Make It Today Issue 1 - Felt - Preview now!

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MAKE IT TODAY | ISSUE 1

Make it

Handmade

ISSUE 1 OCTOBE R

2014

C hr istmas

Today!

LOVE IT MAKE IT DO IT

BUY IT

TRY IT

READ IT

NE W Handmade

ISSUE 1 OCT 2014 ÂŁ7.99

MAKE IT TODAY

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS

C hr istmas christmas m t s a i s C r h decorations created by you!

Handmade

Make

20 decs

INSIDE Embroidery

*

Felting

*

Stencilling

*

With just one kit

Toy Making

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21

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6 ON PATROL 21 FABRIC LOVE Take your pick from our scrummy selection

24

52

33 THE BOOKS Inspired by our projects? We review the must-have reads

49 STATIONERY SCOUT A horde of seasonal gift wrapping essentials

56 IN THE KNOW Head here for our low-down on felty tips and tricks

RELAX & READ 10 NEWS A treasure trove of seasonal delights

conten t s oc t 2014

48 MINI STOCKINGS Diddy makes for your mantelpiece

52 TRADITIONAL TREES

24 CUTE LITTLE CRITTERS

YOUR KIT MAKES 6 20 DAZZLING DESIGNS

54 CANDLE SLIPOVERS

Get stuck in with your whole kit

26 ANNABELLE FAIRY

12 SNOWFLAKE GARLAND

Fall in love with this stunningly intricate make

Utilise your die-cutter for this contemporary banner

Freestanding cotton-reel trees to keep the Christmas spirit alive

Woodland wonderland of furry friends

30 SIMPLY SCANDI DECORS

14 SANTA AND HIS ELVES Rustle up Father Christmas and two little helpers

38 MULTI-COLOURED SPIRALS

16 QUIRKY BUNTING WRAPS

40 RETRO-LOOKING BAUBLES

Create your own personalised wrapping style

Pay homage to the sixties with a set of nostalgic makes

18 SOFT COSY PUMPS

44 EXOTIC FLOCK

Ridiculously cute booties for mini feet, some for boys and girls

Brighten up your décor with a collection of bold birds

MY HOME IS...

Catherine Woram shares her festive favourites

34 INTERVIEW: SOPHIE SIMPSON Get to know all about this author's love of embroidery

Light up your life with simple cut-out covers

36 SCANDINAVIAN STYLE

66 FINISHING TOUCH

Make big statements this winter with Nordic flare

A sweet stocking for those little Christmas keepsakes

Red and white, crafter's delight

28 AT CHRISTMAS

42 TEN REASONS WHY...

We’ve fallen in love with felt

Get in a spin with pinwheel pieces

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get money off on a three issue trial.

Turn to page 46 for more info

Make it Today!

4

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 WELCOME 5 YOUR FREE KIT 20 NOTICEBOARD 46 SUBSCRIPTIONS 50 COMING NEXT ISSUE 60 PATTERNS & TEMPLATES

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Make it

Today!

YOUR 27 PIECE

F E LT & FA B R I C K IT BIAS-BINDING TO TRIM CUT EDGES SIX COLOURFUL 19CM FELT SQUARES

POLYESTER STUFFING TO GIVE YOUR MAKES DIMENSION

PRETTY FABRIC WITH THE SCANDILOOK

FOUR EXTRASPECIAL SAMPLES IN DELICIOUS SHADES

TEN BUTTONS FOR ADDING HIGHLIGHTS

RIC-RAC BRAID – BECAUSE WE LOVE IT!

PLUS

Ribbon + 1m of both sewing thread and purple cord

DON'T MISS NEXT ISSUE!

Ready, steady, hook your way through our spring crochet special

ON SALE 5 DECEMBER 2014 Find out more on page 50

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PROJECT BY CAROLYN LETTEN | SUITABLE FOR KEEN BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE MOST OF A DAY

DECK THE HALLS WITH

TWENTY DAZZLING DESIGNS Use all of your free kit to make these little swingers

Make it Today!

6

Santa & elves_Layout 1 18/09/2014 14:59 Page 2

PROJECT BY AMANDA WALKER | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE A MORNING'S WORK

BOYS AND GIRLS ALIKE WILL ADORE

SANTA AND HIS ELVES Felted figurines for each member of the family

Put the wadding from your kit to good use, and turn your hand to needle felting to create Father Christmas and his two little helpers. Cutting simple shapes to fashion hats and outfits brings these little people to life very quickly.

Add the finishing touches with tiny buckles, buttons and a beard. Use your leftover kit to create a felty winter landscape for your Christmas tribe.

ESSENTIAL KIT FABRIC: SCANDI, BIAS-BINDING FELT: GREEN, WHITE, RED POLYESTER FILLING BUTTONS: YELLOW, FOUR PLUS: THREAD: GREEN, WHITE, PINK NEEDLES: FELTING, SEWING SPONGE

GIVE ME A STURDY BASE BY NEEDLE FELTING MY STUFFING

HOLE-PUNCH ALL PURPOSE GLUE

PATTERNS

& TEMPLATES

Make it Today!

