Crochet

A Gingerbread House…for a mouse

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The past few weeks have been busy work weeks, long days and full of the traditional plate spinning. The crochet making has been very much at the end of the day. A couple of rows here and there.

But…but…I have had a yearning for a new (old) idea. A little gingerbread house. A gingerbread house just right for a mouse. These are the sort of projects that help me drift off to sleep in the night. What kind of base shall I use ? A plastic…no…I have loads of cardboard. What yarn shall I use? Cotton? No… The correct answer was staring at me. It had to be Stylecraft Special DK in Gingerbread. Sometimes I wonder what my yarn shop must think of me. I go in and buy a ball of brown, cream and pink…what on earth are you making!

When I began designing for the Houseplants book I strode to the till of Black Sheep Wools with 17 balls of green. All different. They know now not to bat an eyelid.

‘What are you making now Emma?’

‘Oh a book of Houseplants’.

‘Of course you are…. (an eye brow is raised by the customer behind…overheard at the yarn shop).

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So when I return home with my random balls of wool, I begin to stitch as soon as I can. I had already worked out the size of the house panels. Years ago, 2015 to be exact, I designed a little dolls house for the fabulous Inside Crochet Magazine. I loved this house. The original was given to a little girl who I adore and she had many hours of fun play with it. I haven’t made a second since. But I have always known I would improve it. Coincidently it is one of my most pinned images on Pinterest. That has always put a bookmark in my mind that I should return to it.

I finished my gingerbread house yesterday and had fun decorating it with some surface slip stitch and some buttons. This Christmas I see that huge bows are making a come-back to I thought it would be fun to make a huge bow for this little door.

At this stage I haven’t finished the interior. I will do that hopefully this week. But me being me….I have made a little inhabitant. Peep-bo…

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So there you go, midnight imaginings of a crocheter. Old ideas revisited to create new seasonal decorations. The little girl is still inside the head of this much older crafter.

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Autumnal Grace

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Is there a phrase for crafters who have finished a project and they can’t wait to wear it or use it? A WIP fashion-dash? A quick knit flit? Crochet crush race? I don’t know but if there is one will you tell me?

In the past few weeks I have been finishing off old projects and started dwelling on new ones. Let’s start with the finishing. When I got my sticky mitts on the new aran mohair from Stylecraft ‘Grace’, I knew I just had to make something. The colours are scrumptious. Soft but with a depth that creates brilliant combinations. My order arrived in the late Spring and other projects and quite frankly higher temperatures persuaded me not to start my project.

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I even began to noodle around with ideas at the end of August, but the humidity was still a little high for mohair making. Honestly this yarn is so beautiful, but it is very suited to cooler weathers. The patterns for the yarn are incredibly tempting and very very ‘NOW’ in terms of what is currently on the high street.

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I have opted to make a scarf which I know will be great for the Autumn and goes nicely with my blush pink coat.

I will now infuriate the crocheters by saying the dreaded words….’I just went with the flow, and made up the pattern as I went along.’ Sorry – but sometimes I don’t want to rigour of pattern writing and just want to stitch. But the idea is based on the ‘Zesty Scarf’ which I designed for Inside Crochet Magazine Issue 121 in 2019 and this pattern would work for this yarn.

I have chosen the colours: Oyster, Petals, Hibiscus, Hip, Long Grass and Storm. I have just one ball of each and there was loads left over and I have used the rest to knit a few cute beanie hats for friends.

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If you are worried about shedding with this scarf (fibres coming off onto other clothes) I haven’t noticed much at all and I have worn it this week many times into the office. There is nothing nicer than finishing a piece of clothing, realising that it doesn’t disappoint and then wearing it almost immediately. That my friends is the adrenalin rush of craft – the WIP Fashion Dash – if you will.

So I have a couple of other projects on the hook. My ‘Croknit’ blanket, which I am just joining together. It’s an evening comfort project. You know, snuggled under the squares in front of the telly. Then I have a yearning to make another teddy. A new size and pattern, just in time for the festive season. If I am going to get this ready for you I had better hurry up. But I will concentrate on this one in the next week. I really am enjoying chatting on Instagram and Facebook with followers about names and colour choices. The best ideas come from you. So while the bear in nearly finished, I need to make a mini cardigan and a bobble hat. Hopefully he will be a fun addition to the festive makes.

So there you go a bit of an up date. My new book launched this week on Create and Craft TV and you can get signed copies there – and in my next post I promise I will give you a bit of an update. Have a lovely week!

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The Stargazer Blanket

There are some projects that you know will be very special even before you start them. This blanket belongs in that category.

