Handicraft

The keen crafter has been lending her helping hands for years creating cosy jumpers for the Lost Dogs Home!

Plus, how you can help vulnerable people and animals stay warm this winter.

These photos are adorable!

These genius DIY ideas will instantly brighten your home and inspire your moment of me-time.

Beautiful bonnets are a must at every Easter parade, even those held at home.

Hop to it!

Our floppy-eared take on the Easter basket, crafty carrots that look good enough to eat, and bunnies so cute the kids will want to keep them all year round.

The kids will love this easy to build chalkboard and bench set.

Tired of buying cheap Advent calendars with no imagination? This gorgeous homemade treat will delight children and adults alike – and it's so simple to make!

Tired of tired old cardboard place tags? Bring some excitement and individuality to your Christmas table with these stone settings.

Bring a touch of homemade style to your Christmas table this year with there simple and stylish personalised cutlery holders.

Why waste money on paper gift wrap this Christmas when you can create your own gorgeous personalised wrap.

Forget red and green foliage – this wreath looks fresh and beautiful displayed on the front door or placed above the fireplace in a festive living room.

Create your own gorgeous golden bauble for this year's festive celebrations.

Don't spend money on cheap store bought present sacks for your kids this year – make your own personalised version by following these simple instructions.

Rethink your Christmas card display with this elegant card tree.

Inject some Christmas cheer in to your home with this beautiful festive mantle decoration.

A lot of people are saying that knitting is making a comeback — as far as we are concerned, it never left.

Surprise the children on Easter Sunday with something a little different by hanging a piñata in the garden, or include them in the creative fun of decorating it.

It's so simple (and fun) to make.

Old soft toys can be given a new lease of life by turning them into bookends for children’s rooms. Open a seam, fill with pebbles or sand to add the weight, then re-stitch.

Wear an oven mitt to stroke air out of adhesive paper when covering school books. It makes a tricky job much easier.

Occupy children on a rainy day by having them cut out large coloured letters from headings in magazines. When new schoolbooks need covering, glue the letters onto plain covers to form their name, grade and subject in an individual and easily recognised way.

Keep children’s paintings in a large, two-ring binder when you run out of space on the fridge. Name and on them as they get older.

Children's jeans and pants that are too long can be turned up to the correct length and the hems held in place with press-studs. These can easily be undone when washing the garment and removed when...

To ensure your thread glides through the fabric when working quilting stitches, first run the needle and thread through a piece of beeswax. The beeswax will lightly coat the thread to ensure that...

Household items such as empty milk and drink cartons and left over pieces of plumbing pipe make excellent candle moulds. Make sure one end is securely closed so that no molten wax escapes when it is...

Beeswax sheets stick to themselves so, when making rolled beeswax candles, use cookie cutters to make decorative shapes, then press them to the surface of your...

Stitch old shoulder pads to both ends of fabric-covered coat-hangers to help your jackets and dresses hang beautifully and keep in good...

Make use of the wonderful range of fancy stitches featured on many sewing machines by stitching onto paper and envelope flaps to create your own personalised...

Place your sewing machine pedal on a non-slip bathmat or rug with a non-slip backing. This way the pedal will never move away when you're...

Apply sticky tape to the areas where you require buttonholes in a garment. The tape not only marks the position, but holds the fabric firm. Work the buttonholes over the tape, then remove it when...

Fishing tackle boxes make excellent sewing boxes, as there are plenty of compartments for storing everything from thread and bobbins to unpickers and needles. Label each of the different compartment...

Store paper sewing patterns that won't fit back inside their paper envelopes in snap-lock bags. This way you can ensure your pattern pieces will not be...

Use sticky tape to hold pleats or tucks in place when sewing. Stitch through the tape, then remove it to create perfect results every...

When cutting out sewing patterns, always remember to cut around all the markings so you can stitch the pieces together accurately. Cutting corners in the preparation will only result in an inferior...

