The My Crochet Kitchen: Pasta Dishes set was designed not only to look amazing, but also to help your little chef learn about a few classic Italian pasta dishes!

I wanted to create a way for kids to go beyond simply ‘chopping’ raw veg or stacking a burger – to connect their imaginations with a budding appreciation for flavours, foods and cultures. But they’re also extremely satisfying to make, arrange and play with as ‘older chefs’!

This pasta dish is a kind of ‘peasant meal’ that originated in Naples sometime after World War II – when food was scarce, but a few staples like eggs and pasta could still be found. But as with most dishes of humble origin, it is nonetheless delicious!

I’ve included a basic ‘recipe’ before the pattern itself, listing all the necessary ingredients (recipes for other pasta dishes in this range are found at the end of the pattern). The individual items can, of course, be mixed and matched at will, but I hope that this play food will support you in feeding your child’s curiosity about how to follow a recipe; combine different elements into a meal; and maybe even delve into the history of each dish’s origins.

Certain items are crocheted in continuous rounds, while others are worked flat in rows. Instructions for each element will let you know which construction method you’ll use, and the photo guide will further demonstrate this.

Happy crocheting!