14

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L VE

Choose your Christmas tribe now! Boldly go for modern stripes and chevrons for contemporary cool or deck the halls with cotton prints in kitsch seasonal motifs such as snow covered houses and baubles.

Wherever you choose, the fabric shops are full to the brim with new season ranges you'll love to add to your stash. With prints as scrummy as these it's easy to add a touch of festive cheer around the home.

TURN OVER FOR OUR PICK OF THE BEST ICY AQUA LATTICE FOR MODA, ÂŁ3 PER FAT QUARTER, PLUSHADDICT.CO.UK, 0845 519 4422.

ON PATROL 21

bunting wraps_Layout 1 18/09/2014 14:41 Page 2

PROJECT BY LISA STEED DAVEY | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE 30 MINUTES PER PARCEL

FINISH OFF YOUR PARCELS USING

QUIRKY BUNTING WRAPS Simply decorated packages pack a punch

Make it Today!

16

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PROJECT BY CAROLYN LETTEN | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE NIFTY STITCHERS TWO HOURS PER PAIR

YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH

SOFT COSY PUMPS To keep tiny toes safe and snug

Make it Today!

18

snowflake garland_Layout 1 18/09/2014 15:10 Page 2

PROJECT BY PAULA PASCUAL | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS

OF COURSE YOU NEED A

FANCY SNOWFLAKE GARLAND To drape around and get the party started

Make it Today!

12

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GIVEAWAYS

Because the gift is in the giving and we know you’ll want to get your hands on this great crafty stash!

HEAD ONLINE TO

HABICO SEVEN NEEDLE FELTING TOOL, £8.32, ABAKHAN.CO.UK

MAKEITTODAY.CO.UK TO ENTER

ALL WRAPPED UP ORNAMENTS IN RED, £3 PER FAT QUARTER, FRUMBLE.CO.UK

CARNIVAL OF FELTING

BY GILLIAN HARRIS (COLLINS AND BROWN, £14.99)

IT’S A SIGNED COPY!

DMC METALLIC THREAD IN FOUR COLOURS, £3.20 EACH, DMCCREATIVE.CO.UK

WIN

FILZWOOL FUNKY FILZ TABLET COVER AND ACCESSORIES KIT, £20.79, ABAKHAN.CO.UK

ALL OF THESE GREAT PRODUCTS FEATURED IN MIT PLUS MORE!

VINTAGE CRAFTS STORK SCISSORS, £4.99, PLUSHADDICT.CO.UK

HEAD ONLINE TO

MAKEITTODAY.CO.UK

HABICO FELT PACK PASTELS, 150G, £5.82, ABAKHAN.CO.UK

TO ENTER

GIVEAWAYS 35

woodland creatures_Layout 1 18/09/2014 14:55 Page 2

PROJECT BY LUCINDA GANDERTON | SUITABLE FOR CRAFTERS WHO CAN STITCH A LITTLE | SHOULD TAKE TWO HOURS OR LESS

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE WITH OUR

CUTE LITTLE CRITTERS They’re perfect plushy forest friends

Make it Today!

24

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retro baubles_Layout 1 18/09/2014 14:59 Page 3

GINA

DON

JACKIE

FIGGY

CARNABY LIGHTS RETRO-LOOKING BAUBLES 41

scandi decs_Layout 1 18/09/2014 15:09 Page 2

PROJECT BY LISA STEED DAVEY | SUITABLE FOR AMBITIOUS BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE THREE OR FOUR HOURS

TRADITIONS ARE RIFE WITH

SIMPLY SCANDI DÉCORS That are oh-so simple to pull off

There's no end to where Nordic nuances can influence you, from decorating your tree to the tags on your gifts.

These stylish embellishments are all the better for their simple stitch patterns added to the red and white felt pieces. Tie up the Scandi style by making coordinating Christmas cards which look simply stunning but are a breeze to make.

ESSENTIAL KIT FELT: WHITE, RED PLUS ODDMENTS SCANDI PRINT RED TRIM RIBBON POLYESTER STUFFING THREAD PLUS: CARD BLANKS SEED BEADS MINI HOLE-PUNCH SCALPEL CUTTING MAT GLUE

PATTERNS

& TEMPLATES Make it Today!

30

Pinwheel wreath_Layout 1 18/09/2014 14:57 Page 2

PROJECT BY CORINNE BRADD | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE AN HOUR OR SO

“The coils need only a few stitches to hold them in place. If you pull the thread too tightly you risk distorting the circular shape” CORINNE BRADD, DESIGNER

COIL UP WITH A SET OF

MULTICOLOURED SPIRALS Then join to make a garland!

Make it Today!

