April Newsletter 2010

That's Woolly Something

April is my favorite month of the year. The beginning of spring, and it is also my birthday month. I turn 50 years old this year! I can't believe it myself. Happy Birthday to me! Where has the time flown to?

Later on this month, hopefully sooner than later, I will announce my newest pattern: Woolly Sheep. It is a folk-like sheep with the classic black face and legs. I really like him! I am shooting for the end of April. Stay tuned.

April's pattern is the Woolly Bunnies pattern. This is a fun and quick pattern! You can't knit just one bunny, I have tried and so have dozens of others. It is impossible! they are addicting. You can knit and felt one in about an hour, that doesn't include drying time, mind you. I have several bunnies to share with you, in addition the yarns I love to make bunnies with and a few tips.

Woolly Bunnies.

These bunnies come in two positions: the laying-down bunny and the sitting-up bunny. Perfect companions for one another. Remember you can't make just one. Make one of each kind, then you can stop.

The gray and cream bunnies shown here used Nature Spun worsted weight and Frog Tree Brushed Suri fingering weight yarns carried together. The Frog Tree fingering weight is fine, and after felting creates the softest, fuzziest bunny. Brush it with a nap brush and the hairs fluff out.

Two Sizes. One Pattern.

The pattern gives directions for one size, but change the needle size and yarn weights and watch your bunnies grow!

The bunny on the right used size 13 double point needles and a bulky weight yarn.

Woolly Details.

The bunnies lend themselves to details, such as the pink pads on the underside of their paws. Simply roll a dot of roving into a tiny ball and needle felt to the backside of paw. Be careful not to needle felt too hard, otherwise, the 'pink' color will go through to the topside.

The pattern directions give ideas for adding fluffier tails or tails of a different color. Who says your bunny always needs a white tail?

Fuzzy-wuzzy Bunny.

This bunny used Trendsetter's Aura cream and a worsted weight yarn carried together. I love Aura because its fuzzy and comes in so many colors. Aura is also fine enough that it doesn't change the shape during felting. Aura is carried every other round though, otherwise, it is a bit much.

I like to use one color for the yarn and another color for the Aura, subtle color ranges. This bunny used white-on-white.

Birthday Bunny Party.

Last year I had a birthday party for my daughter and three close friends. I made a bunny for each of them as a 'thank you' gift. They love playing bunnies together.

Before the guests arrived, we hid the bunnies all over the garden. The kids then went on a scavenger hunt with clues taking them all over the neighborhood in search of their treasure. The actual treasure was kept a secret. Each bunny had a tag around its neck with the child's name on it.

For a craft we needle felted little orange roving carrots, as shown. These girls were 11 years old and have felted before.

Later we served carrot cake for dessert. For the table's centerpiece, I used a bunch of fresh carrots with their tops still on them. The kids even ate the centerpiece! Overall it was great fun. Hannah was pleased.

All of these bunnies were knit using Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight yarn in their wonderful pastel colors. I used two strands of the sport weight and size 10-1/2 double point needles. After the bunnies were felted, stuffed and dried, I brushed them with a stiff wire brush to bring out their fluff and softness.

This is my daughter, Hannah, with her favorite pink bunny.

Collegiate Bunny.

This bunny was knit by my sister-in-law, Joanie. She had the clever idea of putting a sweater on the bunny. She knit about half way up the bunny's body then changed to red yarn up to the neck. Half of the paws are knit in red too.

What a great way to add your child's school colors and maybe an initial on the front using yarn and needle felting. Thanks for sharing, Joanie!

Recipe Corner

I like to include a recipe at the back of most of my patterns. I've found over the years that knitters, like myself, cook and bake, and are quick to share their recipes.

The recipe inside the Woolly Bunnies pattern is 'tomato butter'. I love it on hot baguettes served with my favorite 'chicken salad for a crowd' recipe, included here.

Everyone asks for this recipe. You may already have it. Just kidding. Purchase my Woolly Bunnies pattern and receive the tomato butter recipe. Enjoy!

chicken salad for a crowd

12 ounces (2 cups) uncooked orzo pasta

2 cups mayonnaise

1/4 cup half-and-half

2 tablespoons lemon juce

4 cups cubed cooked chicken

2 cups halved green or red grapes (I sometimes use a little of both)

2 cups (1 large) seeded, cucumber, diced (I use the English cucumbers)

1 cup finely diced celery

salt and pepper, to taste

cashews or toasted slivered almonds (I love the crunch of nuts in this salad, so don't skimp)

Cook orzo to desired doneness as directed on package. Drain, rinse in cold water.

In extra large bowl, combine mayonnaise, half-and-half, salt, lemon juice and pepper. Stir in cooked orzo, chicken, grapes, cucumber, and celery. Mix well. Cover and refigerate several hours or overnight.

To serve, add nuts to the top of the salad. It keeps covered in the refrigerator for several days.

Makes 25 (1/2 cup) servings.