Just finished the last Christmas knit and it’s time to get started for Easter which falls in March this year.

My grandchildren enjoy playing with the nativity set I knitted (from Jean Greenhow’s collection) They call it the Christmas family and it has a special place in the bookshelf.  I decided to make them an Easter diorama to use in the same way.

“Jean Greenhowe’s Jiffyknits”,  is just the book and pages 8 and 9 has an Easter Picnic.  I improvised the grass using two shades of green and 6.5mm knitting needles. Cast on 1 then working in garter stitch,  increased one st at the beginning of every row until 60st, then knitted the second and third st together on every row until two sts, finally k2tog to finish.

I also improvised the picnic rug. I cast on 22 sts and garter stitched stripes of 4 rows red, 2 yellow, 4 green and 2 white. I repeated this three times then three rows red before casting off.  Next, I created a tartan look by weaving strands of wool through the garter stitch bumps on the right side in the same pattern as the rows. I tied off the ends to make a fringe leaving only one side to have to complete the fringe by adding yarn.

I am happy with the result. Next I will knit some egg cosies.