38

Scandi Christmas_Layout 1 18/09/2014 15:00 Page 2

SCANDINAVIAN STYLE

Clean lines teamed with a red and white colour combination makes Scandi style perfect for Christmas k

Words by Amy Adams

Get the look CROSS MY HEART

JINGLE ALL THE WAY RED & WHITE BELLS, £9, BERRYRED.CO.UK

CHECKED RED HEARTS BAUBLE, £4, JOHNLEWIS.COM

ALL TIED UP

VINTAGE CRAFTS COTTON RIBBON BIRDS & FLOWERS, £2.95, DOTCOMGIFTSHOP.COM

RECYCLED CLASS

LARGE GLASS BOTTLE, £30, DOBBIES.COM

DECK THE HALLS!

SET OF THREE CERAMIC NORDIC DECORATIONS, £9, TCH.NET

HANGELICAL

GISELA GRAHAM VINTAGE STYLE ANGEL CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION, £9 EACH, TCH.NET

STAR OF WONDER

STAR TREE TOPPER, £10, DEBENHAMS.COM

Make it Today!

36

Exotic flock_Layout 1 18/09/2014 14:52 Page 3

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

{ LOOP THE LOOP

{

“Take care when sewing through the birds to hang them. If you pierce the bodies too much in the direction of the tail, the head of the bird will tip forward”

The low down on how to create lengths of chain stitch

Chain Stitch CORINNE BRADD, DESIGNER

CHAIN STITCH LONG STITCH

1 Bring the needle to the surface at the start of the sewing line. Take it back down very close to where it came up, then return it to the surface at the end position of the first stitch creating a loop.

2 Take the needle back down, close to where it came up through the loop and bring it back up at the end position of the next stitch.

RUNNING STITCH 3 Continue working along the stitching line, repeating the steps to create a chain of links. Finish by catching the final loop with a small stitch to secure.

EIGHT-POINTED STARS

EXOTIC FLOCK 45

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PROJECT BY LUCINDA GANDERTON | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE A SPEEDY HOUR PER TREE

WHIP UP SOME FESTIVE SPIRIT WITH

TRADITIONAL TREES Sitting proudly on vintage-style cotton reels

These cute Christmas trees are so super simple to make, you could knock up a forest in a day. This is the ideal decoration for sprucing up your home for the festive season and adding some colour to your halls. We've used vintage spools for the base of the

trees, which adds a quirky touch. Dip into your crafty stash and dress up your woodland with different embellishments to give each tree a unique finish.

Dot them around the house, or add some initials and use as name places at the Christmas table.

Make it Today!

52

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“Using a felting needle on ordinary felt breaks down fibres and creates really soft effects” AMANDA WALKER, DESIGNER

FELTING FUN AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

ANNABELLE FAIRY 27

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PROJECT BY CORINNE BRADD | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER | SHOULD TAKE THREE/FOUR HOURS

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE WITH

CUT OUT CANDLE SLIP-OVERS For sophisticated seasonal style

Make it Today!

54

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BONUS PROJECTS Five more designs especially for you CARRY AROUND A LOOKING GLASS WITH CLASS

STITCH A FEISTY AUDREY HEPBURN AND STYLISH GRACE KELLY

2

DARLING DOLLIES

AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM

MAKEITTODAY.CO.UK

'SUCH A PRETTY FACE' MIRROR CASES

LIKE OUR PAGE ON FACEBOOK AND RECEIVE THIS FREE DOWNLOAD! TREE TOP TRIM

ADD A DARLING BIRD TO THE TOP OF YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE THIS YEAR

READER OFFER

Find this project and more in Felt with Love by Madeleine Millington (Search Press, £9.99). Turn to page 11 for our reader discount.

BONUS PROJECTS 59

READER OFFER

The above projects are taken from Simple Makes: Felt Sew Good by Christine Leech (Quadrille, £12.99), photography by Keiko Oikawa. Available at the special price of £7.99, with free P&P. To order, please call Quadrille on 01256 302699, quote reference BT8.

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Next issue with

Make It Today!

Throw yourself into crochet with our gorgeous creations

Spring is the sign of all things bright, shiny and new – so whether you're a dab hand at crochet or eager to give it a whirl, we have a collection of cool crochet creations for you to sink your hooks into.

A SORBET STOOL COVER TO FRESHEN UP YOUR HOME FOR SPRING

YOU’LL LOVE OUR EASY WEAR LACY PETER PAN COLLAR

PROTECT TABLE TOPS WITH A CLUSTER OF COLOURFUL COASTERS

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET THREE ISSUES FOR £12.99 Make it Today!

50

CNM_Layout 1 18/09/2014 16:29 Page 3

5D O EC N EM SA BE LE R2 01 4 A DELICATE FLOWER GARLAND TO BRING THE OUTSIDE IN

MAKE

37

FLOWERS WITH YOUR KIT!

LOVE YOUR CROCHET STARTER SET + 68-PAGE HOW-TO MAG FOR JUST £7.99

SNUGGLE UP TO A GRANNY SQUARE CUSHION

ON SALE 5 DECEMBER 2014

TURN TO PAGE 46 AND ORDER YOUR COPY NOW

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET THREE ISSUES FOR £12.99 COMING NEXT ISSUE 51