Preparing your hoop
This adorable hat and sleeping bag will keep little ones warm and toasty this winter and make a lovely Christmas gift
1 To transfer your snowflake design to your fabric, trace the line drawing from the page onto the tracing paper. Lie the fabric on a hard surface and tape flat.
2 Next put the carbon paper, coloured side down, over the fabric, centering the traced design on top. Tape it down to secure. Using a pencil, trace around the line drawing, pressing hard. Check at a corner to make sure the design is transferring onto the fabric.
3 Centre hoop over the design and secure. 4 Using three strands of floss throughout, work the embroidery following the diagram and the stitches needed for each design. Add the beads last.
5 Once you’ve finished your design take a long length of pearl cotton and with the wrong side facing, insert the needle into the fabric about 13mm (½ in) from the outer edge of the hoop. Work a circle of running stitches around the perimeter of the hoop. Leave a long tail. 6 Trim off excess fabric at least 13mm (½in) away from the running stitches. Gather the running stitches by pulling the pearl cotton thread until the fabric fits snugly around the inner hoop, then secure the thread with a few double stitches.
7 Place the felt backing on top of the fabric and, using pearl cotton, stitch through both the felt and fabric to attach the backing.
FOR SNOWFLAKE 1
Straight stitch
Bring needle up through at A and down at B. Pull tightly enough that there is no gap, but not so tight that it makes the fabric pucker.
Satin stitch
FOR SNOWFLAKE 2 1 Outline the area you want to fill. 2 Beginning at the centre of the area you want to fill in, bring the needle up through the front of the fabric from A and down through B. 3 Bring the needle up through C, staying as close to the first stitch as possible.
4 Continue with this stitch until the area is filled. To end the stitch, go down through fabric to the wrong side at B.
Chain stitch
1 Bring needle through fabric at A. Form a loop and hold down with your thumb or finger. Insert needle at A again and come back through fabric at B. Gently pull thread through to form first chain.
2 Repeat Step 1, always inserting needle where thread came out, drawing it through tightly enough to lay flat, but not so tight that the fabric puckers.
FOR SNOWFLAKE 3
Single chain stitch
Follow step 1 for chain stitch. Go down through fabric at C, tacking the top of the stitch down. To end stitch, go down to wrong side of fabric at C. Fasten off.
Blanket stitch
1 Bring the thread up at A. Insert the needle in at B and back out at
C, holding the thread under the needle. Draw through.
2 Repeat Step 1, spacing the stitches evenly. 3 To end the stitch, go down through fabric to wrong side at C. To work a curved or round shape, work stitches evenly around the edge, opening up the space between stitches.
Fly stitch
A 1 Bring needle up at A and insert needle at B, to the right of A. Pull needle out at C, bringing the tip of the needle over the thread.
2 Pull the needle through the fabric, looping it over the stitch, pulling it down at D to form a Y-shape.
3 Continue in this way to form a neat vertical row.
A
B
C
D
Year with Yours 2021 is the perfect stocking filler for friends and family. There is something for everyone from pages filled with tasty recipes to get creative in the kitchen, to tricky brainteasers and step-bystep craft projects. The Yours annual includes a week-to-view diary, fun tips and exciting days out for every season, to reader memories and short stories that will have you reminiscing. This is sure to be a festive favourite with loved ones this year!
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MATERIALS AND MEASURMENTS Cocoon: Approx circumference 61x61cm (24x24in) deep unfolded. Hat: Approx circumference 40.5cm (16in)
1 pair of size 6 mm (UK. 10) knitting needles
2 x 250g balls of Bernat® Pipsqueak 58415 (Candy Girl) Tension: 10 sts and 18 rows = 10cm (4in) in garter stitch.
ABBREVIATIONS alt-alternate; K-knit; remremaining; Rep-repeat; RSright side; sl-slip stitch; st(s)stitch(es); WS-wrong side
Both the hat and little cocoon are worked sideways
COCOON
Cast on 70 sts.
