too much chocolate!

Wednesday 2 March 2016

World Book Day


Today I sent off a little mini Alice in Wonderland to school for World Book Day. I am quite proud of the make do and mend style costume (inspired by the Mary Blair designs for the Disney film rather than the original book!) The 'Alice' band is crocheted and the apron was cut and sewn from a cheap cotton pillowcase. 

If you want to have a go at the hairband - simply use any DK weight yarn, make 5ch, then work 1dc in 2nd chain from hook and each chain to end. Carry on working straight in rows on these 4 double crochet until band is desired length around head, fasten two ends into a ring by working a slip stitch join.
Then work another strip in the same way of approximately 20cm long. Make two loops with this strip and sew or slip stitch join in place on top of head band. Weave in all ends and wear proudly!