April's craft: Knitting

Just managed to squeeze in my new craft for this month - only just though!

This little knitted heart is the first thing I've knitted for over 15 years! I taught myself to knit as a teenager and could do the basic stitches as well as a little shaping, but apart from making a couple of teddy bears I never got around to doing much with my new skill... then I started to crochet and that just took over!

I've been meaning to pick up my needles again for a while though and after figuring out how to cast on (such a fiddly thing to do - reminds me so much of playing cat's cradle) it all came back pretty easily. Making this heart took a good couple of hours though and left me with very sore and crampy hands, so I'm not sure if I'll be doing any more knitting any time soon!

April's decoration: Teddy baubles

These little bears look so cute all wrapped up in their warm winter scarves. They are pretty simple to make - being a basic ball shape with a few extra details added and then their snuggly scarves glued on at the end.

They are from yet another free pattern, this one being available through the wonderful All About Ami blog. I'm really starting to make some headway on my Ravelry queue... though by the time I've completed anything I usually have added another 3 projects to the queue!

Now I've just got to go and add some hanging loops to these and they will be all finished - these three are going to be so hard to give away :-(

Loving Aranzi Aronzo

After spoiling myself a little and buying one of paperandstring's lovely felt rainbows I needed to find a couple of quick felt projects to justify my purchase... so out came my faithful copy of "The Cute Book" by Aranzi Aronzo.

Seeing as I already had a couple of requests for characters out of this book I started straight away on these. First up I made the serious looking guy you can see on the left. I love his stern expression and his little arms wide open - perhaps a hug would make him smile?

Next up we have the 'mature fish' who is for 'mature people'. She is probably the fiddliest felt character in the book having lots of tiny felt pieces that need cutting and sewing on. I do love her pretty flowers though and did enjoy making her. However, crafting in front of the TV in a hurry did back fire a little this time as I managed to sew her head on to her body the wrong way up... yes that big fin is supposed to be at the top! Never mind - I don't think the recipient even noticed!

March's craft: Paper cutting

Sorry to be late with last month's new craft... I almost got it done in time but trying to do a new craft with a 3 year old dashing about and wanting to have a go with your exciting looking knives isn't as easy as I had thought it would be.

So this for March's new craft I decided on paper cutting and after getting the kids to bed the other night I managed to get the design for this lovely little bird decoration printed out and cut all in the same evening. I love some of the beautiful paper cut projects that I've seen on the internet recently so when I saw this quick project in my Kirstie Allsopp "Craft" book I couldn't wait to have a go.

There area  couple of things I'll try to remember to do differently next time - use a sharp/new knife, cut paper not card & set up some decent lighting before you start.

Roses are... blue?

Well they can be if they are made out of crochet thread!

My latest issue (number 12) of Mollie Makes included a little kit and pattern to make up a crochet flower brooch which I finally got around to having a go at last week.

The pattern results in a lovely little rose that holds it's shape beautifully and straight away I wanted to have a go at making some more. So the crochet thread came out and I made up these much smaller roses to add to hair grips as part of a present for a young friend of mine.

These worked out as the perfect last minute gift - I may have to make up a few more for the Christmas box...

Happy Easter!

This little Easter bunny just hopped by to wish you all a very happy Easter!

We hope you get tons of chocolate and that the weather is perfect for any Easter egg hunts you may have planned :-)

(This little bunny was made using this free pattern on RomanSock)