roundup...

I am aware I have been a bit too busy to post anything much at all this year and it is nearing the end of April - where has the year gone?! The cold weather has made it seem like eternal winter and so I feel I missed the whole of March indoors, crocheting!

To make up for the lack of posting here, I thought I would share a few pictures of some of the exciting things I have been doing so far this year - regular viewing will commence shortly.
I have directed and styled quite a few fab shoots, with the wonderful Britt Spring, the pic above is from the last, with a stunning piece by Kat Goldin.

 Crochet, crochet and more crochet! For the magazine, and for a couple of new projects. This is my favourite blanket project of the lot.

 I managed to catch the Wool exhibition, Wool House at Somerset House in March. It was in collaboration with the Campaign for Wool. This was particularly exciting for me as I finally got to see a crocheted sculpture or 'Crochetdermy' by Shauna Richardson, which didn't disappoint - it was amazing!

I also taught a couple of classes at City Lit  and the experimental class in particular was great fun. I met a bunch of very creative women, one who upcycles old brollies into fab bags and another who is an amazing spinner. All in all a great year so far...

Free Easter Pattern

Happy Easter to one and all! This is a little late, but I have decided to re-post an old pattern of mine that I use in special Easter classes. File it away for next year, or decorate with different face as the perfect project to teach you kids how to knit - and a very happy Easter bank holiday Monday to you all.

Claire xEgg Cosy Pattern copywrite Claire Montgomerie 2010

Materials
Any scraps of dk weight yarn, 4mm needles, darning needle, felt and buttons for decoration

Simple Cosy Pattern, ideal for beginners

With 4mm needles, cast on 30 sts and knit every row for 6 cm, knitting in stripes if you wish.
Cut off yarn, leaving enough to sew up seam. Thread through all stitches and pull up into a round. Sew up seam and fasten off yarn.

Stocking stitch pattern

With 4mm needles, cast on 30 sts and knit every row for 4 rows. Change to stocking stitch and work for four cm, ending with a p row. You can knit in stripes of four rows of each colour if you wish.

Next row: (k3, k2tog) 6 times (24 sts)

Next row: purl

Next row: (k2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts)

Next row: purl

Next row: (k1, k2tog)6 times (12 sts)

Next row: purl

Cut off yarn, leaving enough to sew up seam. Thread through all stitches and pull up into a round. Sew up seam and fasten off yarn.

Use buttons or googly eyes for eyes and felt shapes for beaks. Use oddments of yarn for hair, faces, eyelashes.

Rabbit ears

(These are worked in garter st, but you could do them in stocking st, or in a mixture of stitches.

With 4mm needles, cast on 7sts.

Work two rows garter st, inc one stitch at either end of next row, then work a further 3 rows garter st. (9sts)

Dec one stitch at either end of next row, then work further 3 rows garter st (7sts)

Dec one stitch at either end of next row, then knit one further row (5sts)

Dec one stitch at either end of next row. (3sts)

Next row, sl 1, k2tog, psso. fasten off final stitch.

Make two the same. (you could also make two more ear shapes in a contrast colour and attach them to the inside of the main shade ear shape) and attach to the top of the cosy.

NB. Please feel free to use this pattern to make your own cosies but please do not reprint or resell this pattern on. Copywrite Claire Montgomerie 2013.