Easter!

 I love how Easter gives you a chance to dress rabbits with flowers,

 Jugs with cosies,

 And tables with more than just food.

 I love watching babies eat their first eggs.

 Or husbands wearing their favourite sellotape moustaches.

But most of all, it's the time we get to spend together with family and friends.
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

A couple of Easy Easter Projects.

First of all let me say a big thank you for all of your comments in the last post - you gave such great advice and so much to think about. You are all such a great resource and I am so lucky to have you!!!

Yesterday morning I had to quickly come up with a couple of easy crafts to take with me to the school library which I open on Tuesdays at lunch time. Something I could do beforehand and another I could do with the kids.

 So using glassine origami paper I cut out these egg shapes and stitched them up on the sewing machine. A very quick project indeed.

 And made travel safe courtesy of a cardboard envelope.

 The project for the kids had to be achievable in 30 mins and accessible to a variety of ages. So, I had them finger-knit a length of yarn and then I sewed it up into a little nest. Older children were able to do their own sewing. Did anybody else harbour a bit of a fetish for these baby chicks when they were growing up? I still love them.

They are now dotted around the school library looking very cute and festive.
Still have to write up the egg cosy tutorial...
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

More Crochet Easter Eggs.

Tomorrow is my friend's birthday and as we are rapidly nearing Easter, I thought some eggs might be appropriate. I am very lucky because another friend has a free-range egg farm and she has given me lots of plain cartons. Wahoo.

 This morning has seen me playing around on picmonkey to come up with a quick label. I love picmonkey big bits to say the least and have signed up for the paid version (this is not an advertisement by the way). 

You can find my tutorial for crocheted eggs here!
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

More Easter Wreathing.

The rabbits had their vaccinations yesterday and have been miserable ever since... Any coincidence that my crochet bunny ended up looking like this!!!

We had our first fire a couple of nights ago.... Finn Family Moomintroll, Dad's knee, clean pyjamas and a fire - what a cosy little Hugo.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Easter Wreaths.

This is what I have been pottering away on for the past few days. My friend Shar has a beautiful shop and wants me to make Easter wreaths for it... I said okay... and once again did those little secret jumps that pop out right when I am trying to act cool.

Tonight is our first really cold night. I can't wait to snuggle up on the couch with a blanket, hot water bottle, hook, yarn and dare I say, really good t.v.

Lots of love, Kate xxooxx.

A Crochet Easter Egg Tutorial (how's that for a snappy title...)

So, here we go. Ingredients.... 3.5mm hook 8ply wool (this is what I used but any size hook and yarn will do). Stuffing. N.B. Rounds are worked in continuous spirals. Abbreviations can be found here.

Ch 2 then 6sc into 2nd ch from hook. Ss into first st. (6)

Round 1. 2sc into each st until end of round. (12)

Round 2. 1sc into every st until end of round (12) Round 3. *1sc

into first st then 2sc into following st. Repeat from * until end of round. (18)

Round 4. 1sc into every st until end of round. (18)

Round 5. *1sc into each of the following 2 sts then 2sc into the next st. Repeat from* until end of round. (24)

Round 6. 1sc into every st until end of round. (24)

Round 7. *1sc into each of the following 3 sts then 2sc into the next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. (30)

Rounds 8-9. 1sc into every st until end of round (30)

Round 10. *1sc into each of the following 4 sts then skip a st. Repeat from * until the end of round. (24)

Round 11. 1 sc into every st until end of round. (24)

Round 12. *1sc into each of the following 3 sts then skip a st. Repeat from * until the end of round. (18)

Round 13. *1sc into each of the following 2sts then skip a st. Repeat from * until end of round. (12) Stuff firmly.

Round 14. *1sc into the following st then skip st. Repeat from * until the hole is small enough to finish off.

Give your egg a little squish and a roll and then you are done. Have fun - I can't wait to see some stripy ones out there and maybe even crazy ones with eyes and ears.... you could even take the ears from the Flora Rabbit pattern.

Good luck!!! Lots of love, Kate xxooxx.

Eggs!

They are eggs, I still have to tuck in a few tails... an important job as I just realised they look a bit like swimming things (if you get my drift).

A friend asked me to crochet her some Easter eggs in pale pastels. At the time I was very retrained in my excitement and the as soon as I was in private, I went crazy over the thought of woollen eggs in egg cartons. Over the past day I have brought them everywhere with me, asking friends and family if they would like an egg and then whipping the lid back from the carton. I don't know if I will ever tire of it. The kids at the bus stop were very relieved when they saw the crocheted version as I think they were a bit worried I was going to make them eat raw eggs. The pattern for them is ridiculously easy so I will post it soon.

Have a lovely day/night - I am going to snuggle up on the big blue couch and make more... eggs.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.