Just before Christmas, I popped into Wilko to get some bits and pieces for the kitchen. On my way to the checkout, I noticed they were selling yarn. I didn’t need any, but it was cheap, and it was Christmas, and it looked pretty, so I bought a ball. My original plan was to use it to crochet some gift tags, but I ran out of time, so it ended up going in with the rest of my stash. Continue reading
These pretty eggs were quick to make. I bought some small polystyrene eggs from Hobbycraft and then raided my stash of Stylecraft yarn – I love this combination of colours. I made the egg covers up as I went along, taking inspiration from amigurumi, granny square and mandala patterns.
I also made a basket for them, giving it a bit of structure by crocheting the last row over some wire.
I hope that you have a very nice Easter weekend and that you get time to do lots of crafting.
Last year I made some Easter chick egg covers for Francis House Children’s Hospice, who sell them on with chocolate eggs inside. I sadly had to buy some creme eggs to test them, to make sure they were the right size and that the eggs wouldn’t fall out when they were lifted. Needs must.
I’m not sure they actually look like chicks. They look like they’ve got a bit of attitude.
Punky chicks!
This sad-looking little fellow is one of my recent makes. The yarn was a bargain buy from Flying Tiger. I think it only cost a pound, so I didn’t expect much from it, but it was probably the best yarn that I’ve ever worked with for this type of project.
I used Google to translate the pattern from Danish. I then did a little bit of detective work to correct Google’s translation, which had mysteriously included some strange instructions. Once this was sorted out, it was a lovely pattern to follow. My little elephant is just 8cm tall, but if you fancy making a larger one, there’s a pattern for that.
I love King Cole Riot Chunky yarn, it comes in such a lovely range of colours. I bought some of the moors shade ages ago and I’ve been looking lovingly at it all this time, not exactly sure what I’d make with it. I have a gazillion scarves and hats that I’ve either knitted or crocheted, and I don’t really wear hats anyway. Continue reading
I wasn’t sure if I’d manage to get to the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show because of the snow we’ve had this week but, despite the media’s non-stop scaremongering, I got there without any problems. Continue reading
I actually finished making this blanket in the summer, but it didn’t seem quite right to blog about it while the weather was warm! Continue reading
I love it when my hobbies come together. As well as crafting, I’ve been researching my family history for about 15 years. I’ve managed to add over 800 people to my family tree, going back as far as the 1640s on one branch.
Have you spotted any green hearts this Valentine’s Day?
Over the last few years, hundreds of people have been making and sharing green hearts to raise awareness and begin conversations about the impact that climate change is having on all the things we love. Continue reading
I’ve found my first charity project of the year. Volunteers have been asked to help make 10,000 woolly hearts to raise funds for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.
In exchange for a donation, the hearts will be available for visitors at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival to place on trees around the ‘Work of Heart’ garden.
The garden is the creation of Clare Young, whose husband was cared for at the hospice. Last year, Clare, along with an army of knitters, surprised staff and visitors by yarn bombing the hospice grounds.
This led to her being invited to create a full-size knitted garden for the festival, which will feature thousands of knitted and crocheted creations.
If you would like to be involved, there are free crochet and knitting patterns available to download from the Work of Heart Garden website. Hearts need to be submitted by 7 May 2018.
The crochet pattern is a really quick and easy one and each heart took me about five minutes to complete.
I really hope that Clare and her team smash the £50,000 target set for this appeal.
