Little Cotton Rabbits

an explanation for the mysterious lack of toys!

Thanks so much for the lovely comments on the previous post. The 'Holland' piece has obviously been a source of comfort for a lot of people - I'm certainly very glad it was written. Thanks too for sticking around while I was 'off blog'. I'm up to date with my paperwork now, which is a nice feeling, however fleeting!! I even managed to squeeze in some knitting time -  not toys but a pair of Eunny Jang's wonderful Endpaper mittens.

Taking this break from knitting toys has given me a bit of breathing space to consider where it has all evolved to. For the last year I've been going at the toy knitting like there's no tomorrow, but of course there is and this knitting pace is not sustainable if I want to continue to enjoy what I'm doing. For me, that is the one true aim - making the toys is my 'thing' and definitely an antidote to raising a severely autistic child.

Since starting this blog I've had so many lovely comments about the things I make, all of which I deeply appreciate and treasure and I guess I felt that I owe you all an explanation and an apology for the current lack of toys. So I'm sorry that there will be no Little Cotton Rabbits for Easter this year. Instead I'm building up a stock which will mean that there will always be a slow and steady trickle going into my shop even if I have a knitting break now and then.

I've also been pondering my patterns again but I'm not ready to release any yet so I've put a new link to some toy patterns from other designers - including Ysolda Teague who designs toys with the most beautiful shaping and Fuzzy Mitten who has a great range of different creatures. See the list below on the left (I'll add more in future).

It's not all bad news from here though - Edgar and his friends are waiting in their box (in fact they keep trying to break out!) and will pop into the shop in early April and I'll aim to have a new batch every 4 - 6 weeks following that (barring school holidays of course!).

Also this is my 199th post and so in keeping with tradition I'm having a giveaway in the next post - a chance for someone to win a Little Cotton Rabbit of their choice. To enter the draw please pop back and leave a comment on the next post.

mouse!

"I saw a mouse,
Where?
There on the stair
Where on the stair?
Right there.
A little mouse with clogs on
Well, I declare
Going clip, clippity clop on the stair..."

Ok, so he doesn't have clogs on and he is only a prototype, but you get the idea!

Lyrics from 'A Windmill in Old Amsterdam' by Ronnie Hilton, 1965 which is one of my favourite childhood songs along with Mungo Jerry's 'Pushbike song' and Flanders & Swann's Hippopotamus Song "mud, mud, glorious mud..." Ah, memories!!

This season's colours...

Colour is such an important influence on mood and since this winter has been pretty dull and there's not much colour out in the garden just yet I thought I'd gather up some of the yarn I'm currently knitting in and stick it in my lovely new basket from Snapdragon (they have some gorgeous things and Jane has a lovely blog). Although it's making me feel cheery, H is not all that impressed with my spring yarn display - he says it makes the living room look like a wool shop - yep, good isn't it?! Sadly for him he remains unseduced by appeal of yarn and doesn't understand that you can never have too much of it!

I hope there's some sunshine in your weekend!

I'm so excited!!

I've always thought of myself as good at keeping secrets but there is something I've been sitting on since the end of last year and I can't keep it a secret any longer or I'm going to burst!

Since starting this blog I've been overwhelmed at the response to my little knitted toys and I'm completely thrilled that they are popular because it means that I can continue doing what I love and what soothes my soul rather than going back to work in an office (which did not soothe my soul one iota!) Anyway, shall I get to the point?

Little cotton rabbits are becoming stamps!! The talented team at Sugar Nellie are in the process of creating a set and you can get a sneaky preview here of Dexter and Winifred.

Sugar Nellie's blog will keep you up to date on the range (and their other exclusive stamps) and hopefully a little later this month they'll be available to buy.

It's very exciting to think of the little cotton rabbits popping up on cards and scrapbooks - I can't wait to see what people create with them!

E is for...

...Edgar

who is feeling a little shy because he's the new kid in town. The little cotton rabbits are all friendly though, and I know you are too so I'm sure he'll be fine!