Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
Everything you need to know to create Christmas
Get stitching, hooking and sewing and make this your most lovely festive season yet!
CHRISTMAS MUSHROOMS Easy crochet
Measurements Mushroom 1: about 8cm tall Mushroom 2: about 7cm tall Mushroom 3: about 5cm tall Gather your supplies
• DMC Woolly 50g ball in Red 058
• DMC Woolly 50g ball x 1 in White 001
• DMC Natura Just Cotton
50gm ball x 1 in White 01 You’ll also need
3-3.25mm crochet hook; stitch marker or small safety pin; polyester fibrefill; tapestry needle; domed glass cloche, 20cmh x 10cm dia.; dried moss for decoration; string of battery-operated seed lights Here’s how Tension: Correct tension is not essential for this project.
NOTE: Mark the first st with a stitch marker or safety pin so you know exactly where you began. Marking will
aid with your st count. You will be working in a spiral, so mark first st at the beginning of each round. MUSHROOM 1 Stalk Using white yarn, commence with a magic circle or make
4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle.
Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring.
Round 2: 2dc in each st to end … 12dc.
Round 3: 1dc in back loop of each st to end.
Rounds 4 to 12: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 13: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end … 18dc.
Round 14: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end … 24dc.
Round 15: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end … 30dc.
Round 16: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * to end … 36dc. Fasten off.
Mushroom cap
Using red yarn, commence with a magic circle or make 4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle.
Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring.
You will now be working in a spiral; mark the first st at beginning of each round.
Round 2: 2dc in each st to end … 12dc.
Round 3: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end … 18dc.
Round 4: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 5: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end … 24dc.
Round 6: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 7: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end … 30dc.
Round 8: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * to end … 36dc. Fasten off.
To make up Using white yarn and French knots, embroider random spots on mushroom cap. Firmly fill stalk with fibrefill, place mushroom cap on top, then join stalk to cap with a sl st or sew closed, filling cap with fibrefill prior to completing seam. MUSHROOM 2
Stalk Work as for stalk of Mushroom 1 to end of round
3, then continue as follows:
Rounds 4 to 9: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 10: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end … 18dc.
Round 11: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end … 24dc.
Round 12: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end … 30dc.
Round 13: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * to end … 36dc. Fasten off.
Mushroom cap
Work as for cap of Mushroom
1 to the end of round 3, then continue as follows:
Round 4: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end … 24dc.
Round 5: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 6: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end … 30dc. Fasten off. To make up Complete as for Mushroom 1.
MUSHROOM 3 Stalk Work as for stalk of Mushroom 2.
Mushroom cap Work as for cap of Mushroom 1 to end of round 7. Fasten off. To make up
Complete as for Mushroom 1. Arrange all 3 mushrooms in dome. Decorate base of dome with dried moss, add seed lights and glass cloche. REINDEER CROSS-STITCH Finished size: 12.5 x 12.5cm Gather your supplies • DMC stranded cotton, 1 skein each 666 and 986 • 32-count Belfast linen (3609.18), 20 x 20cm
• DMC tapestry needle, size 22
• 15cm embroidery hoop
• Gold glitter paint
• Paintbrush
• Adhesive-backed felt sheet (optional)
• Pressing cloth Here’s how
NOTES: 1 Use 2 strands of DMC thread when cross-stitching and 1 strand when backstitching.
2 Fold fabric centre into quarters and crease to locate fabric centre. Mark centre with water soluble pen. Locate centre of Reindeer crossstitch chart (overleaf). Referring to the chart, begin your stitching in the centre of the fabric.
3 Thread required colour of stranded cotton onto needle, bring needle from the back of work through to the front, leaving a 3cm tail at back of work. Hold tail, and work your first few stitches over it. This will secure your thread. Never tie a knot in your thread.
4 Work cross-stitch in horizontal rows from left to right. Stitch crossstitch over 2 fabric threads. Start with diagonal stitches from bottom left to top right, work the line in that thread colour. Complete row. The return row is stitched right to left, make crosses by bringing the needle up at bottom right corner and down at top left corner. Complete the return row and repeat stitching sequence until area is stitched, as charted.
5 When stitching, don’t pull thread too tight as this can make the work uneven.
6 To end off your thread, take your needle through to the back
of your work and run it under a few stitches then trim cleanly. To finish
• If your work is wrinkled when stitching is complete, iron it flat with an iron on warm, using a pressing cloth to protect your stitching.
• Paint larger hoop edges gold. Let dry.
• Insert completed design in hoop, stretching fabric taut, then tighten clamp to secure. Leaving a 3cm allowance all around, cut excess fabric. Press fabric allowance to back of hoop.