I have always loved patchwork quilts and I was browsing some beautiful designs on Pinterest and thought, ‘If only I had more time to sew and make a beautiful traditional quilt’. I am realistic – this is never going to happen. But then it occurred to me that I can create a similar effect in crochet. For me, this is a much faster goal.

I definitely chose a joyful colour palette to be cheery. I love using Stylecraft Bellissima and Bambino (its the same yarn). The yarn has a lovely soft quality and the hues are clear but slightly muted. As I played around with the colour I adapted my design. As you can see from one of the earlier images, I mixed up the colours. But then I felt it would be lovely to create a muted rainbow… and the more I played, the more I enjoyed the combination.

Honestly this was just going to be a ‘me’ project. No plan for at written up pattern, just crochet for the love of crochet. But I was so encouraged by how so many of you messaged me with your love for the pattern.

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I have made a large ‘kingsize’ square. It has 9 stars. I have designed 2 motifs – one way of combining the colours is used 5 times and the other motif is used 4 times. I think it would be easy to make a lovely baby blanket just using one star – or a lap blanket using 4. I have given the yarn quantities in the pattern for all three sizes.

I have written the pattern in UK crochet terms and there is a colour diagram showing how the colour squares fit together for both motifs. There is also a stitch diagram for the solid square and for the half and half square. This diagram shows you how to work the stitches up to row 3, it gives you the idea of the pattern. But each square has 5 rows. The photographs provide a suggestion of how you can fit the stars together. But don’t feel restrained by my design, place each star on the floor and see how you like them to fit together. For the edging I used a very simple double crochet stripe. When the blanket is this colourful. You don’t need to have a fussy border.

My top tips for making this blanket are:

  • Have fun and enjoy making it.
  • Make up enough squares to make a star, then block those squares so they are nice and neat. I would sew or crochet those square together so you have the wonderful sense of the blanket growing.
  • You might find you solid squares are much looser than your half and half squares. If this is the case, try working your solid squares in a small hook – perhaps a 3.25mm or a 3mm.
  • Make sure you are economical with your tails. A large blanket uses a lot of yarn. I make sure I fasten off my yarn with enough to weave in the ends 3 times. But I am economical with my yarn
  • I have enjoyed used this yarn – but if you have yarn in your stash please use my design as a guide and whittle down your yarn collection

For me this design flew off my hook. I began it in June and finished it in mid-August. But right from the beginning I knew it would be a perfect Autumn project. As the blanket grows you can snuggle under it with your hook and yarn in hand.

If you make up this blanket (big or small) I would love to see how you get on. It is such a brilliant feeling to see us all working together to create something special. Finally, thank you for your encouragement and enthusiasm. It makes the world of difference and motivates me to keep on making.

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Late summer making

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I am not sure if this is true for you, but the season seems to have sped up. The very hot weather has made plants and trees believe it is early autumn. Blackberries and plums appear to have ripened almost a month ahead of time. I’ve had a few days off this week and have used the time to do bit of experimentation with autumnal crochet and to enjoy one of the my favourite activities…jam making.

Some friends of mine have a beautiful old plum tree in the garden and kindly offered me their crop to make some jam. Usually at this time I make raspberry jam, but having some fresh fruit straight from the tree couldn’t be missed. All the better because I could spend some time preparing the fruit and standing over the pan. Making any kind of marmalade or jam is a bit like alchemy. You are creating a preserved pot of captured flavour. But I can never guarantee how it will end up. The acidity of the fruit, the colour, the depth of flavour… or the distractions of the door bell…taking my eye off the boil. These are all factors that change the end result.

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In all of the preserving books they suggest that for plum jam, you take a nut-cracker and open up the plum stone to release the kernel inside. This is about the size of a pine nut. You then cover about 2-3 of these in some boiling water and leave them for a couple of minutes. After a while you remove the outer skin. These pure white nuts are then added to the boiling jam. I had never appreciated that they smell exactly like almonds. A beautiful strong smell of marzipan. Incredible.

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On the hook, I have been inspired by the soft tones of the flowers in our garden pots. I have some balls of Stylecraft Grace which I have been playing about with. This is a mohair aran yarn. It has beautiful subtle tones and I know it will make a lovely scarf for late autumn. I have begun my making… but on hotter days this project is set aside for other less sticky pursuits.

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In the midst of pattern writing and checking of the Stargazer blanket, I have two new ideas of blankets in my mind. One has knitted squares another is new crochet patchwork pattern. My mind flicks between the two.

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So there you go at least 3 projects on the go and other pattern checking and preparing for pattern releases in the Autumn. I wonder if this is my favourite part of the yarn year. We seem to be on the cusp of the next season and my mind turns to cosy plans. What have you got on your hook or needle? Has the next season begun for you too?

