Little Cotton Rabbits

half term hols

I'm yours!

I often think about how incredibly lucky I am to be able to knit and to make a little money from it too, which means that I can do it each and every day. It's really not exagerating to say that making the toys helps keep me sane. If you live with a special needs child you'll know how little time you get to yourself and how hard it can be at times to keep positive. That's why I was so pleased to be involved in Yours magazine's article about the positive benefits of knitting. It talks a little about me and how knitting helps me cope with Toby and about another lady who has found that knitting helps alieviate her fibromyalgia pain. It also talks of Betsan Corkill and her wonderful work in promoting knitting as therapy - she has a website full of information. If you get a chance, pick up a copy - Yours magazine, issue 48 (oct 21st-Nov 3rd) page 36.

I'm chuffed to have been featured and it would be nice to think that my story might encourage someone else with stressful circumstances to take up knitting and find a bit of peace and relaxation. It's also nice to lay claim to being between the sheets with 007 Daniel Craig, though admittedly they're sheets of paper as opposed to the slippery satin kind and he is 16 pages away from me, but let's face it - that's the closest I'm going to get!

Me time

Once, long, long ago in what seems like a different lifetime I used to go out lots. Lunches, meals, drinks, trips to cinemas, galleries and extended shopping trips - the world was my oyster whenever I fancied it. But these days, what with balancing the various needs of my family, going anywhere without a nappy bag is rare occurance. Which is why I had such a nice time last friday. Off I set on a trip into the countryside with the colours of autumn whizzing past the car windows and singing at the top of my voice (because the sun was shining and Amy wasn't in the car to tell me off). First I stopped off at Jolie for a browse among beautiful things and to stock up on some knitting supplies (it's the best stocked wool shop for miles and miles!) and bought some lovely things courtesy of Mary who had sent me a voucher (thanks so much Mary). After much deliberation I chose some kidsilk haze for a simple scarf and an irresistible new mug for tea.

Then it was off to Westmill and the sweetest little tearoom with tablecloths, proper pots of tea and homemade cake and as if that wasn't enough I was meeting a special person too. Well two special people actually - Dotty Cookie and her daughter Tiny Small. We had a lovely elevensies together followed by a wander around the pretty village and the ancient church.

To top it all off there were pressies too: the tiniest pair of rabbit sized knitting needles with a project ready on the go (there's even a perfect weenie ball of wool on the end) and also a me-sized set of beautiful stitch markers.

It was lovely to meet you Val, thanks for taking the time to drive down and for the very cute pressie!

Winners

Sorry about the delay in choosing the 5 winners of the cupcake patterns. I had planned to do it yesterday but the day was scuppered when Amy got knocked out in a rather exuberant game of tag at school and had to come home! She's fine now, just a small bump on the head and a graze on her knee and she's enjoying the concern of her classmates!

So with Amy all better and back at school and a cup of tea next to me here I'm free to do the draw. The random number thingy came up with the following 5: Melanie, Judy Jones,Sheila Swanson, Grace & Lisa

I'm off to email the patterns to you right now. But before I go I wanted to thank everyone for entering and for all of the kind and lovely comments and also many thanks to everyone who has bought a copy of the pattern - I hope you all really enjoy using it.

cake pattern

It's been a long time coming but at last I have written up my original knitted cupcake pattern. So many people have asked me about this over the last 4 years and I'm making less and less of them in favour of more animals (which are my favourite thing to make) so it seemed about time to share it.

I've written it up in pdf format with full instructions backed up by detailed photos to help illustrate the trickier parts. It's suitable for intermediate knitting skills and is knitted flat in a couple of pieces so there is some seaming (not to everyone's taste I know but in my humble opinion it gives the best finish - especially on the base).

I want to say a big, big thank you to Dotty Cookie, Rosemary and Faye who have all helped me test this out and tweak it into an easy to follow format.The pdf pattern is available to buy now on Etsy and I will try to keep them in stock though I have no idea what the demand will be like!

Anyway, to say a little thank you to those who visit here I thought I'd giveaway 5 copies of the pattern. To be in with a chance of winning a copy just leave a comment below and I'll have a random drawing on Wednesday. I'm also making up a batch of cakes to sell so if you're not a knitter and you'd like one they should be finished soon.

Sorry, comments are now closed for the competition.

winter woollies

Phew! After the illnesses of the last few weeks all has returned to normal here at our house and so I'm enjoying some quiet knitting time in the autumn sun. As usual at this time of year my thoughts have turned to Christmas and I'm busy working on a seasonal batch of toys with nordic jumpers like last year. I have set myself the difficult task of keeping them all different both from eachother and from the ones I've made before so I'm having fun playing around with combinations of various nordic designs and cables.

I've also been wearing my new wristwarmers on the walk to school each morning - it's getting a bit nippy first thing!

They're so easy to make as there's no shaping at all and they're comfy and warm to wear - a bit like having very long sleeves that you can pull down to your knuckles. Here's a quick pattern:

The Baby Cashmerino yarn that I used is 125m long and this was just enough (with around 2m spare) for the 2 wristwarmers so use any DK yarn but check the yardage.

using 3mm / 11UK  / 2-3US needles and any DK weight yarn cast on 54 stitches.

work 10 rows of K2, P2 ribbing (i.e K2, P2 on right side, P2, K2 on reverse)
Row 11 start the double moss stitch:
K2, P1, K1 to end
P1, K1 to last 2 stitches, P2
K1, P1 to last 2 stitches, K2
P2, K1, P1 to end
repeat these 4 rows 11 more times (giving a total of 48 rows of double moss pattern)
next row: K2, P2 to last 2 stitches K2
continue in ribbing for another 8 rows and then cast off.

Sew up the side seam with mattress stitch (which is virtually invisible) and pop them on!

Happy knitting and happy weekend!

Unfortunately...

... I was wrong and Toby hadn't had this particular bug before. He got sick in the early hours of friday morning!

Fortunately it seems to have been a 24hr virus so he's all better now, as is Amy and (touch wood) H and I have stayed bug-free!

Unfortunately Toby being sick so soon after Amy added rather alarmingly to my already substantial laundry pile

Fortunately friday was windy and sunny - perfect washing weather

Unfortunately Amy had got very upset that her party might have to be postponed because Toby wasn't well.

Fortunately with Toby well again Daddy was able to take him away for the night and the party was able to go ahead as planned.

and 7 little girls had a rather funky and manic time!

So, all's well that ends well and Amy has had a lovely birthday weekend. Thanks so much for all of your good wishes!

PS: Even my wrist warmers turned out well (with just enough wool).

tummy bug

Amy is 9 shortly and is so excited about her disco that we have planned for Saturday. Though it's a bit touch and go whether we'll be able to go ahead with it, as this has been the scene at our house today.

A poorly girl with a tummy bug and a tired mummy alternating between sprinting around with a bucket, ploughing through a rather large (and still growing) laundry pile and (in the calmer moments) a little wristwarmer knitting.

I have everything crossed in the hope that she's better for the weekend, that the rest of us don't get it (thankfully Toby already had it last week) and that I have enough wool to finish these!