• Trace outline of hoop onto adhesivebacked felt (if using), and cut on marked outline. Peel off backing and stick felt to back of hoop. CHRISTMAS STOCKING GARLAND Easy crochet
Measurements Stocking: about 13mh Garland: about 4m long
Gather your supplies
• DMC Woolly5 50g ball x 2 in Red 105
• DMC Woolly5 50g ball x 2 in Green 89
• DMC Woolly5 50g ball x 2 in White 01 You’ll also need
4-4.5mm crochet hook; stitch marker or small safety pin; tapestry needle; large pompom maker (optional); ribbon (optional) Here’s how Tension: Correct tension is not essential for this project.
Stocking colour combinations Make 5 of each colour combination: • Stocking 1: colour 1 red, colour 2 white
• Stocking 2: colour 1 red, colour 2 green
• Stocking 3: colour 1 green, colour 2 red
NOTES: 1 When changing colour, always use the new colour to work the last loop of the final st in the previous colour, then proceed as pattern directs. 2 Be sure to mark the first st with a stitch marker or safety pin so you know exactly where you began; marking will aid with your st count. You will be working in a spiral, so mark first st at the beginning of each round.
Stocking
Using colour 1 and beginning at toe, commence with a magic circle or make 4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle.
Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring.
Round 2: 2htr into each st to end … 12htr.
Round 3: * 2dc in next st, 1htr in next st, rep from * to end … 18 sts.
Rounds 4, 5 and 6: 1htr into each st to end.
Change to colour 2.
Place a stitch marker on last st. Work heel.
Row 1: Skip first 5 sts – attach yarn with a sl st to sixth st, 1ch (does not count as a st), 1dc in same st, 1dc in next st, 1htr in each of next 2 sts, 1tr in each of next 5 sts, 1htr in each of next 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, TURN. Continue working in rows on these 13 sts only, leaving 5 unworked sts until later.
Row 2: Working back along row 1, sl st in first dc, 1dc in next dc, 1htr in each of next 2htr, 1tr in each of next 5tr, 1htr in each of next 2htr, 1dc in next dc, sl st in last dc, TURN.
Row 3: Sl st in sl st, 1dc in next dc, 1htr in each of next 2htr, 1tr in each
of next 5tr, 1htr in each of next 2htr, 1dc in next dc, sl st in sl st, TURN. Fasten off.
Change to colour 1.
Round 7: Pick up the last st on stitch marker from round 6 (you will now be working in a spiral again so mark the first st at beginning of each round), 1htr in 5 unworked sts, then work 1htr in each heel st to end … 18htr.
Rounds 8, 9 and 10: 1htr in each st to end.
Change to colour 2.
Rounds 11, 12 and 13:
1htr in each st to end.
Round 14: Working in reverse direction, 1dc in each st to end, sl st into first st made. Fasten off. To make up
Using red yarn, make a crochet i-cord 2-3 metres long (or alternatively use a length of ribbon), then attach a stocking every 4-6cm along cord, leaving a short length at either end free. If desired, make 2 pompoms, each 10cm dia, and securely attach to ends of cord. CHRISTMAS LIGHT BAUBLES Easy crochet
Measurements
Teardrop bauble: about 7cmh x 10cm dia.
Round bauble: about 14cm dia. Gather your supplies • DMC Natura Just Cotton 50g balls x 1 in White 01 ➤
• DMC Natura Just Cotton 50g balls x 1 in Bright Green 13 • DMC Natura Just Cotton 50gm balls x 1 in Red 23 • DMC Diamant 35m spool
x 1 in Silver D415 You’ll also need
3-3.25mm crochet hook; stitch marker or small safety pin; polyester fibrefill; tapestry needle; LED string lights; 18 metal tops from a set of Christmas baubles (removed from bauble); hot-glue gun; hotglue sticks or craft adhesive Here’s how Tension: Correct tension is not essential for this project.
NOTES: 1 Diamant metallic thread is used together with the Natura throughout to add a little sparkle to the baubles.
2 Be sure to mark the first st with a stitch marker or safety pin so you know exactly where you began; marking will aid with your st count. You will be working in a spiral, so mark first st at the beginning of each round.
Teardrop bauble
Make 5 each in Red and Bright Green
Using Natura and Diamant together throughout in selected colour, commence with a magic circle or make 4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle.
Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring.
Round 2: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end ... 8dc.
Round 3: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 4: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end ... 12dc.
Round 5: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 6: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end ... 16dc.
Round 7: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 8: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end ... 20dc.
Rounds 9, 10 and 11: 1dc
in each st to end.
Round 12: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * to end ... 24dc.
Rounds 13, 14 and 15:
1dc in each st to end.
Round 16: * dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end ... 18dc.
Round 17: * dc2tog, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end ... 12dc.
Stuff bauble firmly with fibrefill.
Round 18: * dc2tog, rep from * to end ... 6dc.
Place metal top over opening and glue securely in position. Let dry.
Round bauble
Make 10 in White
Using Natura and Diamant together throughout in selected colour, commence with a magic circle or make 4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle.
Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring.
Round 2: 2dc in each st to end … 12dc.
Round 3: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end ... 18dc.
Round 4: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end ... 24dc.
Round 5: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end ... 30dc.