Use plumbers tape to secure bobbin threads and ensure that they don't become tangled in your sewing box. The tape sticks to itself and can easily be peeled...

Remember that sewing machines need servicing from time to time and needles should he replaced frequently so they don't become blunt. If the tension on your machine is causing trouble, check for lint...

Save all the coloured tissue paper you receive, then cut it into small pieces and glue it to boxes to create a colourful collage effect. Apply a decoupage glaze, which provides a thick, glossy...

Save all your candle stubs and melt them down in an old saucepan. Remove any pieces of wicking, tint the molten wax with candle dyes and pour it into prepared moulds to make new...

When cutting images from paper for your decoupage pieces, move the paper into the blades of the scissors to produce a bevelled edge-finish on the paper. This will assist you when gluing the pieces i...

The weather can play havoc with the finishing coats on a decoupage piece. Wait for a fine, dry day to start applying the layers of varnish. If the air is too moist, your project may take on a cloude...

Keep all your small scraps and squares of Aida cloth or other cross-stitch fabric. These can be used to create stitched decorations for greeting cards and gift...

Pieces of tulle or net fabric can be used to trace patterns. Place the tulle over the design, trace the pattern, then position the tulle and trace the design again. Remove the fabric, then join the...

Never leave a needle in your cross-stitch, tapestry or needlepoint, only in the margin of your work. A brief interruption can lead to lengthy time away from your work and a needle can rust,...

Your thread should never be shorter than twice the length of your needle - any shorter and your stitches will become tight as you attempt to work the...

When working needlepoint or tapestry pieces, ensure that your thread is no longer than 45cm (or approximately the length from your fingers to just below your elbow). This will prevent knotting and...

Household or sea sponges are the perfect tool for filling in tricky areas of a stencil. Cut the sponge to the desired size and this will ensure no paint ends up in the wrong...

When working with acrylic paints, remember that they dry darker than their undried colour. If you have worked an object that dries much darker than planned, try applying a wash of equal quantities o...

To keep your container of water clear for longer when changing paint colours, just dip your brush loaded with paint into the water, then wipe the bristles on a tissue or piece of paper towel to...

Store your paintbrushes in a container with a piece of florists' foam. The foam makes an ideal stand for the paintbrushes, so you can identify them easily while...

Always use spray adhesive to hold stencils in place. It will not only stop the stencils from slipping, but allow you to move and reposition...

When brushes are bent out of shape, dip them into Clag glue right up to the top of the bristles, then smooth them back into shape. Dry overnight, then wash the glue from the bristles with warm water...

Use leftover pieces of dress fabric to cover notebooks and diaries. Fur fabrics, velour and crushed velvets make sumptuous covers. The fabric can be glued in place with hot glue from a glue gun, and...

When harvesting flowers for pressing, pick the freshest blooms and wait until the morning dew has evaporated. Then sort the flowers into ones that are fleshy or less fleshy before drying them in you...

Don't use rubber stamps just to decorate cards and gift papers. They can also be used to add a decorative touch to candles, boxes, lampshades and even...

To revitalise old potpourri, sprinkle a few drops of essential oil into the dried petals and mix together gently. Add a few dried herbs from the garden, or buy them in delicatessens or supermarkets,...

Instead of buying an embossing tool for heating embossing powder, use your toaster. Hold the paper, with the embossing powder applied, over the heat source of the toaster, being careful not to hold...

hen looking for inspiration for applique designs, you need look no further than children's colouring books. The graphic designs will make ideal motifs for all sorts of...

Odd shoelaces can be put to good use as stitching holders for knitting. Thread shoelace through the stitches then tie into a knot or bow to secure the...

Crochet hooks, circular knitting needles and standard knitting needles can all be stored easily in plastic pages tape to secure the tops of the pages, label them and place in a folder for easy...

Use plastic film canisters as storage for needles, buttons, safety pins and other sewing aids. These containers are great for travelling and fit neatly into a handbag or car...

