The first issue of Make & Craft magazine will be available on the 12th of October and in celebration of its launch they are giving away lots of lovely craft books as part of their blog tour. It looks set to be a great magazine, which aims to cultivate an online community through craft swaps, a book club and a forum with loads of different active topics.
This is the thirteenth stop on the blog tour and my book to give away is Little Christmas Decorations to Knit & Crochet. I was really pleased to get this book for two reasons. Firstly, I rarely knit because I am always knee deep in fabric, so when I can find the time its a real treat! Secondly, I am working on a festive idea at the moment, so this has continued the Christmassy feel in my house.
The first thing that I like about this book is that it is packed with projects. There are 20 knitted designs and 20 crocheted designs, all of which are clearly indexed in the back for quick reference. I also really like the mix of traditional and quirky decorations, these range from a snowflake to a penguin! Its great as well that each and every design has been made up and photographed in two different colourways – one more traditional and one with a modern twist. This means that you can visualise how each decoration will look in your personal style. I decided to knit the sweetie cone – my tree is always laden with chocolate!
The pattern was very easy to follow and uses stocking stitch throughout, with some rows requiring you to make stitches and finishing using a picot cast off. I’ve never tried a picot edging before and I was surprised how easy and effective it was. The pattern specified 4 ply but I had some lovely flecked double knitting that I wanted to use so I just used bigger needles.
To enter this giveaway all you have to do is register on the Make & Craft website, then pop a comment at the bottom of this post and tell me what homemade presents you are planning to make for Christmas this year. I will pick a winner at random on the 18th of October…good luck!
Little Christmas Decorations to Knit & Crochet by Sue Stratford and Val Pierce is published by Search Press. If you would like to treat yourself to a copy you can call 01892 510850 (quoting Make & Craft Blog tour) to get free P&P.
The blog tour heads onto the very lovely claireabellemakes tomorrow, so be sure to head over for a read.
All about Sprout 
H am already following Make & Craft magazine and can’t wait for the first issue to come out. Like you I am more often sewing than knitting and would love to learn to crochet! Small projects like these are great for Xmas presents. A couple of years ago I knitted The Beatles for a friend of mine! This year I am making everyone a small Xmas stocking to put presents in, & lots of knickers as I have discovered how easy they are to make & will be blogging a tutorial in the next few days!
Wow that sounds great! You are going to be a busy bee 🙂
I’ve already started knitting cowls for Christmas. Great for men and women, depending on yarn and pattern choice, with no worrying about fit. This book looks great for using up (some of) my stash!
O I do love knitted cosy presents for Christmas – you will have a very warm family 🙂
Thank you for joining in the Make and Craft book club blog tour and for the great review. It looks a beautiful book. You share some really good things about the book. I like the way you say it provides a modern colour twist on each project, as well as, a more traditional. I love your sweet cone, so cute! Looking forward to hearing more about the secret plan….
It’s a pleasure to be part of it, thank you for having me! It is a great book, so many things inside to do. I can’t wait to tell you all!
Oh what a super sweet book! I love the candy cone and had only ever seen paper ones of these before.
Thanks for handing over to me for tomorrow. I have a super fun book which contains projects one would never have thought of!
Claire x
Yippee – can’t wait!
I saw this book last week on amazon .. I doubt old sandy claws will take hint from my leaving the page open teehee. 🙂
Jenni
Always a good tactic!
I am still researching and trying to decide on handmade gifts. This book would help alot. Thanks for the giveaway.
All the projects are little too so it’s a great stash buster – plus they are quick to make!
I’m hoping to find time to make more Xmas bunting this year and a stocking each for my children. I’m also hoping to crochet some snow flakes as presents for family! Not quite sure how I’ll find the time but I find sewing relaxing in the Eve’s after a busy day.
The stockings sounds great, I bet they will treasure them for years to come. Sometimes I wonder when I’m going to get time to sleep!
Fantastic post. I’m slowly collecting craft kits and handmade lovelies from various sources for Christmas presents. I’m also making fancy dress costumes, baking kits and bunting so far and trying for a handmade Christmas as much as possible.
Thanks Louise! I’m aiming for a handmade Christmas too 🙂
I really like the stripy background you have used in your photographs. Everyone says how you should use white but this works well. I really enjoyed reading your post – your cone is great and the review of the book makes it sound very tempting. I would therefore love to win it. I am not quite sure what I am going to make this year yet (nothing like leaving it to the last minute!!!). I am giving away a knitting kit if that counts? I am sure to make mini cakes (for teachers) and ginger bread men for the tree though. Hope that counts!!!
Thank you for a lovely comment, your name has gone in the hat!
You are more than welcome 🙂
We are planning on making some yummy food this year for people, some marmalade and jams and cookies as well 🙂 Love the decoration you made from the book!
O that sounds lovely – I’m going to try out some green tomato chutney!
This looks like a very lovely book to own and to treasure. For the last two years, Christmas at home has been strictly handmade. I hand knit all decorations and tree ornaments myself. This year, I plan to add crochet to the mix. And my lovely husband who is a big Doctor Who fan (and who also supports my yarn addiction by the way) has made it clear he wants a crocheted Doctor Who and a thousand Daleks (his exact words!) for Christmas. Not saying I’d actually crochet a thousand Daleks (maybe just a few), but his his request has been added to my handmade Christmas gift list for this year 🙂
Wow that sounds great! I would love to see these Daleks.
Will definitely let you once I’m done making them 🙂
I shall be attempting to do some cross stitch to give as a gift this year. Hopefully Miss B will allow me some time to do it, but I’ll definitely get a good chunk done on holiday with the myriad of baby sitters available! I cant wait to show you it – I challenge you not to smile when you see the pattern 🙂
O I can’t wait to see! And I can’t wait to do some babysitting 🙂
Fab book to win! I’m def going to include some crochet gifts this year, cowl’s more than likely but having taught my daughter to crochet a couple of months ago I know she would love this book too and will probably make her friends some cute little things for Christmas. Looking forward to the mag coming out too, even if I will have to fight my daughter for it!
That sounds great, that is brilliant that you have taught her too 🙂
So excited about Christmas. I have already starred making gifts and have so far knitted a gorgeous moss stitch edged chunky scarf for mum in law. I have also make a really pretty hanger for my sister, quite simply a metal coat hanger bent into the shape of a heart with brightly coloured ribbons tied all around it with a bead on the end of hook. Looks amazing. On the list of to do’s now are tiny snowflakes to be crocheted and strung on a crochet chain to make a garland. Another scarf and anything else that pops into my head. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
I’m impressed, you sound well on your way to a lovely homemade Christmas!
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