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Stargazing – getting yarn ready

I love it when I really enjoy a project so much that I almost don’t want to finish it. Last year I made two blankets that I totally adored. The Soft Summer Blanket and my Hexagon Blanket. They were slow makes that were a joy. This year I saw a patchwork quilt colour scheme and thought; ‘Wouldn’t that be beautiful in crochet?’.

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I love patchwork so much, it has such a nostalgic place in my heart. But I cannot stretch time enough to properly work on sewing quilts. When I see an attractive patchwork pattern I wonder if it would work as a crochet blanket. For me it is a much faster make.

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I’m a big fan of Stylecraft’s Bellissima and Bambino yarn. I love the softness of the yarn and the tones worked well for the design. For the large blanket you only use 1 ball of each of the colours for the star motif. It is the background cream which you need to adjust for different sizes.

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By my calculations you could make a very sweet baby blanket with just one star in the centre – approximately 60cm x 60cm (24in x 24 in) square. A very useful lap blanket could be made using four motifs – 115cm x 115cm (45in x 45in). I have made a larger blanket with nicely covers two thirds of a kingsize bed which is approximately 165cm x 165cm (65in x 65in).

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I have drafted the pattern and will be asking my gorgeous tech-editing friend to help me spot all the mistakes, typos and where my ramblings don’t make sense. I plan then to release the pattern for a introductory small amount to cover the costs and those of you who want to can start your making. Many veteran crocheters will probably be able to make the pattern up themselves.

So if you are planning to make a Stargazer blanket – here are the yarn quantities:

For the Large Blanket – Stylecraft Bellissima DK – 7 x  100g ball: Single Cream 3921 (A)

1 x 100g of the following: Rio Red 3932 (B), Papaya Punch 3977 (C), Mellow Yellow 3925 (D), Sugar Snap 3926 (E), Denim Dungarees 7219 (F) Orchid Haze 7217 (G)

Stylecraft Bambino DK – 1 x 100g of the following Soft Pink 7113 (H) Little Boy Blue 7118 (I)

For a Baby Blanket you will only need 1 x 100g of yarn A and all the contrasting colours.

For a Lap Blanket you will need 4 x 100g of yarn A and 1 x 100g balls of each of the contrasting colours.

Honestly I think this blanket is going to be a huge favourite in our house and I know Stanley has already adopted it. The colours are bright and cheerful and it will bring cosy comfort in the Autumn and Winter. If you are thinking of making it I would love to hear. My plan would be to do a few short videos on how the work a half square and attach the second colour. I also want to show you how to sew squares together using mattress stitch.

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Please do subscribe to my newsletter as I will post news of the pattern to my followers first. I do hope you have a lovely weekend. Here’s to planning new crochet adventures.

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The confessions of a fly-by-night

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If I was a very clever crafter, I would concentrate on just one thing. You would say – Emma Varnam – the crochet toy designer… or Emma – she designs lovely blankets…or Emma – she is the creator of crochet cacti. That would be my focus and it would make such brand sense. It would make better business sense.

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But that isn’t what floats my boat. As a creative i enjoy dabbling in a range of crafting activity. Don’t get me wrong the crochet is always with me, but in the last month I have paddled in quite a few creative pursuits.

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The garden as you know is a place that I love to be in. This year I have concentrated on growing more flowers to cut and have in our house. It has been great that I have drastically cut the number of cut flowers I buy. Most of the flowers we now have indoors come from the garden. I have also been able to grow plants that it is not easy to buy from the shops. We had a really really hot time a few weeks ago. Some of our plants look very crispy and they have suffered. Since then (even within the same week) the North West of England got quite bit of rain. I now have quite lush looking foliage and so few flowers. I keep going outside to will them on. But I am worried now that my dahlias and sweetpeas have suffered too much.

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We have also had our main summer week away. I did take some crochet with me, but can you believe it was almost too hot to stitch! Outrageous. During the first lock-down I kept a little painting diary and decided it would be fun to take the paints away on our summer holiday.

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Painting 3 or 4 sketches each day became my daily routine and I loved getting back to this fun. I’ll try and share a few more images with you, but I feel I need to finish off my little painting diary.

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The Stargazer blanket is my current private ‘work-in-progress’. Thank you if you have enjoyed seeing it develop and once it is finished I am going to try and write up the pattern for you. I do need to finish it first as it will give me an idea of yarn quantities. If I could stretch time I would find a little space to make sewn quilts. I simply adore patchwork and it holds such a nostalgic place in my heart. I know I don’t have the sewing time, but the patterns and colour combinations do have a great influence on my blanket making.

