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A Bustle & Sew Publication Copyright Š Bustle & Sew Limited 2015 The right of Helen Dickson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this book is accurate. However, due to differing conditions, tools and individual skills, the publisher cannot be responsible for any injuries, losses and other damages that may result from the use of the information in this book.
First published 2015 by: Bustle & Sew Ltd The Cottage Oakhill Radstock BA3 5HT www.bustleandsew.com
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Welcome to the 2015 Christmas Collection
Hello, and welcome to our second compilation of Christmas Patterns featuring many of last year’s original designs as well as our ever-popular Fabric Deer Head pattern (arriving in kit form autumn 2015). I do hope you’ll enjoy the selection I’ve chosen to include in this little book - I do hope there’s something for everybody whether you enjoy hand stitching, softie making or applique. I’m typing this in the middle of the English summer when it feels very odd to be thinking about Christmas, but I know that us crafters have to get organised early, particularly when you’ve lots of family and friends who love to receive handmade items, as well as making to sell, or perhaps contribute to fundraising events. And finally, wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing this Christmas, I do hope you enjoy a very happy and peaceful one. Merry Christmas everyone!
Helen xx
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Between the Covers ‌ Stir up Sunday Chalkboard
Page 4
Traditional Parlour Games
Page 33
Polar Bear Trophy Head
Page 6
Holly & Berry the Baby Reindeer
Page 35
Christmas Cards and Crackers
Page 8
Christmas Story: The Carol Singers
Page 38
Setting the Date
Page 10
Felt Stocking
Page 40
Alpine Skiers Cushion
Page 11
Fabric Deer Head
Page 41
Caring for your Scissors
Page 15
The Christmas Robin
Page 45
Vintage Pattern : Crochet Penguin Motif
Page 17
Mince Pie Wreath
Page 46
Baby No-owl Easy Applique
Page 20
Woodland Christmas Hoops
Page 48
Making your own Tassels
Page 22
Pallet Christmas Tree
Page 52
Figgy Pudding Tea Cosy
Page 24
Winter Penguin Softie
Page 53
Making Candied Fruit
Page 28
Christmas Trivia
Page 56
Crochet Christmas Trees
Page 29
Baking Conversion Tables
Page 58
Jolly Robin Christmas Hoop
Page 30
Templates
Page 59
Elves Coffee
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Polar Bear Trophy Head I’ve wanted to make a new trophy head for some time - and what could be nicer than an adorable baby polar bear (note: no baby polar bears were harmed in the making of this pattern!).
He is sewn from a soft low pile fur fabric, and has a large black button nose, as well as a pair of rather smart eyebrows! Shown mounted on 8” hoop.
Ÿ Toy stuffing
Materials Ÿ 18” square soft low pile white fur fabric (I used Tilda polar bear fabric - see suggested supplier on page 17) Ÿ 8” square white felt Ÿ 10” square background fabric Ÿ 8” embroidery hoop Ÿ Two 3/8” black safety eyes Ÿ 3/4” black button for nose Ÿ Black and white embroidery floss
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Ÿ White thread Ÿ 8” x 6” light weight card Ÿ Glue gun or pva glue (optional but makes sewing the head to the background fabric much easier).
Christmas Cards and Crackers Sending and receiving cards is still an important part of Christmas, even in the age of the email, whilst we all love the silly jokes and paper hats found inside our Christmas crackers. But have you ever paused to wonder how these traditions began?
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wo of the most popular latecomers to our Christmas festivities came about as a direct result of Victorian enterprise and technology in the 19th century. Christmas crackers were invented by a one man – a man with a great idea; whilst Christmas cards were the outcome of a series of improvements in printing techniques together with the introduction of the penny post.
The first Christmas card Controversy surrounds the date of the first Christmas card and the name of its creator, although the credit is generally given to Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and artist John Calcott Horsley RA. In 1843 Horsley designed a card following the suggestion of his friend Cole and in 1846 a thousand copies were sold at a shilling each by a printing company in Old Bond Street, London. The image on the card is of a family merrily drinking wine and the two side panels show charitable activities. It bore the greeting “A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You.”
