Time spent alone without a craft project is my idea of a total nightmare. Since the Coronavirus pandemic took hold, many folks (who don't routinely have an emergency crochet project in the glove compartment) find themselves facing weeks of isolation and unexpected free time.
I'd recently knitted this little rabbit so the pupils at my school Knitting Club could see how easy it is to make. It's like crafting magic because this wee fellow is created from a simple garter stitch square. There's plenty of instructions online but this one by Studio Knit is really clear. An ideal project for beginner knitters.
I'd just watched this sobering video in which Italians share messages warning others of the impact of Coronavirus. It emphasises the seriousness of our situation and the importance of having stuff to do when faced with isolation. I smiled too, though, at the guy advocating new hobbies. "Play guitar" he says, "Actually... learn how to play guitar. Cause right now you suck at it."
And I thought - what if I could enable someone, who's home alone with time on their hands, to learn to knit?
And that's how the Happy Bunny Project came about!
Amid a shortage of some groceries and a dearth of toilet roll, it's a bit of a standing joke just now amongst crafters on social media that those who knit, crochet, sew or indulge in any textile craft are never going to run out of supplies. As a magnet for rejected knitter's paraphernalia, see this earlier blog post about a bag of unwanted yarn. I readily put my hands on wool and needles.
I also located my huge bag of toy filling, needles for sewing up and some wool in other colours to embroider bunny's face. The local bank is generous with its change bags so I filled unused ones with enough stuffing for at least one bunny.
I found a few big-eyed needles in the craft room but procured some more from Poundland (along with a treat or two to include as well).
Those unused paper lunch sacks from last year's church outreach initiative proved perfect for keeping everything together. Finally, I compiled an instruction sheet with links to online resources and popped one in each bag. I'd enlisted the help of my daughter, Eilidh, to create the bunny illustration (which I love) and printed it onto stickers for the outside of the lunch sacks.
I was able to make ten kits. With school closure imminent, I took them into work yesterday and left them with this note for staff and pupils to uplift.
There's a hashtag to use for anyone wishing to share finished projects #happybunnyproject and I'll be delighted if bunnies start appearing over the coming weeks.
If you'd like to make a kit to share with anyone currently isolated, I'm happy to send you the graphic and my instruction sheet for you to personalise. Reach out to me neveratalooseend@gmail.com or through Instagram @neveratalooseend
Note : I am currently in good health and washed my hands lots while I was making these kits!
