How to make chickens and bunnies from a knitted square

These little knitted projects are a wonderful preparation for Spring and Easter. I loved looking after chickens as a child as well a knitting. I have used wool from my parent’s sheep so this is truly holistic. You can buy hand spun wool and / or the kit to make these projects on Etsy from the link below. If you don’t have time to make your own then they are available as ready made little farm animals in hand spun sheep’s wool in natural colours below too.

  • Etsy kits and finished wooly animals
  • Knit a 20 stitch square to make a medium size hen & 10 stitches for a little chick
  • Turn your square into a triangle . Sew round the edge and fill with sheep’s wool
  • Secure a thread at the bottom and weave the needle in out around the middle of the triangle
  • Pull the thread taut and secure
  • Making the crown . Loop the needle through the stitches.
  • Make a loop at the bottom
  • Make a cross for the eye on either side
  • A flock of bunnies, sheep and hens !
  • Make a square of 30 stitches to make an extra large hen or bunny! 













Preview(opens in a new tab)










How to crochet a bunnie’s tail 













  • Knit a 20 stitch square for a medium size bunny – 10  for a small bunny    (30 for a large bunny)
  • Secure the thread half way down the square and weave the needle in out till the end of the row
  • Weave the needle through from the side to the middle top and back to where started ( this makes a triangle shape)
  • Pull the thread 
  • Before it is closed put some wool in for the head shape
  • Sew down the back and put more wool in for the body – then go in out round the bottom edge and pull tightly closed 
  • Crochet a tail. 
  • Secure it onto the bunny 
  • Here are the three bunny sizes . You can sew on eyes and/or whiskers if you prefer to 





PHOTO-2021-02-25-13-01-59-1
A Chickens and Bunny Knitting Kit 
Includes hand spun wool in natural undyed colours (16 metres each colour) – golden yellow, grey and white . Makes two chickens and two chicks,  one medium bunny and one small bunny. Washed white sheep’s wool for stuffing each animal and a little red wool for the crown. Simple hand written instructions included too. 

If you would like extra skeins of other natural colour wool please contact me on the email form below. They cost £2 for a 16 meter skein and £3 for 25 meters. 
£8.00

				

					
				

				





Go to the Etsy link below to purchase already knitted bunnies and chicks etc…. 

















https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/starfishcraftshop?ref=search_shop_redirect



	


	







	

		
Sewing a bag
	


	
	

		






Simple sewing projects : a bag, an apron, a pillowcase and a washbag are examples of things you can make easily once you can sew by hand or with a sewing machine. You can use materials you like either new from a shop or favourite old clothes.





How to make these simple sewing projects by hand or with a machine













Handsewing 





  • Threading up the needle . Put thread tight over the top of the needle. Pull it off 
  • Thread it though the eye 
  • How to hold the needle . Sew the material inside out. 
  • Poke in the needle 3 cm behind the thread- back stitch
  •   




    Draw the needle 3cm in front of the thread
  • A simpler stitch is this running stitch – weave in and out with the needle 
  • Fill the needle with as many stitches as you can 
  • Pull the needle and thread through  and repeat this process till the end of the row – then lay it flat 
  • Rotate the cloth and go back on the same row  filling the gaps. 
  • Fold the material 2cm down from the top of the bag. Sew a hem for a cord 





    




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    Very simple origami paper heart
    	
    

	
	
    
		

    I hope this photo sequence will show you how to make this lovely little origami heart.                 (Guess what ?! It’s Valentines Day soon!)
    




    




    


    




    




    Here is the link to a more complicated heart for those who want something even more challenging!
    




    
https://atomic-temporary-135805951.wpcomstaging.com/2020/03/12/making-and-weaving-a-paper-heart/?preview_id=851&preview_nonce=fb7615ef39&preview=true

    
	
    

	

    


    
	
    
		
    Knit a lamb
    	
    

	
	
    
		

    • Here is the kit and a finished example of two lambs you can make from it
    • There are 25 meters x2 in each kit below. 
    