Christmas cards didn’t become generally popular until the development of cheaper printing techniques (a shilling was a lot of money back in 1843 - round about £40 in today’s money) and the introduction of a halfpenny stamp for cards in 1870, but they then quickly became so popular that by 1880 the Post Office was asking everyone to post their cards early to be sure they’d reach the intended recipients in time for Christmas sounds familiar!! Early Christmas card designs were more Dickensian than religious and often featured stagecoaches and snowy landscapes, Christmas puddings and Yule logs and the ever popular robin redbreast. Indeed, the idea of the robin as a Christmas bird was reinforced as the early postmen delivering these cards were also known as Robins due to the colour of their uniform.
A Victorian card Over the following decades, cards became more and more exotic, featuring silk fringes, gilding and satin and plush insets. They
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appeared in the shape of fans, stars, scrolls and other novelty cutouts. The first Christmas cards reached America in the 1850s, but only became popular with the work of Louis Prang, a printer of German origin living in Roxbury, Massachusetts, who printed his first cards in 1875. They were extremely high quality and at first featured mainly floral designs, though later he printed more seasonal designs such as the Madonna and Child and Santa Claus. He helped to popularise Christmas cards by organising nationwide competitions for the best designs. But sadly Prang was unable to comete witht he influx of cheaper cards from Europe in the 18090s and eventually gave up that side of his business.
Early Louis Prang Card Unlike Christmas cards where there’s more than one contender for the title of “the first” there’s no dispute about the inventor of the Christmas cracker. Tom Smith was a confectioner’s apprentice before setting up his own business making wedding cake decorations. In 1847, whilst visiting Paris, France in search of new ideas, he spotted sugared almonds wrapped in twists of coloured tissue paper in a shop window. He hurried home and introduced the British public to these delightful “bon-bons” which proved to be quite popular. However
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demand dropped sharply after Christmas, so Smith decided to concentrate on the seasonal angle. First love messages, then toys, charms, jokes and jewellery joined the almond inside the wrapping - but still something was missing.
Then, one winter’s evening whilst Tom Smith was sitting at home listening to the comforting crackle of his log fire a sensational idea struck him - he would put a bang into his bon-bons. In 1860, following two years of experimentation, he hit upon the saltpetre friction strip. Crackers - as his bon-bons were now known - became immensely popular, and over the years all kinds of novelties went into the cardboard cracker tube. Arctic expeditions were commemorated with miniature bears and bear masks, there were mottoes for cricketers, crackers for bachelors and trinkets and jokes of all kinds. But the most consistent theme was love, with sentimental trinkets, verses and mottoes for all.
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Alpine Cushion Cover The last pattern in this month’s magazine takes us off to the mountain slopes. The skiing figure was taken from a vintage embroidery transfer - which is why, if you’re a skiing enthusiast, you may consider some of her equipment looks a little out of date! This project s a mixture of hand and machine applique and hand embroidery. Cover to fit pad measuring 14” x 24” ● Scraps of felt and fabric for skier and shadows on mountains (see picture for guidance on colours etc)
Materials ● 14” x 24” rectangle blue felt for front panel ● Two rectangles of white felt, one measuring 6” x 24” and one 10” x 24” (one of these rectangles is for the mountain background and one for the ski slope. I used slightly different shades to show up the difference).
● Two shades of green felt for trees. Check the template for size of pieces needed (template supplied at actual size) ● Stranded cotton floss in grey, white, very pale blue, dark grown and colours that work well with the fabrics you’ve chosen for the skier.
● Two 14” x 16” rectangles blue felt for cushion back (simple envelope closure)
● Bondaweb and Temporary fabric adhesive spray
● 12” x 24” red gingham fabric for borders
● Embroidery foot for your sewing machine.
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Baby No-owl Easy Applique A number of people have asked if I could include a pattern that would be suitable for beginners or even nimble-fingered children to try. This little owl needn’t just be a Christmas make either - substitute the holly and berries with leaves and flowers for year-round appeal. Only the stocking needs machine stitching, but if you used felt instead of fabric then this too could be
hand stitched. Shown mounted on an 8” hoop.
