ORGANIC COTTON BABY HAT

Here's a simple, quick and adorable little beanie for the new baby in your life.  This pattern knits up easily and makes a wonderful gift(it's pictured above with a little decoration + the world's cutest baby booties)

MATERIALS::

• Worsted Weight Organic Cotton Yarn(one skein will make several hats)ANY Worsted Weight yarn works for this
• 4 Size 4 (3.55mm) Double Ended Needles
• Optional::Another color yarn for the decorations 

1. Cast on 60 Stitches and evenly divide between three of the 4 needles(20 on each)
2. Purl one row
3. Knit one row
4. Purl one row(this creates a nice border and keeps hat from rolling up)
5. Knit 8 rows
6. Purl a row
7. Knit 8 rows
8. Purl a row
9. Knit 8, Knit two together, repeat 6X across row
10. Knit 7, Knit two together, repeat 6X across row
11. Knit 6, Knit two together, repeat 6X across row
12. Knit 5, Knit two together, repeat 6X across row
13. Knit 4, Knit two together, repeat 6X across row
14. Knit 3, Knit two together, repeat 6X across row
15. Knit 2 together across.
16. Leaving a one foot tail, knit the last row pulling the tail through the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight, knot and weave the tail in.
17. Add embellishments if desired.....for the hat pictured I did a blanket stitch around the bottom and top and added a flower....

 HAPPY CREATING!

TUCKER'S CARROT SOUP

We seem to have a budding new chef in the house these days.  The 4 year old has learned how to carefully chop with a sharp blade and we have been busy cooking up some new creations.

GINGER & CURRY CARROT SOUP

•  2 Lbs Organic Carrots-chopped into 1/4 or 1/2 or 1 inch pieces-matters not exact.
• 1 tsp Curry-more if you like it spicy
• 1 tsp Ground Ginger
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 Onion diced
• 1 Quart Organic Chicken Broth or Water(or whatever you've got homemade in your freezer)
• 2 Tbs Olive Oil(or Coconut Oil or Combination of the two)

In a saucepan or dutch oven, heat 2 tbs oil in pan on medium heat and add the chopped onion, curry, ginger & salt.  Saute for 5-7 minutes and begin to add the chopped carrots and 1 cup of broth or water to steam the carrots a bit.  Then add remaining liquid and simmer for 30 minutes occasionally stirring.  When carrots are tender use an immersion blender or wait until it is COOL and put in a Cuisinart.  We served ours with a touch of plain yogurt and some spicy greens-enjoy!

WORLD'S CUTEST BABY BOOTIES

These are officially the "world's cutest booties"......one of my fabulous friends announced that they would have another child just to be able to put on a pair :)  The pattern is from Saartje Knits and it is an easy pattern to follow and the results are-like I said before-the cutest booties!  I altered the pattern a bit for the mary jane version on the left-if you'd like the pattern changes let me know and I'd be glad to post them....I used my favorite worsted weight wool by The Brown Sheep Company

• Multi-colored Mary Jane Version Blue Heirloom #M75 & Blue Flannel #M82 

• Brown Criss-Crossed Version Brown Heather #M02

Some very special friends and family have been welcoming new babies into their lives these last few weeks.   I am so glad to know that some of these booties will be used to keep their toes toasty warm while we await springtime. 

TUCKER'S NEW FRIENDS.....

Inspired by the fabulous book:

NEEDLE FELTED EASTER EGGS

In an attempt to avoid plastic easter eggs and individually wrapped candies we tried to make some easter eggs of our own....after trying the wet felting technique, we decided that while it was more fun than the needle felting the results just were a little wonky.....Z was a huge fan of dipping the wool into the warm soapy water....

but the finished product was a little lacking....so we tried needle felting instead....The plan is to fill them with some yogurt covered raisins and jelly beans that the easter bunny will be bringing tomorrow.

FELTED EASTER EGGS: INSPIRED BY FRONTIER DREAMS

Materials:

• Hard Boiled Eggs or a plastic egg
• Wool Roving-We used pastel colors, but any would work
• Barbed Needle
• Embroidery Floss for finishing the edges

1) Wrap the wool roving around the egg, try to criss cross the wool in an even layer all over.
2) Begin to poke with the needle-all around and over until it comes together.
3) Once you get a good cover with a solid color go ahead and add polka dots, stripes, whatever you like :)
4) Cut an opening 1" or 1 1/2" from the top and 1 1/2" long.
5) Stitch around the opening to create a finished look.....can't wait to see what we will find.