    Use size 3-4 needles and approximately 35 metres ( hand to chest or hand to elbow – 1m).Wind it round in 1m lengths.
     
    




    Cast on 34 stitches ..knit for 6 ribs (12 rows) plain knitting .
    Cast off 7 stitches loosely and knit to the end of the row and then cast off 7 stitches on the other  side .
    Keep knitting for 4 ribs.
    Cast on 7 stitches on both sides ,
    Knit for another 6 ribs .
    Cast off 11 stitches on both sides.
    Knit 8 rib
    Another 4 ribs in black ( another colour )                                                                                                if you want or just the same colour ( this will be the sheep’s head)
    




    




    Sew together as in the photos and put filling ( sheep’s wool or fibre or cotton wool ) into it before sewing up the last bit of the body —maybe use an end of a pencil to spread it evenly into the corner.
    Sew the head together as shown in the pictures.
    




    


    




    How to crochet and put the tail on the lamb 
    




    




    


    




    Below you can order a kit to knit two lambs, one black and one white. Provided is wool ( approx 2 x 25m )I have spun myself as well as loose washed wool for the filling. Please send an email stating what you require. Having received confirmation from me then please pay below or go to etsy.com and enter starfishcraftshop. Thank you .
    














    Two lambs- knitting homespun wool kit
    A simple knitting project. This kit provides black and white natural undyed home spun wool  to make 2 lambs. Hand drawn instructions are also included as well as washed sheep’s wool for the filling.
    £10.00
    
				
    
					
				
    
				
    
	
    

	

    


    
	
    
		
    Spinning and knitting projects
    	
    

	
	
    
		

    The long evenings are great for doing bigger projects like spinning or knitting jumpers. Perhaps listen to your favourite podcast or audiobook. 
    




    I have been spinning since I was a child. Our mother set up each of us (6 children ) with a spinning wheel! We also had our own sheep so we wore their coats! 
    




    • My Mum knitted this using alpaca wool
    • This sheep’s wool jumper I made is warm even under snow!
    




    


    




    I have spun and knitted my parent’s sheep’s wool all through my childhood and for my own children making them each a sheep’s wool and alpaca jumper in different shades.  If you would like a bigger quantity of hand spun wool please contact me below. 
    




    Hand spinning with a spindle 
    




    All you need is a stick and a potato or apple stuck in. 
    




    




    


    














    Below are links to kits to make lambs and chickens.
    




    
https://atomic-temporary-135805951.wpcomstaging.com/2021/02/13/knit-a-lamb/?preview_id=4609&preview_nonce=fd6435b7ee&preview=true

    
	
    

	

    


    
	
    
		
    Snowdrops – pressing flowers
    	
    

	
	
    
		

    • Put a few flowers on blotting paper or some other absorbent paper or newspaper. Then put another piece of paper on top. Put heavy books on top and leave for a week. 
    




    You could take a few crocuses, primroses or other flowers from your garden to press throughout the year. You can use them for cards, or calendars or even a lampshade. You can also mount them on transparent sticky back paper and use them as a window display. 
    
	
    

	

    


    
	
    
		
    Artists 1-10
    	
    

	
	
    
		

    STAGE 1
    




    Dates can  be learnt more easily if they are linked to a visual image such as major memory system outlined here. By assigning  numbers  a consonant you can create words and therefore images. 
    




    

    • 0 = s or z
    • 1 = d or t
    • 2 = n
    • 3 = m
    • 4 = r
    • 5 = l 
    • 6 = g,j, ch soft sounds 
    • 7= g, k  hard sounds 
    • 8 = f or v
    • 9 = b or p 
    

    




     Vowels aren’t assigned a number they act as blanks. 
    




    So the word bat = 91, the word name = 23. It is a phonetic system so how things sound is how a number is assigned. The word cough for example is the number 78. 
    




    So how do you memorize dates?  Example 1255.
    




