Here are some of those photos I promised. These are the items I made for the kids’ baskets this Easter.

Robin’s nest for D

A chick for N

Eggs for them all

Chocolate & “peep” bunnies

Carrot purse for E

Chocolate bunny for D & hey, it won’t even melt!

Open top mushroom for D
I have all the patterns I used listed in my Ravelry as I’m feeling lazy right now to look them all up right now.

The Easter Bunny also left these darling Moondrops for their baskets. The team LOVES Moondrops.

You can bet I have more to share, I’m just lacking in time, hehe!

Tagged: gifts, seasonal & written by Niki —
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I’m such a bad blogger. I have a new free pattern to make up for my bad blogging behavior though

I made the team a bunch of goodies for their Easter baskets this year. We didn’t have to buy them much to go with it, but ended up doing so anyway. Isn’t that always how it goes? The felt cookie tutorial is still on the way, I promise, I just need an extra hour in my days, lol.

One of the basket items I made was this cute chocolate cream-filled egg. In early March I looked high & low for a pattern, but couldn’t find one anywhere on the internet. So, that same day I created my own! I know I procrastinate terribly & originally intended to blog this pattern before the Easter holiday, but I threw my back out & well, you know how life goes!
The cream eggs are very simple to make & require both crochet & knitting, but don’t fret if you don’t knit often because the knitting is only K2, P2 ribbing. :)

You’ll need:
Worsted weight yarn (cotton, acrylic, wool is my personal preference) in colors needed to make the chocolate cream-filled
eggs: Dark “chocolate” brown, white or cream & scrap amount of yolk yellow
Hook size G
Stuffing (wool roving or polyfill)
Darning needle

NOTE- Do NOT join rounds!

Chocolate egg top-
In “chocolate” yarn, make 4 stitches in a magic loop.
Round 1: 2sc in ea sc around (8 st)
Round 2: *2sc in first sc, sc* repeat from * around (12 st)
Round 3: sc around (12 st)
Round 4: *2sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat from * around (16 st)
Round 5: sc around (16 st)
Round 6: *2sc in first sc, sc in the next 3 sc* repeat from * around (20 st)
Round 7: sc around (20 st)
Round 8: *2sc in first sc, sc in the next 4 sc* repeat from * around (24 st)
Round 9: sl st, dc, sl st.. around.
Snip yarn & pull through loop. Leave a long tail so you can sew the “cream filling” to Round 8.
This will make the “broken edge” on the cracked cream egg.

Chocolate egg bottom-
In “chocolate” yarn, make 4 stitches in a magic loop.
Round 1: 2sc in ea sc around (8 st)
Round 2: *2sc in first sc, sc* repeat from * around (12 st)
Round 3: *2sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat from * around (16 st)
Round 4: *2sc in first sc, sc in the next 3 sc* repeat from * around (20 st)
Round 5: sc around (20 st)
Round 6: *2sc in first sc, sc in the next 4 sc* repeat from * around (24 st)
Round 7: sc around (24 st)
Round 8: dc, sl st, dc.. around.
Sl st to finish off. Snip yarn & pull through loop. Leave a long tail so you can sew the “cream filling” to Round 7.
This will make the “broken edge” on the cracked cream egg where they can sort of fit together while in the wrapper.

Cream & “yolk” filling-
Make two.
In “yolk” yellow yarn, make 4 stitches in a magic loop.
Round 1: 2sc in ea sc around (8 st)
Round 2: *2sc in first sc, sc* repeat from * around (12 st)
Break yarn & begin using “cream” yarn..
Round 3: *2sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat from * around (16 st)
Round 4: *2sc in first sc, sc in the next 3 sc* repeat from * around (20 st)
Round 5: *2sc in first sc, sc in the next 4 sc* repeat from * around (24 st)
Sl st to finish off. Snip yarn & pull through loop.
Sew filling pieces to the top & bottom (Rounds 8 & 7) of the chocolate egg. I like to sew so that the wrong side of the
“filling” is showing. Leaving about an inch gap, stuff then finish sewing pieces. Weave in ends.

Wrapper-
The knitted wrapper essentially holds the egg together when played with “un-broken.” Use a fun, bright colored yarn.
CO 24 sts
Divide between 3 dpns- 8 st each dpn.
K2, P2 all Rounds in the round for 2-3 inches.
Bind off in rib.
Finish off. Hold egg together & slip over egg.

(You may not make these for profit without a license, only for non-profit charities or personal use/gifting.)

I’m off to try & finish this adorable newborn/small skirty that is dripping with girly cuteness. I have many photos to share, so be on the lookout for photo overload!