Always ensure your scissors are sharp when cutting fabric. They can be sharpened by specialists for a lasting effect, but for a quick trick cut into a sheet of sandpaper two or three...

Always work the white areas of a tapestry or needlepoint design first before any other colours are added. White threads that are worked later can easily become discoloured by the threads surrounding...

When you are working with modelling clay, wear disposable plastic gloves. This way you will not leave fingerprints over the surface of the...

Fake flowers can be used to great effect on gift boxes and bags. Just arrange the flowers on a box lid and glue them in place for a fabulous floral effect.

NOTE: To ensure safety, use only 25W light globes in each of the lamps featured here.

If you have never knitted before, here’s how to get started… Click here for a full step by step guide to knitting A sneak preview Casting on 1 Wind the yarn around your left index finger to make a circle as shown above. With a knitting needle, pull a loop of the yarn attached to […]

This knitted cosy is made from 25 pompoms to fit a three-cup teapot. You will need 5 x 50g balls of 8-ply yarn, pink 4mm knitting needles Cardboard Scissors Darning needle Body Using 4mm knitting needles and one strand of yarn, cast on 35 stitches for the front. Repeat with a second ball of yarn […]

This tea-cosy is knitted and crocheted, and will fit a short six-cup teapot. You will need 1 x 50g ball 10-ply variegated green and brown wool (such as Patons Jet) 1 x 50g ball 12-ply grey and green furry wool (such as Anny Blatt Fine Kid) 4mm crochet hook 6mm knitting needles 4mm knitting needles […]

Follow our patterns to create the five gorgeous garments worn by TV host Karl Stefanovic and his family [pictured, left to right: Karl, Ava, Jackson, Cassandra, River]. Abbreviations alt = alternate; beg = begin, beginning; cm = centimetres; cont = continue; dec = decrease, decreasing; foll = follows, following; inc = increase, increasing; K = […]

[Photographed by Rob Palmer.] Materials 1 bundle of 2mm round rattan core cane tape measure scissors kitchen string 2 x bundles of raffia 2.5m thin coloured ribbon flowers/foliage (either fresh or artificial) Method Measure and cut the cane into 1m lengths. Arrange the cut lengths into a circular form, about 3cm thick, ensuring the cut […]

To hide a dowdy fire surround, a frame, easily adapted to the desired size, is fitted around the fireplace. It is given the look of old wood with a white liming solution. Materials Structural steel equal angles 25mm x 25mm x 3mm thick (lengths depend on fireplace size) Spirit level Salvaged 100mm x 25mm thick […]

To make flowers Make 10 flowers for throw, two for a headband or one for each belt square. Make a slip knot, leaving a tail of 6cm and slip loop onto a 4mm crochet hook. Start with 6 ch and ss to form into ring. Make 5 ch to start Round 1. Make 1 tr […]

If you’ve always thought that fancy folds in napery were too difficult to attempt, think again. Start off with the simple and elegant pocket design. Step 1 Fold the napkin in half and in half again, to form a square a quarter the size of the original. Fold the top right corner (A) down so […]

MATERIALS Nundle Woollen Mill Pure New Wool 8-ply yarn (50g balls) in the folowing colours: 4 balls Donkey (brown); 2 balls Cerise (dark pink); 1 ball Tangerine (light orange); 1 ball Orange (darker orange); 2 balls Red; 2 balls Amethyst (purple); 1 ball Hot Pink (light pink). 1 pair of 4.00mm needles Spare needles or […]

These gorgeous bunny pants are suitable for a two-year-old. Download the pattern. Pattern pieces are shown at 25 percent of original size, so please enlarge by 400 percent. MATERIALS 60cm x 150cm-wide polar fleece in cinnamon, for pants 40cm x 150cm-wide lightweight polar fleece in cream, for bunny Matching machine threads DMC Perle thread #8 […]