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All in the background is the ‘design-work’. The projects I am working on to bring you either a new design in my shop or a new book. I have just finished the first part of my next book, and at the same time I have received my very first copy of my new book; Crocheted Houseplants. I could never have guessed that so many of you have enjoyed making cacti and succulents from my first book. It is crazy to imagine. But as lots of us have found a new love of real houseplants in our life, it is also fun to recreate their beauty in yarn. In the next month I shall share more of the patterns with you. But for now, here is the front cover. I do hope you like it.

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Now I am off back out into the garden and I am going to feed my pots to see if I can stimulate them into flower for August. Have a lovely week – Emma

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The new campervan – lets go for an adventure!

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My campervan pattern which I first shared on the blog perhaps nearly a decade ago is perhaps my most popular pattern. That is hard to believe if you are a fan of crocheted cacti or succulents – or if you are a maker of my cuddly toys. But across the world people who have always wanted to own the best symbol of adventure and escape have enjoyed making a crocheted version

The first one I ever made was a gift for a friend. I often find my best ideas come from that place. Imagining a great of fun gift. Inside Crochet Magazine published the first version of the pattern and then a few years later I revisited the pattern. I think it has been reprinted maybe 2 or 3 times.

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The latest version is slightly different from my first creations. How so? Well the first and second editions used grey felt for the windows. I really enjoy working in mix-media and using felt or fabric in my designs. But some crocheters find sewing a bit daunting and they asked me to integrate crochet windows into the pattern. Secondly I did use HUGE buttons for the wheels. I think they looked super cute but some people found them difficult to get hold of. So the new version has a crocheted wheels and hub-caps.

You will be pleased to know that the new pattern doesn’t only have the written instructions for the colour changes. It also contains a stitch schematic which has the colours shown in a simple colour graph. So simple to follow. If you want to download this pattern it is available in my shop here.

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My top tip would be to add a bag of lentils or rice to the base of the campervan if you intend to use it as a doorstop. But the design would also make a really fun cuddly toy for the campervan enthusiast. As usual please do share if you have made your own version. I love to see them.

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Forget-me-not top and Me-made May

It has been a while now since I made some clothes for me. When I say this – what I really mean is finishing clothes that I started knitting. Back in February you might remember I wrote a blog post about two cardigans I was making. One that was a complicated pink fairisle which was actually not that difficult, but requires concentration. Another a pretty blue cardigan, which is actually not that difficult – but I couldn’t get my head round the German short row shaping for the sleeve.

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Well after many commissions and secret designing I have finally come back to my cardigan. I have used the Aileas pattern by Isabell Kraemer. It is very very popular and if you search for it on Ravelry you will find lots of pretty version. Because I was unsure of how it would work out I chose to make my first version in an inexpensive yarn – I bought King Cole Subtle Drifter in Ice Blue. It’s got a nice cotton-ish finish with a little bit of a slub texture.

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When I bought it I was thinking about cold weather. There is something quite festive about the soft pastel shades in the dark days of winter. But it has taken me so long to finish – that it will be a good transitional piece for Spring.

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My good friend Christine from the Winwick Mum blog put me onto a great short row shaping tutorial and I was able to finish off the project. I love the ‘fake’ cable detail. Especially under the arm. Honestly I think I would make one size up if I made it again. I am not sure if this yarn will pill – so we will see. If I make a second, I will invest in a slightly more expensive yarn. But then I should really finish the pretty pink fairisle cardigan I began last year before I embark on another project.

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I thought I would also share a little crochet cotton tank that I have made for summer. When it was really hot in April I was inspired to make this little T-shirt that would go over a vest top. It didn’t take long to make and I know it will go with quite a few skirts and shorts in the summer. It will either look quite cool and be very useful, or look very frumpy and I won’t wear it that much. We will see. By the way…crocheting summer clothes is so much faster than knitting. But then you will want your cotton crochet to be light and lacy.

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When I finished the top it go me thinking…could I make it into a lovely beach dress? Something to throw over a swimming costume? Yes probably. So this is the project currently on the hook. I am making it in black…which is not very photogenic, but when I finished it I will share a photo. My plan is to add colourful embroidery to each square, that will make it look very tropical and summery.

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I really enjoy making my own clothes. Always these days knitted or crocheted. But I don’t have the hutzpah to make for anyone else. Today is a little bit chilly in Britain and when I go out this morning I think I will wear my new cardi. We will see how it feels. I would be fascinated to know if you crochet items of clothing for yourself in the summer? Or do you keep your garment making just to shawls and scarves?

