Remember This Game?

Today you can grab a Kindle copy of 'Traditional Games: How to Have Fun off the Grid' totally FREE!

 Traditional Games: How to Have Fun off the Grid



This handy little book is packed with great ideas for games to play indoors or out, young or old. There are sitting down games for those of us who overdid Sunday lunch and some great fun outdoor games with lots of blasts from the past!

Do you remember this one?

What’s The Time Mr. Wolf?

This used to be a playground favourite. One player is the ‘wolf’ and faces a wall. All the other players stand in a line a fair distance behind him.

The players call out ‘what’s the time Mr. Wolf?’ and the ‘wolf’ calls out, for example, ‘1 o’clock’. The players then take one step towards the wolf.

They repeat ‘What’s the time Mr. Wolf?’ and the ‘wolf’ may call ‘It’s two o’clock’. The players take two further steps closer to the wolf.

The wolf doesn’t have to choose one o’clock then two o’clock etc; it can be totally random.

This goes on until the ‘wolf’ chooses when it’s teatime. After the players have called out ‘what’s the time?’ the wolf can say at any time ‘It’s teatime!’

As soon as he has, he chases the players, who all run away from the wolf, and the one he catches is the next wolf.

"Phew! Sounds hectic, but great fun :-)"

If you're still relaxing after Sunday lunch, the family dice game with scorecard will keep you amused :-) Traditional Games: How to Have Fun off the Grid

Don't miss this - no strings  attached.. BUT it's only free for today (Friday 14th June 2013). Download and enjoy!

Linda x

How to Make a Doll

"Knit a Kid today"

When you make a doll, you're creating a wonderland of imagination for your children. The Ekokids are designed to take that one step further. These dolls are teenage dolls with a passion for clothes and healthy living.

They can be made really quickly and you can add to their wardrobe on a daily basis - pieces are small, easy and quick to make and need only a few metres of yarn to get them done. You could knit 4 main dolls from 100g of yarn - which you can pick up from thrift shops or directly online. I found some great packs of different coloured yarn on Amazon at a good price.

The Ekokids cost very little, last for ages and get you loads of Brownie points from the children. The patterns are step by step style, designed for beginners but seasoned knitters will adore them too :-)

Knitting for beginners patterns are often simple but edge on the boring side - scarves and hats are great to knit but if you want to create a family heirloom that will delight everyone real quick, these dolls are the answer...

There are 3 stunning online patterns you can access in just a couple of clicks.

Online Ekokid Patterns





If you just love your Kindle, choose from the 3 volumes listed on this page (where you can also find a potted history of The Ekokids):

Keep the Kids on the Kindle




And the Ekokids have just launched a new kit called 'Knit-A-Kid' - we're still in pre-launch stage really but all the tools and materials you need can be delivered to your door, ready to make your first doll. And the beauty of these kits is that you'll have the needles, accessories and pattern available to make more!

Knit-A-Kid Knitting Kits




Just before I sign off, if you haven't learnt to knit yet, it's a life skill definitely worth getting into. Knitting has  big health benefits too...it engages both sides of the brain. Activities that do this can help prevent brain conditions such as Alzheimer's. Knitting also helps you relax - oh, and it really helps with snacking habits. Knitting is not compatible with eating sticky cakes and chocolates!

A couple of pointed sticks and a length of yarn and you can create so many practical and beautiful soft toys, baby bootees, jumpers, scarves and woolly hats, gifts, warm covers and of course your eco-friendly Ekokids.

Happy Knitting!

Linda x

Designer Wardrobe

New patterns are up!

All these patterns can be accessed online with a couple of quid and a couple of clicks! Making Ekokid dolls as gifts or toys for your children is an inexpensive hobby that you can enjoy anywhere.

Hoody & Dancing Skirt

Hat & Coat

and of course the Crop Top and Jeans




Get Your Kid Knitted Today! Pop over to this page  Ekokid Patterns  for full details of what you need and how to start.

"Happy Knitting!"

Debut Online Performance!

The Ekokids have just launched their FIRST online pattern. You can order it direct from my home and garden website: here

These simple and fun dolls are mix and match-able. Create clothes and accessories, characters and stories and imaginary worlds to play in!

If you can:

- cast on stitches

- cast off stitches

- knit stitches

- purl stitches

- knit/purl 2 stitches together and

- Increase a stitch by knitting into the front and back of a stitch,

you'll be ready to tackle this doll pattern.