1st and alt rows: (WS). Sl1. Knit to end of row.
2nd row: K69. turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
4th row: K68. turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
6th row: K67. turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
8th row: K66. turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
10th row: K65. turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
12th row: K64. turn. Leave rem sts unworked. 14th row: Knit to end of row. 70 sts.
Rep 1st to 14th rows 7 times more. Cast off. Sew side seam, using flat seam
(see diagram).
Fold cuff 6cm (2½in) to RS.
HAT
Cast on 19 sts.
1st and alt rows: (WS). Sl1. Knit to end of row.
2nd row: K18. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
4th row: K17. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
6th row: K16. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
8th row: Knit to end of row. 19 sts.
Rep 1st to 8th rows 7 times more. Cast off. Sew back seam, using flat seam
(see diagram).
Fold cuff 4cm (1½in) to RS. Sew your flat seam like this diagram (right)…
■ This pattern is supplied by Hobbycraft. For alternative FREE designs visit Hobbycraft. co.uk and search for ‘free
knitting patterns’
Grey-blue pasta bowl, £3.50; grey-blue dinner plate, £3.50; animal napkin rings 2pk, £6; spot wine glass, £3.50; spot prosecco flute, £3.50; assorted leaf wire lights, £8; snowy trees pack of four, £8; galvanised large light up house table top, £10, galvanised light up house small, £4, all Sainsbury’s Home. Pom-pom garland, £15; 16-piece bistro cutlery set, £20, both Argos Home
Gold mercury tealight holder, £2, Matalan
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
£ £3.95 £
What you’ll need
Wreath ring oasis, plastic backed to protect your door Scissors
Knife
10 florist wires (approx) Roll of florist wire Selection of foliage
Soak the wreath ring oasis in cold water. Use a craft knife to shave off the curved edges (inner and outer edges) to make a large flat surface area to add your foliage.
Berry cone wreath, £10, Argos Home
Few things are more welcoming than a handcrafted wreath adorning the centre of your front door. Florist Janice Baker shares five simple steps for making one you’ll be proud to display this Christmas
Loop a narrow ribbon through the wreath and tie at the top to make a hanger. Cut foliage for the outer and inner edge to approx 7-8cm (3in) and remove lower leaves.
uriel sighed. Christmas carols on the radio. In the shops. On television. There had been a time when they would have lifted her heart. A time when she would have been busy making mince pies, icing the cake at the last minute and wrapping presents for her family. But not this year, not any year.
It was wrong for a daughter to die before her mother. “Do what you want, darling girl,” Muriel used to joke when Angela went climbing in the Cairngorms or bungee jumping in New Zealand, “but don’t die before I do! That’s the only rule.”
But Angela had broken that rule a year ago when a lorry, sliding on ice, had crashed into her car, killing her and her children, five-year-old Elizabeth and little Paul.
‘I will never recover,’ Muriel thought, gazing out of the window at the grey winter day. ‘They say time heals, but it doesn’t’.
It would soon be New Year. She prayed that lockdown would not be prolonged although, in a strange way, it had been a blessing. She didn’t have to go out to face the sympathy looks or people crossing the road to avoid her because they didn’t know what to say.
Instead, a box of groceries was deposited on her doorstep by a young man who gave a cheery wave from the gate. Her prescriptions were delivered. The world had been turned upside down, but she had derived some comfort from the way the community had taken care of her. And she had been able to grieve in peace.
MShe watched a young mother struggling past with a crying toddler in a buggy and a little girl clinging to her hand. Their eyes met briefly as the woman bent to speak to her daughter.
She prayed that lockdown wouldn’t be prolonged, yet it had been a blessing...
Muriel turned away, embarrassed to have been caught staring blankly out of the window.
Crossing the room, she picked up the carrier bag containing her knitting. Since lockdown began in March she had kept herself occupied by using up old odds and ends of wool. She had made a clown with a red nose and a doll that had bright red hair because she’d run out of yellow wool.
