Crafts & Hobbies

Christmas for me is about making and sharing good food with family and friends and bringing everyone together to celebrate another year. To make this day special most of us light a few candles, pop up a few decorations and buy traditional food, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies.

However, I have always gone that one step further at Christmas, but then decorating is my first love. I just love to make every room look like magic for my family, and the Christmas Table is no exception so I have put together this special collection of projects that will make your Christmas Table special whether you make one, two or all of the projects inside the book.

All the projects come with clear step-by-step instructions, full sized templates (no resizing needed) and the book in highly illustrated with stunning photography shot in my very own home!

Mandy Shaw isn’t just dreaming of a white Christmas she is dreaming of a Red & White Christmas. This wonderful winter wonderland of a book combines two of Mandy’s favourite things – super simple but satisfying redwork, which allows you to show so much of the intricate detail in Mandy’s charming designs, and Christmas, the time of year that Mandy loves and spends most of her year yearning, preparing and stitching for. Created in addictive redwork, the 10 seasonal projects include simple but stylish tree decorations, a comfy cushion, cheeky mice, one of Mandy’s signature hanging hearts and a cosy quilt all beautifully photographed in Mandy’s own home. The Red & White colour scheme runs throughout the projects so you can stitch them all in the sure knowledge they will make your house look beautifully coordinated come Christmas time. The book includes detailed instructions for all the projects and over 25 motifs, patterns and templates all at full size so no messing around with scaling anything up or down, you can just trace straight from the page. So, all you need to get started is fabric, a needle and thread so you too can stitch yourself a Red & White Christmas.

A simple stitch can empower us and make us be creative and in this stunning book, from renown designer Mandy Shaw you will find a giddying array of projects, sentiments and designs that you can mix and match to create irresistible stitcheries that speak 1000 words. Inside you will find 10 complete projects which include a bag, wall hangings, cushion, hoopies, Mandy’s signature hanging hearts and a stunning Say it with a Stitch centrepiece quilt. Using the detailed step-by-step instructions and full size patterns and templates (there is no fiddling with the photocopier needed here, you can just trace straight from the page) you can create all these projects just as you see them in the book. But the really clever thing twist is that it also includes over 40 additional sentiments, designs, borders, templates and alphabets so you can get creative and design your own totally unique artefacts. Whether these are for yourself or made as gifts, the power of simple words will allow everything you make to have a powerful connection with a memory or a feeling. There is also a useful technical section and stitch library so to help you along the way so all you need is some fabric, thread, a needle and imagination and you are away!

If you itch to stitch when the days get longer and spring is in the air, then help is at hand. As the days slowly get longer and longer make the most of that extra daylight to stitch one of three gorgeous felt and fabric projects. The Spring Garland will hang happily on a door or window frame and featuring loveable rabbits – don’t forget to buy the best wool felt you can to get the best and longest lasting results. The Spring Chicken is fun a perky and perfect for all you chicken lovers out there. She only takes a couple of hours to make and fill her with rice or something similar and she makes a charming doorstop. Last but not least the Stitch into Spring Cushion will always remind you that spring is just around the corner and you could even personalize the mini bunting to make it an extra special keepsake. Each project comes with full step-by-step instructions which will guide you all the way from gathering the materials and fabric you need to adding the finishing touches. Also included are full sized templates for each project – no fighting with the photocopier needed here, you can just trace straight from the page.