Tagged: crafts, crochet, crochet patterns & written by Niki —
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Three hot little treats, one for each of The Team.
Made with various wool yarns, mostly Peace Fleece.

One more pattern today! These darling little mugs of hot goodness were created to be the exact scale of my cookies. Make a quick, easy, & fun gift set for kids!

This is an advanced beginner pattern.

You’ll need:
Worsted weight yarn (cotton, acrylic, wool is my personal preference) in colors for the mug(s) & small amounts of scrap yarn for the cocoa/tea/coffee as well as scraps of white or undyed yarn for the marshmallows, if desired
Hook size G
Stuffing (wool roving or polyfill)
Darning needle

NOTE- Do NOT join rounds!

Making the mug-
Round 1: With mug color, 8 sc into a magic ring (8 sc).
Round 2: 2 sc in ea st around (16 sc).
Round 3: sc in 1st st, 2 sc in next st (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around (24 sc).
Round 4: sc in the first two sc, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (32 sc).
Round 5: sc in each st around (32 sc).
Round 6: sc in the BACK LOOPS ONLY of each st around (32 sc).
Round 7 through 11: sc in each st around (32 sc).
Round 12: sl st in each st around (32 sc).
Finish off & weave in ends.

The handle-
Leave a tail & chain 12. Sc in 2nd chain from the hook & completely across. Ch 1, turn, & sc across. Finish off.

Making the cocoa/tea/coffee-
Round 1: With cocoa/tea/coffee color, 8 sc in a magic ring (8 sc).
Round 2: 2 sc in ea st around (16 sc).
Round 3: sc in 1st st, 2 sc in next st (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around (24 sc).
Round 4: sc in the first two sc, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (32 sc).
Finish off leaving a long tail (about 9 inches or so) to sew to top of mug.

Finishing-
Attach handle to mug at rounds 7 & 11.
Stuff mug somewhat firmly. Lay cocoa/tea/coffee over the top of the mug & sew them both together. You could also take your hook to fasten the pieces together. To make marshmallows, simply take some undyed or white yarn & embroider 3 ‘mallows to the top of the cocoa with 6 to 9 small horizontal stitches.

(You may not make these for profit without a license, only for non-profit charities or personal use/gifting.)

Next in crafting- how to make felt heart-shaped cookies!

Tagged: crafts, crochet, crochet patterns & written by Niki —
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Two raisin cookies & two chocolate chip cookies.

This is another “off the top of my head” pattern. Very simple to make, in fact I am working with Bean on how to crochet her own cookies!

This is a beginner (easy) pattern.

You’ll need:
Worsted weight yarn (cotton, acrylic, wool is my personal preference) in colors for the cookies & small amounts of scrap yarn if you wish to make chocolate chips or raisins
Hook size G
Stuffing (wool roving or polyfill)
darning needle

NOTE- Do NOT join rounds!

Cookie (make two)-
Round 1: With cookie color, 8 sc into a magic ring (8 sc).
Round 2: 2 sc in ea st around (16 sc).
Round 3: sc in 1st st, 2 sc in next st (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around (24 sc).
Round 4: sc in the first two sc, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around (32 sc).
Finish off.

Flavors-
To create chocolate chips or raisins with embroidery, simply use small amounts of dark purple or dark brown yarn & “darn” over various stitches at random intervals. You can also use dimensional fabric paints!

Finishing-
Sew the wrong sides together with cookie yarn using a crochet hook or darning needle. (I’ve done it both ways just fine.) Leaving about an inch gap to stuff, stuff your cookie (not firmly) & finish sewing. Weave in yarn end.

(You may not make these for profit without a license, only for non-profit charities or personal use/gifting.)

Next I will have my pattern for sweet little mugs of hot cocoa, so stay tuned!

Tagged: crafts, crochet, crochet patterns & written by Niki —
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I made the longies for the black & white newbie set. I think after the booties I will get some undyed cotton yarn for a beautiful baby blanket pattern I found. I’m going to make a hat for the next set I have planned instead.

I hope everyone likes the new look!

Tagged: crafts, knitting & written by Niki —
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Fudge Ripple & Bubblegum single scoop cones. Yarns used: Hand dyed & Moscow Magic Peace Fleece (Worsted).

I made the kids a ton of play foods for Christmas gifts & I was SO busy, I didn’t get to post the patterns I had improvised! I made the two eldest single scoop cones, but I have written up the options to add scoops & a cherry.
If you want to get super creative, you could take dimensional fabric paints to make “chocolate syrup” toppings or beads to make “sprinkles.” I am aware of another pattern, almost just like this (as was pointed out to me after I published this) which you can find here if you’d like a stiffer cone, or just to peek at the “original” (be careful what you improvise!).