Remembering how Paul and Elizabeth used to love the toys she made for them, Muriel felt such a sharp stab of pain it took her breath away. On a sudden impulse, she pushed everything back into the bag. Surely that young woman couldn’t have gone far?
Still in her slippers and without her coat, she caught up with them. The little girl had sunk down onto the pavement and refused to move. Her mum was pleading with her: “Sweetheart, come on. Peter needs his nappy changed and you need your dinner. It’s fish fingers – your favourite!”
Feeling shy, Muriel almost turned back, then she said: “Excuse me. I don’t
mean to be rude, but I knitted these toys. Would your children like them?”
The little boy stopped crying and twisted round to see what was going on. Muriel held up the clown and put on a pretend clown voice: “Hello, little boy. Would you like to have me for a playmate?” His face broke into a smile as he reached for the toy.
Next, she pulled out the doll and the little girl scrambled to her feet, clapping her hands. She hugged the red-haired doll to her chest.
Turning to the weary young woman, Muriel abandoned social distancing and patted her arm reassuringly: “You are a wonderful mum to these children.”
The woman’s tired blue eyes brightened and she smiled back. “Thank
She wasn’t their real granny. But did that matter?
you. I’m Jane and this is Lara and Peter. They love their early Christmas presents. You are very kind.”
Taking Lara by the hand, she moved on. As Muriel headed back to the house, she heard a clear young voice calling after her: “Bye bye, Granny!”
Shocked, she stumbled back in through the front door. It had been a mistake. She shouldn’t have gone out. Nobody had the right to call her granny, not even a wee lass. Especially not a wee lass.
To stop her hands shaking, she made a cup of tea and took it to the spare room where there was a box of toys she kept for Elizabeth and Paul’s visits. In her mind’s eye she saw her grandchildren once again playing with the brightly coloured toys she’d bought from charity shops.
Muriel brushed away her tears. What was the use of crying? It wouldn’t bring them back. She returned to the kitchen where she began angrily making pastry. Soon the house was filled with the festive aroma of mince pies baking in the oven.
When the doorbell rang, she was surprised to see the young woman with her children standing on the doorstep.
Lara held out a parcel. “For you,” she announced solemnly.
Muriel felt she had no choice but to invite them in. While the children happily investigated the contents of the toy box, she and Jane had tea and mince pies, sitting at opposite ends of the table.
“I’m so sorry Lara called you granny,” Jane said. “The thing is that I lost my mum to Covid in April and we all miss her terribly.”
“You know that I lost…” Muriel began. “Yes, I had heard. It was in the local paper. You must be heartbroken – I can’t imagine what you have gone through.”
Unable to speak, Muriel opened the parcel Lara had given her. Inside was a soft fluffy dressing-gown. “Oh, this is too generous!” she exclaimed.
“I bought it for Mum’s birthday. Please have it. She would have wanted you to have it.”
Peter brought a truck over to show Muriel and clambered onto her lap. Her heart melted. Looking over his head at Jane, she said: “Any time you need a wee break, I’d be happy to have them.”
Jane said: “You’re on! The real reason we came this afternoon was to ask if you would like to join us for dinner on Christmas Day?”
Hopping up and down with excitement, Lara said: “Please, new granny, please!”
That night in bed, Muriel reflected on the strange events of the day. Jane wasn’t Angela. Lara and Peter weren’t Elizabeth and Paul. And she wasn’t their real granny. But did that matter?
As she drifted off to sleep, she thought she heard Angela’s voice saying: “Enjoy watching those two little ones grow, Mum. Be there for them, and let Jane look after you for me.”
Her beautiful, kind and wise daughter had always known best. Suddenly, the prospect of another New Year didn’t seem quite so bleak, after all.
Penny studied art after retiring from teaching children with special needs. She lives in Scotland and enjoys wild swimming.