The pattern pieces are quick to make and only require very small quantities of yarn. You'll need:

double knitting yarn (referred to as DK yarn) and size 4mm (U.S size: 6 and old UK size: 8) knitting needles for all pieces. I can make 4 basic dolls from a 100g ball of yarn.

The patterns are step-by-step style and designed for beginners.

"Knit an Ekokid Today!"

To make a basic doll you'll need:

Flesh coloured yarn - allow 60m

Shoe colour yarn - about 5m

Yarn or embroidery cotton for hair - approx. 25m - depending on how long and thick you want the hair to be!

About 50g of washable toy filling

Embroidery cotton or silk for features

Grab this pattern today for only £1.99. A few clicks and it's yours!

Your Ekokid Pattern!

"Happy Knitting"

10 Minute Toys - Yarn Dollies

The Ekokids have dolls of their own now! These yarn dollies are great to play with and a piece of cake to make...This one took me less than ten minutes. Although the hair is far too long and the trimming could be better!

You need:

A pair of sharp scissors

A square of fairly stiff card 10cm by 10cm

Just over 8m of yarn - allow 9-10 metres. This is a very small ball of yarn!

For the arms:
Wind yarn round the card 15 times then slide off. Tie a short length of yarn about 1cm from both ends very tightly and snip through loops to make hands. (You could leave them looped, up to you!)

For the main body: wind yarn around card 30 times then slide off.

Tie a short length of yarn round one end, close to the edge and snip through loops to make hair.

Tie another short length further down to create the head. Underneath this 'neck' tie, separate the loops and feed the arms through. Then tie a length of yarn directly under the arms, making sure it's pulled tight.

Separate the bottom part into two legs and form feet with yarn ties. Voila - 10 minute toy!

The most important thing to remember is to make sure the ties are tied tight :-)

More Ideas:

- make them in different sizes by using a larger piece of card -  you'll need more yarn
- sew small stitches for features
- Turn small ones into badges with a tiny safety pin in the back
- make them in lots of different colours.

This is a toy older children can make for younger siblings - As long as the cutting bit is done by a grown up of course!

Happy Crafting!

Linda x

Knit A Kid

 'Knit-A-Kid' knitting kits for beginners



The first kid is ready! Katie, in her dancing skirt and cropped top, makes her debut performance as a do it yourself Eco version of Barbie.

The patterns are designed for beginners and are quick and easy to make. Kits come complete with all tools and materials you need to make an Ekokid doll.


In each kit you get:

-All the yarn you need to make an Ekokid doll, their clothes and accessories.

-Cotton silks for facial features

-Toy filling

-Elastic for skirt

-Button for bag

-1 pair of knitting needles

-1 darning needle for sewing up pieces

-6 special pins to help get a perfect finish

- The Patterns

Contents are packaged in a plain white Kraft bag. and  made to order for just £19.99 + FREE postage

Order direct from this page in the home and garden section of my website. Only available for UK delivery at the moment... but I'm working on sending the kids round the world!

Join The Ekokids on Facebook for more fun projects... The Ekokids

Happy Knitting!

Linda x

Blue Hair & Cats

You don't have to have a blue rinse or a cat to create a family heirloom. Nothing wrong with blue hair or cats, but they aren't obligatory.

Knitting is one of the few hobbies that can be practised and perfected in minutes whenever you feel like it, and at a fraction of the cost of many hobbies.

Patterns for beginners have, until NOW, been a bit uninteresting :-), scarves and woolly hats are great but can be boring to knit, especially if you are an unseasoned knitter, and haven't yet got a cat.

So I've designed these patterns to suit everyone! The dolls, clothes and accessories are easy and quick to knit and don't cost anywhere near as much as a Barbie for example. In fact the Ekokids are an eco-version of Barbie. You can mix and match their clothes and create characters to suit the moment.

The Ekokids promote healthy living and are part of many projects - we're hoping to get a TV deal later in the year. For now, Kindle pattern books are available, and all going well.... drum roll please .... 'Knit-A-Kid' kits should be ready to launch by the end of this week. They contain all the tools and materials you need to make one character doll, and you'll have the tools available to make more whenever you want to!

The very first character kits will be made to order, and should be available online and in retail outlets in a few months.

Happy Knitting!