Hello, I hope you’re having a good week.

We’re deep in the school summer break here and Amy is back home with us at the moment so I’ve not been getting much computer time. It’s lovely having Amy back here and we’ve been enjoying walking in familiar places in the afternoons, family dinners and watching films together in the evenings. It’s so good to spend some time with her again after 21 weeks apart because of lockdown.

Well, I’m popping in very briefly today because I have a free pattern supplement to share with you. While I was working on my recent bags, baskets and backpacks pattern I had an idea for a new dress bodice (you’ll see the similarity to the bag handles). It’s taken me a while to write this up and I cannot guarantee that the pattern is error free as my brain isn’t getting much concentration time so it’s had to be worked on whenever I can fit in the time. Hopefully it will be coherent enough to follow and will give all the necessary details.

The free supplement will work with either the regular 9 inch sized animals or the newer small 7 inch size. You will need to use it in conjunction with one of the existing dress patterns – either one that is included in an animal pattern or one from the dress collection patterns (‘seasonal dresses‘, ‘textured dresses‘ or ‘small dresses‘). Work the skirt part up to and including the waist decrease from one of those patterns and then use the free bodice pattern to create a new sundress option.

Also included are brief instructions on using the bodice to make a little camisole/vest top, which makes a cute little pyjama set when combined with the shorts from one of the boy patterns. Pictures of both the sundress and the camisole in both sizes are above. The pattern is free to download from either Ravelry or from the Facebook group.

I hope you enjoy using the new free supplement and it gives you lots more options for creating outfits for your Little Cotton Rabbit animals, happy knitting, J xx

Before I started the Little Cotton Rabbits Facebook group it hadn’t occurred to me how much people like to give their knitted animals accessories. Seeing lots of projects there with little shoulder bags and backpacks started me thinking that it might be nice to have a range of bag accessories for my animals, and so here they are.

There are 5 little patterns within one, though lots of extra options within that so that you can customise each bag or basket:

• A backpack/rucksack with a gusseted flat bottom so it can stand on it’s own, a front flap to keep any treasures inside secure and the option of fastening the flap with either a strap and loop or a button and buttonhole.
• A basic basket that can be made in 3 different styles depending on the type, length and attachment points for the handles.
• A little shoulder bag which can be made in colour-work or texture.
• A shopping/market bag in a choice of 2 different open-work patterns
• A cross-body/handbag in either a 2 or 3 colour tweed pattern or a honeycomb texture pattern.

The pattern is up on Ravelry and over on Etsy too if you’re interested in giving it a go. As always I am excited to see what people do with these and as they knit up quickly I’m hoping they’ll be good fun to knit.

Well, I’m off to do some housework (reluctantly, I’d definitely rather be knitting) and get things ready for Amy coming home tomorrow. It’s been 4 months since I last saw her and I’ve missed her so much, it will be lovely to have her back here for the next few weeks. Hope you have a good weekend in store too,  J x