● 3” x 6” red cotton fabric for stocking
Materials
● Small amount of toy stuffing for stocking
● 10” medium weight background fabric
● 2 x 3/8” black buttons
● 6” x 4” biscuit coloured felt for owl body
● 2 x ½” red buttons
● 9” x 2” dark brown felt for branch
● Stranded cotton floss in biscuit, gold, red and colour to match your owl chest fabric.
● 8” x 3” white felt ● 4” x 3” patterned cotton for owl chest
● Bondaweb
● 3” x 2” cotton for spectacles
● PVA glue or hot glue gun
● Tiny scrap of golden yellow felt for beak
● 8” hoop
● Scraps of green felt for holly leaves ● 1 ½” x 3” fake fur for stocking top
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● Mount your work in your embroidery hoop making sure the top of the owl’s head is approximately 1” down from the top edge of the hoop. Tighten the screw at the top of the hoop.
Method ● Cut out the templates for the branch and leaves (you will have to join the branch template as they was too big to fit on the page). Place them on top of your felt and draw around them with a marker pen. Cut out the shapes with nice smooth strokes of your scissors. Put the leaves to one side for the moment.
● Now stitch around the edges of all the applique pieces in the same way - with 2 strands of floss and small straight stitches at right angles to the edge of the piece. Use floss the same colour as your fabrics.
● Trace around the other shapes onto the paper side of your bondaweb. Cut out roughly then fuse onto your felt (or the reverse of your patterned cotton fabric). Then cut out shapes carefully and peel off backing paper. ● Place the snow on top of the branch lining up the top edges. Press with a hot iron to fuse into place, protecting your work with a cloth.
● Glue the branch in place at the base of the owl’s body, across the hoop - it will extend beyond the hoop at the sides. ● Position holly leaves and secure in place with the two red buttons. (Stitch through the buttons and holly leaves using red thread or floss.) ● Add the owl’s eyes, stitching them into place with yellow floss.
● With two strands of white floss stitch the snow to the branch using small straight stitches worked at right angles to the edge of the snow shape. Place branch and snow to one side for the moment.
● Work feet - each foot is a group of three yellow straight stitches.
● Place your owl main body on your background fabric positioning it centrally vertically and 2” down from the top edge. Press into place with a hot iron as before. Be sure to press firmly and keep your iron still - don’t “iron” the shape as this may cause it to slip and/or distort. ● Now repeat with first the floral chest, then the spectacles, eyes and finally the beak. You’re building the design from the back and now you can see how the pieces overlap.
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● Cut out two stocking shapes (remember to reverse the template for the second shape.) With right sides together and ¼” seam allowance stitch around the shapes. Turn right side out, press and stuff lightly. Stitch top closed. ● Fold your white fur fabric in half widthways, then wrap around the the top of the stocking and stitch into place. Glue stocking into place on branch. ● Your owl is now finished.
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Making your own Tassels
Passementerie is defined as the art of making elaborate trimmings or edgings, especially tassels, and is derived from the French word “passement” meaning ornamental braid. Today there has never been a better selection of trimmings to choose from. But sometimes it’s nice to make your own, and here’s a quick look at how you might choose to go about it. And a selection of sumptuous homemade tassels will make a great addition to your decorations this Christmas. as the wool can be passed through the softie before plating - meaning the tail will never become detached!
I’m sure we’ve all made twisted cord - I remember being fascinated by the process as a child - but just in case you haven’t here’s how to go about it. Make plenty to string cards or other decorations in a very stylish manner! Take two strands of thread (this can be anything at all that isn’t stretchy) each half the thickness you want the finished cord to be and three times the required finished length. Knot them together at either end and fix one end firmly - pin to a board or tie to a door handle. Twist the other end round and round (it’s easiest to insert a pencil and twist that) until it won’t twist any more. Keeping it taut, fold it in the centre, release the other end and let go. It will twist together into a cord - just smooth out any wrinkles or loops. For a thicker cord use more strands.
Making Tassels: To make a basic tassel, cut a piece of stiff card the length of the required tassel, then wind thread around it to the thickness required ( a ). Cut the threads free at one
You can also make plaited cord - very effective in wool and excellent for softie tails
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Figgy Pudding Tea Cosy This is a really easy, but very effective Christmas make - I know my teapot will be ready for those Christmas teatime visitors. All I need to do now is make the mince pies! My teacosy measures 10” across the bottom edge and I’ve given measurements, materials and the template to suit this size, but please see how to measure your pot to make sure your cosy is the perfect fit this Christmastime!
