Happy Easter

• 24 dyed eggs
• 10 practice egg hunts
• 2 silly cousins with toy glasses
• 1 hour drawing with sidewalk chalk
• 150 eggs hidden in grandma’s yard

It was a great Easter.

Best Face from March

Being almost two is frustrating stuff. I was thrilled to capture my son in a moment of utter frustration the other day trying to put his hat on. While tempting to just put the cap on his head myself i resisted. Frustration is part of learning and it is worth it to see his face light up with pride when he was able to get his hat on just a moment later.

 

 

Pattern: Chompers

Back in January of last year my little dude was learning to crawl and kept getting his toes stuck in the hem of his pants legs. I started to dream up pants for the spring for him, ones that I could fold up for extra cushioning at the knees and fold back down when he was sitting still.

Now that we are quickly approaching his second birthday and I wonder what sitting still is I finally made the pants. And to my amazement the roll up, button up pants idea works even better on an older child who is likely to run through mud puddles and then be upset his pants are wet.

The pants are made with Rowan Denim a very unique yarn in many respects. The yarn is somewhat stiff when worked but washes to something more soft to the touch. What really makes it different is the fact that the purposefully shrinks in the wash – just like real jeans. This added an extra challenge for designing and hours of more math in the long run. But you guys will not have to do that math. Don’t worry if you want to substitute yarn either – directions are given for yarns that do not shrink in the pattern.

Oh and the best part? It is 100% free. Just visit the Petite Purls website.

Free Pattern: Mr. Hoo

Whenever my husband and I travel an owl follows us home. It started during our honeymoon and for the last 5 years it has continued. One of my son’s favorite toys is the shelf where the owls are kept. Needless to say some rearranging was done so only the study wood ones are in toddler reach. He grabs the 2 wood owls and a wooden sun from that shelf and drags them all over the house. After a few incidences of him trying to take the owls to bed with him I decided he needed a soft owl toy of his own.

So I designed this guy. Mr. Hoo is really quick to make – I was even able to make mine in one nap. The pattern is available as a free ravelry download here. I hope you enjoy.

Craft: Crochet Type: Toys Published: March 2011 Yarns suggested:Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton

Yarn weight: Worsted Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in single crochet Needle size: 4 mm (F)

Stay tuned next week. A second free pattern is coming out – this one knit.

Love Stinks

Sometimes a photo passes from bad to so bad it is good. This is one of them. Or at least I hope it is.

My entry into the I Heart Faces “Hearts” photo challenge: