Easter was very early this year – Easter Sunday falling on 31st of March. We tend to think of Easter in April but it’s a very moveable feast. The last time it was in March was in 2016 – the 27th, and the next time it will be in March will be in 2027 – on the 28th. The earliest Easter Sunday was on March 22nd in 1818 and it’s not due to be this early again until 2285. Just something I thought I’d share with you 🙂 with grateful thanks to Wikipedia.

Easter themed knits are always popular – who doesn’t go ‘aaah’ over a knitted bunny or chick, especially when chocolate eggs are involved? Isabel made these gorgeous wire art bunnies, just in time for Easter. The pattern is on homeidealist.com, a very interesting site with amazing wire creations.

Gill is our lace queen and knits beautiful lacy items. Most recently she knitted this lovely scarf using Debbie Bliss Angel yarn and a pattern from a Shetland lace pattern book. Can you see the cat’s paw?

Gill wears two crowns actually – she’s also an expert sock knitter!

My resolution this year, as in previous years, is to try and make inroads into my stash. It’s one step forward and two back I’m afraid, but life’s too short to be obsessed about it. Some years ago I had the intention of knitting spa cloths and bought quite a few balls of cotton yarn in various colours. I like quick projects and a spa cloth can be a pretty yet practical addition to fancy soap for a raffle prize or small gift.

Using up all of your yarn is always a challenge. Sometimes there’s none left but most times there’s can be quite a bit. So, what’s the best way of using it up? You can make items that are progressively smaller e.g. what’s left from the cardigan is used to make a lap blanket then it’s used to make a short scarf, then a doll’s blanket then a mouse and finally you could use what’s left as thrums (see previous post for what these are). I had a dilemma when I knitted my latest (blue) spa cloth because what remained wasn’t enough for another cloth but as I’d already started I was loath to rip it back, so……. Eureka! I thought I’d make it into a wash mitt instead! I used a contrast colour for the cuff and had just enough of the blue to make it look as though this was deliberate. If I did it again, I’d shape the top of the mitt better, but this one’s for me so I’m happy with it as it is.

Another project I finished recently used up yarn that I bought in 2015. It was a skein of Araucania Ranco bought at a yarn event somewhere, most probably because it was reduced in price. They see me coming from a mile off at these events. All they need is a Sale/Reduced sign in the distance and I’m there quick as a flash opening my purse as I run. The trouble with buying yarn on impulse, just because it’s too lovely to walk away from, is that you then have to find a project. This was a 344m skein and probably sock yarn but it knitted up into a very useful cowl. My own design so I didn’t really know what it would end up like but I like it and wear it often. And it used up the whole skein with just a few centimetres of yarn left. Enough for a few thrums maybe??

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