● Stranded cotton floss in dark green, red, purple and white
Materials ● Two 12” squares of medium weight cotton fabric for exterior
● Sewing thread for your machine - cream or another light colour for the bobbin, then black and gold for the needle.
● One 4” x 2” rectangle for loop
● Bondaweb
● Two 12” squares of felted wool, prequilted material or similar for the lining ● Fabric scraps to make your figgy pudding - including white, red and green felt, brown felt or a nice textured fabrc for the pudding itself and a patterned cotton for the plate.
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● Embroidery foot for your sewing machine.
Decorate your home this Christmas with these fab Crochet Christmas trees by the lovely Sarah from Annaboo’s House. Decorate with buttons and beads or even mini pompoms for the perfect Christmas decorations!
Look! a lovely idea -------------------
Crochet Christmas Trees
Image and FREE tutorial: http://annabooshouse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/crochet-christmas-trees.html 16
Jolly Robin Christmas Hoop ‘Tis the season to be jolly ..
and this little robin looks very cheerful perched on his snowy holly branch decorated with shiny red “berries”. There’s a little simple applique, but this project is really all about the hand embroidery, using satin stitch, French knots, whipped chain stitch and stem stitch. Shown mounted in 8” hoop.
Ÿ ¼” shell button
Materials
Ÿ 12 small shiny red beads for holly berries
Ÿ 10” square medium weight (eg cotton duck) fabric
Ÿ 4 small pearl beads to decorate text Ÿ Bondaweb
Ÿ Scraps of cotton and felt for applique you will need light and dark brown, 2 or 3 shades of green, red and light grey. Ÿ Stranded cotton floss in colours to match your fabric scraps, additionally in DMC shades 309 (red), 310 (black), 902 (rich purple), 907 (bright green), 3051 (sage green), 3830 (dark pink), 4042 (very merry variegated floss), blanc and E415 (silver) .
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Ÿ 7” hoop for mounting - I painted mine white - this is easy to do with either emulsion or chalk paint.
You will need: eggnog, espresso coffee and grated nutmeg. Brew your coffee and steam the eggnog as if it were milk. Pour espresso into cup and add steamed eggnog. Spoon the froth onto the top of your coffee and lightly sprinkle nutmeg on top. Sit back, relax and enjoy.
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Holly & Berry Baby Reindeer Inspired by vintage design - and brought right up to date for this Christmas - meet Holly and Berry, the baby reindeer. They measure just 10 ½” tall and will make a perfect addition to your decorations this Christmas. Holly and Berry have wired legs, button noses and black beads for eyes so are not suitable for toys - they are decorative only.
Ÿ Toy stuffing
Materials
Ÿ 2 lengths of 2 mm wire, one piece 11 ½” long and the other 12” long
Ÿ 9” x 18” piece (or two 9” squares) of felt for the main body
Ÿ Fabric sticking plaster tape
Ÿ 9” square cream felt Ÿ Scraps of black felt Ÿ Stranded cotton floss or perle thread for seams (choose a colour that either matches or contrasts with your main body colour - I used brown for Berry and ecru for Holly)
Ÿ Toy stuffing Stuffing stick - this can be a simple bamboo skewer - break the pointed tip off and then fray the end so it can “grab” the stuffing - essential for stuffing narrow places.
Ÿ Pink stranded cotton floss for cheeks Ÿ ½” button for nose
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Fabric Deer Head IThis little reindeer will make a quirky addition to your Christmas decorations this year! Looking remarkably cheerful, he’s mounted on a 6” hoop and measures 14” from the bottom of his neck to the tips of his antlers. Now I’m tempted to make another in tweed and linen to display all year round!
Ÿ 8” square card to back hoop
Materials
Ÿ Brown and blue stranded cotton embroidery floss
Ÿ 12” square woollen/felt fabric for head
Ÿ 2 x ¼” buttons for nostrils.
