• Large cross stitch Christmas tree
    Crafts for adults

    Large cross stitch Christmas tree

    January 12, 2024 - By 

    I love to add a couple of handmade decorations each year. This year I stitched some felt initial hoops for our family stockings, and thought I would add some cross stitched Christmas trees too. I used a simple template I designed and 3D printed. I’ll share the file in case you want to print and make one too. Supplies: Wooden embroidery hoop Heat erasable pen Felt Wool Needle Scissors 3D printed cross stitch template How to make a felt cross stitched Christmas tree I designed the plastic template in Autodesk Fusion 360  and 3D printed the cross stitch template on…

  • Little Stitchy Bee wooden ornaments
    Crafts for adults

    December crafting

    December 29, 2023 - By 

    It’s the last month of the year and I’m happy to look back over all my makes from this year. Looking back over what I’ve made helps me realise all the little stitchy projects I’ve completed, as well as the ones I haven’t. It’s definitely something I’m going to carry on writing in 2024. December crafting There was a definite festive feel to my crafting in the month of December. This year I started early on my handmade gifts and it really paid off as I had some time left for Christmassy makes. I stitched 7 small initial cross stitch…

  • Macramé Christmas by Isabella Strambio
    Craft book review - Crafts for adults - Crafts for kids - Crafts for teens - Crafts for tweens

    Macramé Christmas by Isabella Strambio {book review}

    December 2, 2023 - By 

    I love a handmade Christmas. This year I have been working towards a Christmas tree decorated only with handmade ornaments. Obviously this will be for me, because my kids still insist on decorating our main tree with every decoration they can find! Handmade decorations and macramé remain just as popular as ever. If you want to try making some sweet macramé items you see featured in magazines and online then you will love Macramé Christmas by Isabella Strambio – thank you to Search Press for sending me a review copy. Macramé Christmas by Isabella Strambio {book review} This is the…

  • Craft book review - Crafts for adults

    November crafting

    November 30, 2023 - By 

    November was a great month for crafting, albeit a very busy one with birthdays and Christmas preparation. I stitched a gorgeous bird hoop for my husband for Christmas featuring a robin. This was a quick and easy make, but very satisfying. I’ve been experimenting with large cross stitch on felt and stitched initial hoops for everyone coming for Christmas at ours. I can’t decide if they will be place settings or added to gift bags instead of labels. As well as stitched initials I also tried a Christmas tree. I 3D printed a template so it is easy to mark…

  • Embroidery: Learn in a Weekend
    competition - Crafts for adults

    {giveaway} Embroidery: Learn in a Weekend

    November 20, 2023 - By 

    The traditional craft of embroidery has gained a new excitement as a new generation of stitchers bring contemporary style to subjects like houseplants and modern interiors. I am delighted to tell you more about Embroidery: Learn in a Weekend. This smart little book, written with beginners in mind, perfectly captures that aesthetic and gives you the skills you need to succeed. Embroidery: Learn in a Weekend Embroidery covers the materials you need to get going, simple introductions to the key stitches, and ten contemporary projects that evolve in complexity. Each project has a template to be copied, enabling the reader to…

  • Crafts for adults

    October crafting

    October 31, 2023 - By 

    October was a busy month for us. With the kids back at school and settled I applied for a new job – and got it! Thankfully I only had to give one weeks’ notice. I found I turned to crafting to help keep me focused on the interview as I really wanted the job. I t feels like I had a pretty good month making. Handmade gifts I wanted to make a Scrabble inspired gift for my sister as she was about to celebrate a big birthday. I love crafting with vintage items and dug through my Scrabble tiles to…

  • How to crochet a Halloween ghost
    Crafts for adults - Crafts for teens - Crochet - Halloween crafts

    How to crochet a Halloween ghost

    October 4, 2023 - By 

    October surely means Halloween and I love a little project I can work on in the evening. This year I’ve experimented with crochet and whipped up a few little ghosts. I thought I would share instructions on how to crochet a Halloween ghost for your Halloween decor this year. List of supplies: Crochet yarn – medium light Crochet hook – 3.5mm A pair of scissors Tapestry needle How to crochet a Halloween ghost: Select a white yarn bundle for the ghost base shape. Start with a slip knot and work 6 chain stitches. Skip the chain next to the hook…

  • craft kits at The Works
    Crafts for adults

    September crafting

    September 30, 2023 - By 

    September saw the kids go back to school and, although I was glad to get back to our school routine, I felt like I had less time to make. I’m not sure if this was true but it definitely feels like our calendar is full to bursting. It didn’t stop me stocking up on craft kits at The Works – they have a great selection! September crafting The first thing I picked up was Love Embroidery magazine issue 44 which included a free embroidery kit designed by Georgie Emery. It featured a gingerbread house on pre-printed fabric, as well as…

  • 365 day stitching wheel
    Crafts for adults

    Ideas for 365 challenges

    September 16, 2023 - By 

    September feels like a good time to start a new project. The children are back to a new year at school, club start up again and it’s a time when I start to look at myself and what I want to achieve too. This year I am trying a 365 challenge, where I add to my rather large embroidery hoop each day. Ideas for 365 challenges A 365 day challenge has become really popular recently. After reading 365 Days of Stitches recently I decided to start my own 365 embroidery challenge. Some of my friends have added a button to…