This is a beginner (easy) pattern.

You’ll need:
Worsted weight yarn (cotton, acrylic, wool is my personal preference) in colors for the flavored scoops, cone, & also a small amount of red for a cherry, if you’d like
Hook size G
Stuffing (wool roving or polyfill)
darning needle

NOTE- Do NOT join rounds!

Ice Cream Scoop-
Round 1: With ice cream color, 4 sc into a magic ring (You will have 4 sts).
Round 2: 2 sc in each st (8 sts).
Round 3: 2 sc in next st, sc next st (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) around (12 sts).
Round 4: 2 sc in next st, sc next 2 sts (2 sc in next st, 2 sc in next 2 sts) around (16 sts).
Round 5: 2 sc in next st, sc next 3 sts (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts) around (20 sts).
Round 6: 2 scin next st, sc next 4 sts (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts) around (24 sts).
Round 7: 2 sc in next st, sc next 5 sts (2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts) around (28 sts).
Rounds 8 through 10: sc each st (28 sts).
Round 11: sl st in next sc, 3 sc into next st, around. This creates the scalloped “scoop” edge.
Finish off.

Cone*-
Round 1: With cone color, 4 sc into a ring (4 sts).
Round 2: 2 sc in each st (8 sts).
Round 3: 2 sc in next st, sc next st (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) around (12 sts).
Round 4: 2 sc in next st, sc next 2 sts (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) around (16 sts).
Finish off. This is the base of the cone.
Round 5: sc through the BACK LOOPS ONLY of each st (16 sts).
Rounds 6 & 7: sc all sts (16 sts).
Round 8: 2 scin next st, sc next 3 sts (2 sc in next, sc in next 3 sts) around (20 sts).
Rounds 9 & 10: sc all sts (20 sts).
Round 11: 2 sc in next st, sc next 4 sts (2 sc in next, sc in next 4 sts) around (24 sts).
Round 12: sc all sts, sl st in next sc (24 sts).
Round 13: ch 2 (first sc), sc through the back loop of each st, sl st in the first sc (24 sts).
Round 14: ch 3 (first dc), dc all sts, sl st in the first dc in the round (24 sts).
Finish off, then fold the layer of dc outwards & sew it to the cone.

Finishing-
Sew scoops of ice cream to cone at round 10 of the scalloped “scoop” edge until about an inch remains. Stuff (not firmly) with polyfill or wool roving. To make double scoops, simply create two scoops, sewing one to the top of the other at round 10, stuffing before finishing.

To make a cherry-
Round 1: With cherry red yarn, work 5 sc into a magic ring (5 sts).
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each st around (10 sts).
Round 3: sc2tog around (5 sts).
Cut the yarn leaving a tail for sewing the cherry to the top of the scoop(s), sl st, pull tail through loop. Using a darning needle, pull short tail (to make a magic ring) through to the right side to make a cherry stem.

Hope you enjoy!

(You may not make these for profit without a license, only for non-profit charities or personal use/gifting.)

* The cone pattern is currently being altered. Can’t have two similar cone patterns floating around!

Tagged: crafts, crochet, crochet patterns & written by Niki —
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Sounds like an exotic disease doesn’t it? I wanted to post some photos of my newest finished object, a Seamless Baby Kimono. I made the bulky version, in worsted weight yarn on size 7 (4.5mm) needles to achieve the newborn/small size I wanted.

The photos aren’t the best, it’s finally been raining here, so you won’t hear me complain. The other modification I made was to the sleeves, I only increased on rows 16 & 21 to give it a slight flare. I thought the original looked a bit “girly.” Yarn used was three ply merino from Blackberry Ridge, wonderfully soft. I’m going to make some longies & booties with the same white/black theme for a set.

I’m also in the process of making some felt cookies & cakes from the “Favorite Felted Sweets” book! Hand stitching is a nice break from knitting/crochet.

Tagged: crafts, knitting, knitting patterns & written by Niki —
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Dane is seventeen months old, that’s almost a year & a half! His vocabulary is astounding, he even speaks in small sentences & phrases! He’s is too smart for his own good sometimes, at least that’s what I tell him .

Life is going well, not much new to report. We’ve been having wonderfully warm weather, so I think the kids & I will take advantage.

My Flickr plugin is acting up. I have some work to do on the site today & hopefully I’ll get a new layout up before too long.

Tagged: milestones, site, the team & written by Niki —
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