a little bride bunny

I learned how to knit in high school, but all I could really make was a rectangle (a.k.a. a scarf). I knew the basics of how to start, how to finish, and a little bit of what to do in between. So how did I get from knitting scarves to knitting sweaters?

• YouTube. You can learn every single thing you need to know about knitting (and lots of other hobbies) from YouTube. Every confusing instruction, every weird stitch, every interesting technique is explained step-by-step in a video. (I even replaced the cracked gas tank on my lawn mower by watching an instructional video on YouTube.)
• Ravelry. This online community for all things knit and crochet is a treasure trove of patterns (free and for sale), inspiration, and support. I wouldn't be nearly as interested in knitting if I didn't find all these awesome ideas on Ravelry.
• Yarn shops. Michael's and Hobby Lobby have decent yarn. But, oh my gosh, I didn't know what I was missing until I ventured into my local yarn shop... there are some really beautiful yarns out there. Working with quality materials makes knitting so much more fun.
• Little Cotton Rabbits. I stumbled on this blog a couple years ago and immediately fell in love with the adorable knit animals. I followed the blog for a while and was indescribably excited when she published the patterns for her girl and boy bunny. These patterns are not simple and not quick, but they are so rewarding. Wanting a bunny for my very own was my biggest motivation to learn more about knitting.

I just finished making my eighth bunny from Little Cotton Rabbits. She is a gift for my friend Jen who is getting married in November, so I decked her out with a wedding dress, a veil, and even a little garter. I love how she turned out, and I know she's gone to a good home!

This little bunny was made with Cascade 220 in color doeskin heather, and her dress is Rowan wool cotton 4-ply in antique. Additional project details are available on my Ravelry page.