Ÿ 18” x 9” quilting weight cotton fabric for antlers
Ÿ Toy stuffing Ÿ 22” length galvanised garden wire
Ÿ 9” square canvas or heavy interfacing for antlers
Ÿ Temporary fabric spray adhesive
Ÿ 2 x 13mm safety eyes
Ÿ Temporary fabric marker pen
Ÿ Small scrap of pink fabric/felt for inners of ears
Ÿ Hot glue gun (you can use PVA glue but allow for drying time)
Ÿ 2” square scrap fabric for nose
Ÿ 6” wooden embroidery hoop
Ÿ 8” square medium weight fabric for hoop 20
Mince Pie Wreath
> 200g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet > 150g mincemeat > 1 tbsp brandy > 1 medium egg, beaten > 25g flaked toasted almonds > 25g dried cranberries > Grated zest of 1 orange > 3 tbsp icing sugar
Fancy something a little different this Christmas? Look no further than this fabulous Mince Pie Wreath by the lovely Kate from What Kate Baked. It’s a sure fire way to impress this Christmas!
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. Unroll the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Stir the brandy into the mincemeat 2. Spread the mincemeat over the pastry sheet, leaving a 2cm border. 3. Starting from the longer edge of the pastry sheet, roll into a swiss roll/ sausage shape. Brush with beaten egg. Cut into 2-3cm thick rounds and form a circular wreath on a baking sheet, overlapping each round. Chill for 20 minutes. 21
Woodland Friends Christmas Hoops Six little embroidery hoops for the festive season. Inspired by The trend for selfies, the forest animals have posed for their Christmas pictures I used 3” hoops, but you could resize the pattern if you wished. The applique’s really easy though the embroidery is probably more for an intermediate level stitcher as I’ve used turkey stitch and chain stitch worked in two colours.
Materials 6 x 5” squares of medium weight blue dotty fabric for background
Stranded cotton floss in yellow, blue, pink, red, dark brown, black and metallic gold. Also a colour that matches the natural coloured fabric you’re using for their bodies.
Scraps of natural coloured fabric for the animal bodies Scraps of coloured fabric for the
Six x 3” embroidery hoops (optionally painted white) Temporary fabric marker pen Bondaweb
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Winter Penguin Softie Everybody loves a penguin at Christmas time - their wobbly gait and plump bodies make them an irresistible addition to our seasonal decorations. This little fellow measures just over 6” tall and is wearing a very cosy scarf and hat cut from an old woollen jumper. He’s weighted with a beach pebble to make sure he doesn’t wobble and fall down. The construction of this softie is really easy - but you do need to follow the instructions carefully as there are darts as well as seams to stitch. Ÿ 4” cut from bottom of sleeve of old jumper (for his hat)
Materials Ÿ 8” square black or charcoal grey wool blend felt
Ÿ 14” x 2” strip of old jumper for scarf Ÿ Toy stuffing
Ÿ 6” square cream or white felt
Ÿ 3” square lightweight card (eg from cereal packet)
Ÿ Scraps of golden felt Ÿ Two small black spherical beads
Ÿ Cream and black thread for stitching darts
Ÿ Two ½” black buttons
Ÿ Pebble/polybeads/rice to weight base (optional)
Ÿ Stranded cotton floss in black, cream, pale pink and gold
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And finally … it’s time to take a break from the Christmas preparations and put your feet up for a while!
In Britain, eating mince pies at Christmas dates back to the 16th century. It is still believed that to eat a mince pie on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas will bring 12 happy months in the year to follow.
Radio … radio …. The first British monarch to broadcast a Christmas message to his people was King George V.
Q: What’s Santa’s favourite pizza?
In Victorian England, turkeys were popular for A: Why, deep pan, crisp and even of course! Christmas dinners. Some of the birds were raised in Norfolk, and taken to market in London. To get them to London, the turkeys were supplied with boots made of sacking or leather. The turkeys were walked to market. The boots protected their feet from the frozen mud of the road.
Present Days …. Try searching car boot sales or charity shops and for smaller gifts and stocking fillers, or vintage clothing and antique jewellery shops for something really special - you'll be giving a unique present as well as recycling. Wrap and label Christmas presents as you buy them and that way you save yourself a whole evening nearer Christmas day to relax and put your feet up
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