Rounds 6 to 11: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 12: * dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end ... 24dc.
Round 13: * dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end ... 18dc.
Round 14: * dc2tog, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end ... 12dc.
Stuff bauble firmly with fibre fill.
Round 15: * dc2tog, rep from * to end … 6dc.
Place metal top over opening and glue securely in position. Let dry. To make up
Remove any decorative covering from string light bulbs. Arrange the baubles in your desired colour sequence. Using the red Natura yarn, work dc evenly over the cord of the fairy lights, covering it. Evenly space the baubles along the cord.
CHRISTMAS SANTA GNOMES Easy crochet
Measurements
Large gnomes: 27cmh Small gnome: 19cmh Gather your supplies
• DMC Woolly5 50g balls x in Red 105 – for large gnomes • DMC Woolly 5 50g balls x 2 in Green 89 – for large gnomes • DMC Medium Natura 50g balls x 1 in Pink 04 – for large gnomes • DMC Woolly5 50g balls x 2 in White 01– for all gnomes • DMC Woolly 50g balls x 1 Light Grey 117 – for small gnome • DMC Woolly 50g x 1 in Red
58 – for small gnome
• DMC Natura 50g balls x in Light Peach 81 – for small gnome You’ll also need
4.5-5mm crochet hook for large gnomes; 3-3.25mm crochet hook for small gnome; stitch marker or small safety pin; polyester fibrefill; tapestry needle; 10-12 flat-bottom marbles for each gnome; small bell for gnome hats Here’s how Tension: Correct tension is not essential for this project.
NOTE: Be sure to mark the first st with a stitch marker or safety pin so you know exactly where you began; marking will aid with your st count. You will be working in a spiral, so mark first st at the beginning of each round. ➤
GNOME
Make 2 large, 1 small
Hat
Using green or red yarn and large hook for large gnome or small hook for small gnome, commence with a magic circle or make 4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle.
Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring.
Round 2: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 3: 2dc in next st, 1dc in each st to end … 7dc.
Round 4: 1dc in each st to end … 7dc. Rounds 5 to 18: Rep rounds 3 and 4 another 7 times … 14dc.
Round 19: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 6 sts, rep from * to end ... 16dc. Round 20: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 21: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, rep from * to end ... 18dc. Rounds 22, 23 and 24:
1dc in each st to end.
Round 25: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, rep from * to end ... 21dc.
Rounds 26 and 27: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 28: * 2dc in next st,
1dc in each of next 6 sts, rep from * to end … 24dc.
Rounds 29 and 30: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 31: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, rep from * to end ... 27dc.
Rounds 32 and 33: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 34: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 8 sts, rep from * to end ... 30dc.
Rounds 35 and 36: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 37: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 9 sts, rep from * to end ... 33dc.
Rounds 38 and 39: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 40: * 2dc in next st,
1dc in each of next 10 sts, rep from * to end ... 36dc.
Rounds 41 and 42: 1dc in each st to end.
Fasten off, leaving a 50cm tail to sew hat to body.
Body (begin at base)
Using white yarn and large hook for large gnomes, or small hook for small gnome, commence with a magic circle or make 4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle.
Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring.
You will now be working in a spiral; mark the first st at beginning of each round.
Round 2: 2dc in each st to end … 12dc.
Round 3: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end ... 18dc.
Round 4: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end ... 24dc.
Round 5: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * to end ... 30dc. Round 6: * 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * to end ... 36dc.
Rounds 7 to 17: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 18: * dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * to end … 30dc.
Round 19: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 20: * dc2tog, 1dc in each of
next 3 sts, rep from * to end … 24dc.
Round 21: 1dc in each st to end.
Round 22: * dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * to end … 18dc.
Round 23: * dc2tog, 1dc in next st, rep from * to end … 12dc. Insert marbles in to base to weight, then stuff with fibre fill.
Round 24: * dc2tog, rep from * to end ... 6dc.
Fasten off and sew opening closed.
Nose
Using 2 ends of Medium Natura, commence with a magic circle or make 4ch and join with a sl st to first ch made to create a circle. Round 1: 1ch (does not count as a st), 8dc into ring.
You will now be working in a spiral; mark the first st at beginning of each round. Round 2: 2dc in each st to end … 16dc.
Round 3: * dc2tog, rep from * to end … 8dc. Fasten off, leave a 30cm tail to use to attach to body.
To make up
Cut 43 lengths of white yarn, each 8cm long, for each gnome. Fold in half and loop through (a half hitch) body, for 15 sts on rounds 19 and 20 and 13 sts on round 21 (moving in one st either end). Comb out yarn to create a fluffy beard, trim if necessary. Sew nose to body, centring it at top of beard. Place hat firmly over body and sew in place. Attach a bell to top of each gnome’s hat. EMBROIDERY PROJECTS Gather your supplies • DMC Stranded Cotton – 1 skein each as listed on diagram below
• Linen, calico or suitable fabric
• Carbon tracing paper
• Pinking shears