Category: crafts & knitting

crafts & knitting · new patterns

A free supplement pattern

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)11 Comments

Hello and happy Friday,

Just a quick post today to let you know that I’ve uploaded a free downloadable supplement that shows you how to turn the T-shirt (or the long sleeved sweater) from my ‘Trio of top down sweaters‘ pattern into a dress. You’ll need to use the trio of sweaters pattern to make the top part and then use the free supplement to knit on a skirt – it’s very simple and quite quick and gives a little extra choice in the Little Cotton Rabbits wardrobe 🙂

You can download the free pdf file either from Ravelry

or from my new Facebook group (it’s in the ‘files’ section on the left-hand side of the screen along with the files for my other free patterns)

I hope you enjoy it and as always I’m looking forward to seeing your projects.

Best wishes for the weekend, I hope it’s a good one for you xxx

 

crafts & knitting

A new facebook group

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)8 Comments

Hello, how are things with you?

Here we’re plodding on with our small routines and trying not to panic too much at the thought that Toby may not go back to school until September. He’s happy with walking in the woods every day but still getting frustrated at the lack of everything else that he enjoys and so the thought of another 15 weeks with no school, clubs, respite, McDonalds, swimming or mini steam train rides is a scary one, so let’s not dwell on that!

I’ve been spending my early mornings pattern writing and have been making slow and steady progress. Now I need to work out the logistics of getting the step-by-step photos for them done – I suspect that as my hands are often busy elsewhere it will also be a long slow process! But I do hope to have 3 new clothing patterns for the small rabbits (7 inch size) soon – including a selection of dresses, sweaters and dungarees. I also have a free supplement pattern for the regular sized (9 inch) animals that is almost ready to share.

The other thing I’ve been spending my free time on is setting up an official Little Cotton Rabbits facebook group. I already have a lovely, friendly Ravelry group that is full of talented makers and it’s been my plan for a while to try and set up a similar group over on facebook.

The fact that I’ve started my own group is not a criticsm or negative comment on the friendly group that already exists on facebook, but I do feel more comfortable spending time and sharing tips in a space that is all my own, and where I can control the look and feel of things. I also wanted a space where I can share the download files for my free patterns along with my personal making tips, special offers, pattern launches and the occassional yarn giveaway. At the moment there’s not many members (although I’m so happy to already see some friendly and familiar faces) but I hope in time together we can build a friendly and supportive corner of the internet for people who enjoy using my patterns, if you’d like to come and join me there, and share any projects you’ve made from my patterns here is the link:

New Little Cotton Rabbits Facebook Group

Well, I’m off to squeeze in a little pattern writing time before Toby gets up. Hopefully I’ll be back later in the week with that new free pattern supplement, see you then x

 

crafts & knitting · foxes in my garden · garden stuff · general stuff · wildlife

Over the last month

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)42 Comments


The pictures above are a little selection of things from the last month here:

I’ve been working on several new patterns: clothing patterns for the small animals, including dresses, sweaters and dungarees; more small versions of my animal patterns; a regular sized badger and there are a few other ideas that I’m also playing around with.

Spring has been arriving in our garden and the countryside around us, with blackthorn blossom, catkins and the blossoming of our plum tree.

Kit, our foxy visitor, has been coming almost every day. Back in January she seemed to be getting into lots of fights and was quite injured one morning – you can see in the pictures above her patches of missing fur and scrapes but she also had a bad limp and a broken canine tooth. She spent a day licking her wounds and curled upon top of the chicken run – the ivy-covered netting forms a comfy hammock and happily the chickens seemed oblivious and carried on life as normal! More recently I noticed that she was pregnant – she was distinctly plump around the middle and I think that she had her pups on the 2nd or 3rd of March as she didn’t visit on those days and when she arrived on March 4th she was back to her skinny self. Since March 12th she’s back to visiting every day for food and her teats are now clearly visible, so her cubs must be thriving. And yes, I am keeping a fox diary 🙂

The last month has seen unprecedented times arrive around the globe and I think we’re all at least a little afraid right now. I’m trying not to shut out that fear and instead embrace it and let it guide me to socially responsible and sensible decisions. We’re keeping Toby off school for now as he’s vulnerable and we’re practicing ‘social distancing’, going for our wood walks but avoiding other people. That’s something we all need to be doing – not just for ourselves and our loved ones but also for the wider community. If you can go out into busy spaces less then do choose to; wash your hands often and keep compassion and kindness to others as your goal – you never know when you yourself might be in need of the kindness and compassion of a stranger.

Please let’s all stay safe out there and keep others safe through our actions xxx