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Lovely Jubbly Cakes

When my friends at Stylecraft had an idea of running a celebration for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – a virtual Garden Party – I knew immediately what I was going to make. It had to be crochet cake! I am so delighted that all my blogging friends are collaborating together to create a festival of garden party patterns.

Amigurumi cakes were some of the very first things I made when I first learnt to crochet. The first things I made were granny squares, I then tried to get lines of double crochet straight. Not that easy. Then, very quickly the whimsical and fun makes drew me in and I began crocheting in the round. I still am.

In the early days our son, Little B…(not so little now) enjoyed playing with the creations I made. Pretend food, little monsters and of course small cuddly penguins. With those days gone I still enjoy making pretty cakes and biscuits to play with or as a table decoration.

There are two types of cupcake – a chocolate and lemon. Each can be removed from their cup-cake case. The chocolate cake has piped frosting and a strawberry decoration. The lemon drizzle cake also uses a creamy frosting and a slice of lemon.

In true British afternoon tea style I have made a few fondant fancies – these are so much fun and you will have enough yarn to make lemon, strawberry and chocolate.

Finally I have made my own Jammy biscuit – all of the delight, none of the calories. They are so easy to make and I think it might be fun to disguise a couple of these in amongst your other biscuits. All three patterns can be used as a base to make other flavours and add on your favourite toppings. Why not add beads for sprinkles or even a little bit of glitter.

The yarn I have used is Stylecraft Naturals Organic Cotton DK in: Coffee Bearn, Wood, Flax, Gypsum, Poppy, Leaf, Buttermilk, Bone and Blush. This pattern will be available to download for FREE until the end of May from my SHOP.

One lucky Stylecraft fan and their friend has the chance to win the yarn to make this project. Checkout the link to Stylecrafts Instagram account here to find out more. 

All the patterns for the Blogstars Garden Party are so pretty and there so many decorative projects you can choose from. The patterns are available throughout May and I am delighted that the next pattern is out on 20th May by my friend Helen Kurtz – you can check out her blog post here

if you do make some lovely cakes or biscuits I would love to see them and do tag me in either on Instagram or the Facebook page and I will share your beautiful makes x

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Hop into Spring

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It must have be a certain Mr Peter Rabbit that captured my imagination as a child…but for as long as I can remember a bunny or rabbit is one of my favourite animals to draw, paint and more recently make as a toy.

I was thinking only this week, ‘how many bunny patterns have I made?’. Lots and lots and all different forms and sizes. Of course when the calendar swings round towards Easter then my making focuses on bunnies again.

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I thought perhaps if you were looking for a little Egg Hunt companion I would collect some of my patterns together in one post. First up is my downloadable PDF – Bobby Bunny. This is available in my shop and I have a few kits still in stock if you want me to send you all the equipment you need. I made a cute little jacket for this one and he makes a rather neat little Peter.

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You might also want to look at a lovely little pattern I designed for my friend Debbie Bliss. One of the highlights of last year was creating this little matching bunny and outfit combo. I love the long legs of these bunnies and who doesn’t want a smart pea-coat for their best long eared friend. The downloadable PDF is available on the Love Knitting website and you will be able to purchase the yarn directly from them. I always love using Debbie’s yarns it is such a pleasure to work with the classic Baby Cashmerino.

If you are looking for a larger bunny then Ruby Rabbit in my book Cute Crocheted Woodland Animals is a very cute friend. Very sweet in her dungarees, you can also make any of the other clothes in the book and they will fit her. The very tiny bunny who is a little cuddly friend for Benji Bear also features in this book.

Jack Rabbit and his friend Emily from my first Cute Crocheted Animals book will always be a classic – I love seeing so many of these bunnies across the world, all wearing their gorgeous outfits. The very best photos are ones where a bunny is firmly pinned under the arm of their young owner…off on an adventure.

But then if you are new to crochet I have two projects which will help you get started in working in the round. They also make great gifts for the Easter Table. The little bunny in my book How to Crochet is one of my go-to beginners projects for amigurumi. Really easy to make and also popular with little hands.

Finally the very first book I wrote was Crocheted Keyrings and Charms – I have been revisiting it recently and it has some cracking patterns in there. They not only make great charms for a hand bag but also little table decorations or party gifts. There is a cute bunny pattern in that book. I return to it every once in a while to use for a gift. I have a few signed copies still available in the shop.

Finally do tell me if you have a bunny or spring pattern idea you would like me to develop. As the bulbs start pushing through in the garden and the sun comes out – then the creative ideas start flowing. Its always a good time to get making.

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