MATERIALS Kunin rainbow shaggy plush felt in antique white Kunin rainbow plush felt in smoky brown 25cm x 20mm ribbon Small quantity polyester wadding Sewing cotton to match felt colours, plus basic sewing patterns Anchor stranded cotton colour 905 – Very dark brown INSTRUCTIONS Pre-wash felt following manufacturer’s instructions before cutting. Download and print pattern […]

Throw combining crocheted and knitted squares Download the pattern for the individual squares and the complete rug. MEASUREMENTS Throw measures (approx) 170cm x 140cm MATERIALS Cleckheaton Country 8 ply (50g balls) Main Colour (MC) – 27 balls 1st Contrast (C1) – 2 balls 2nd Contrast (C2) – 3 balls 3rd Contrast (C3) – 14 balls […]

MEASUREMENTS These garments are designed to be a generous fit. **MATERIALS ** **BOY’S OR GIRL’S SWEATER BACK** Using 4.00mm Needles, cast on 82 (90-98) sts. Knit 5 rows garter st (1st row is wrong side). ** Work in stocking st until work measures 27 (30-32) cm from beg, ending with a purl row. SHAPE RAGLAN […]

MEASUREMENTS MATERIALS: 7 x 50g balls Panda Regal 4ply; 4.00mm crochet hook or size required to give correct tension; knitter’s needle for finishing ends. TENSION: This poncho has been designed at a tension of 3 patts to 8cm and 6 rows to 10cm over patt, using 4.00mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS: alt = alternate; approx = approximately; […]

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children’s Art & Crafts. You will need: toothpicks vegetable dye apples, oranges and various fruits carrots, potatoes and various vegetables sultanas, marshmallows, soft sweets, chenille sticks, to decorate Place toothpicks in a warm vegtable dye mixture. wood colours more quickly in warm dye. Spread on […]

You will need: 2 x 1 litre (1¾ pint) milk cartons foil coloured cardboard cylinder pen cotton wool chenille sticks adhesive tape scissors Step 1 Seal the open end of a milk carton with tape. Cut a piece of foil to fit around entire carton. Carefully cover milk carton with foil lengthways, so that the […]

You will need: pencil cardboard coloured and uncoloured pasta shapes gold or silver spray paint, if desired newspaper, if desired ribbon PVA...

You will need: pencil or paintbrush small foil pie plates glitter string or ribbon PVA glue Step 1 Adult: punch a hole into pie plate with a pencil or the end of a paintbrush. Step 2 Apply glue to pie plates (either side for different effects). Apply glitter to glued areas. Shake off excess glitter. […]

You will need: egg carton foil glitter collage materials coloured chenille sticks clear craft glue scissors Step 1 Adult: cut egg...

You will need: polystyrene ball glitter sequins, small beads pins (with large heads) ribbon PVA glue Step 1 Cover ball with glue. Do not...

A pattern for the Crochet Throw Rug.

These craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

An environmentally friendly crochet shopping bag Crochet Shopping Bag - worked in trebles

MEASUREMENTS To fit cushion insert: 36 x 36cm MATERIALS Panda Woolbale 8 ply (50g balls) Quantity 5 One pair of 3.75mm knitting needles or...

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

A lovely floral box to hold all your treasures or to give to a special friend. Embellished with ribbon embroidery. Download the painting outline for the jewellery box. Measurements Embroidered lid measures approx. 17.5cm x 11cm. Materials Satin jewellery box or similar (ours measured 17.5cm x 11cm x 6.5cm) 25cm square natural seeded homespun Tracing […]

This gorgeous quilt is the perfect finishing touch in a bedroom! This pattern is based on a variation of a 1944 design.

This classic cotton knit with a nautical feel can be worked in stripes or a plain colour, with or without a hood. Nautical knit for kids Materials Panda Regal 4ply (50g) balls Striped Jumper: Main Colour (MC): 3 (4, 5, 6) balls. Contrast Colour (CC): 2 (3, 4) balls. Hooded jumper: 6 (7, 7, 8) […]