     The 1 can be assumed so the task is to memorize 255. 
    




    2 is and N , 5 is an L . So Duccio’s birth year 1255 can be memorized by a simple sentence using the first letter of each word. 
    




    Nearly Life Like. 
    




    STAGE 2 
    




    Each of the 100 greatest painters is hung on a key word representing the numbers 1 -100. By learning 100 words based on this system you have effectively 100 hooks to hang information on. This makes learning the hundred most important artists in Western history possible 
    




    So number 1 is day, number 2 is noah, number 3 is ma, etc. Learn the first ten numbers first then work at the dates for each painter. You will soon get the hang of it. 
    




    • day = 1
    • Noah = 2
    • Ma = 3
    • Ra = 4
    • Law = 5
    • Jaw = 6
    • Key = 7 
    • Fee = 8 
    • Bee = 9 
    • Daze = 10 
    




    

    

    1  DAY        
    




    DUCCIO 
    

    




    

    Nearly life like 
    




    Multi dimensional View 
    

    




    

    1255
    




    1318
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    2  NOAH       
    




    GIOTTO  
    

    




    

    Now Giotto Gives 
    




    Mary Magdalene Grief
    

    




    

    1277
    




    1337
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    3 MA        
    




    MARTINI 
    

    




    

    Announcing Fab Result
    




    Martinis are Ready 
    

    




    

    1284
    




    1344
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    4 RA
    




    VAN EYCK 
    

    




    

    Marriage of Oils
    




    Arnolfini’s Real Touch
    

    




    

    1385
    




    1441
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    5 LAW       
    




    ANGELICO  
    

    




    

    Mary Followed Gabriel’s
    




    Rather Long Look  
    

    




    

    1387
    




    1455
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    6 JAW         
    




    UCCELLO  
    

    




    

    Magnificent Battle Clashing
    




    Rival’s Colour Landscape 
    

    




    

    1397
    




    1475
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    7 KEY        
    




    Roger van WEYDEN 
    

    




    

    My! Put Those  
    




    Rich Sheets away Roger
    

    




    

    1391
    




    1464
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    8 FEE        
    




    MASSACCIO  
    

    




    

    Really Sad Adam
    




    Wretched Naughty Eve
    

    




    

    1401
    




    1428
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    9 BEE        
    




    PIERO
    

    




    

    Renaissance Dove Softly 
    




    Regards Piero’s Inspiration
    

    




    

    1410
    




    1492
    

    

    




    




    




    

    

    10 DAZE        
    




    BELLINI  
    

    




    

    Rigid Madonna Sits
    




    Through Light Thundery Showers  
    

    




    

    1436
    




    1516
    

    

    




    




    Here are some links to great talks from the National gallery on some of the artists above. 
    




    

    

    




    

    

    




    




    

    

    




    

    

    




    

    

    




    

    

    
	
    

	

    


    
	
    
		
    Paper Snowflakes and New Year Displays
    	
    

	
	
    
		

    These paper snowflakes make a cheerful display in the winter when the world outside is quite bare and dormant.  You can use white or coloured paper and can be made from circles or squares.                You can also use thin felt or material as a fun alternative as a table decoration or mat.  
    




    




    Here is an illustrated guide to making these attractive patterns
    




    • Fold in half 3 or 4 times 
    • Draw a circle using  something circular like a bowl
    • Cut out the circles
    • An alternative fold is to fold the circle in half and then both sides into the centre
    • Draw patterns to cut out on the paper if you feel artistic e.g. half a tree or half a heart. Triangles and curling shapes also work well
    • You’ll get a nice result if you don’t cut the outside of the circle more than once or twice
    • At the end if you cut at an angle it will make a star at the centre when opened up
    • IF the window tends to gather condensation the decoration is protected if you use self adhesive see through backing. It will then last several years
    • Self adhesive clear sticky backing 
    • Hold the see through sticky paper down with some weighted objects. Don’t pull the paper right off the backing as it springs back