Homemade Christmas and Festive Decorations: 25 Home Craft Projects

Adding sequins

• We sewed sequins to the bauble and Christmas tree. Using a continuous thread, and the sequins randomly all over the decoration. Or you could add the sequins before stitching the felt pieces together.

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Knitted angel

Placing the angel at the top of the Christmas tree is traditionally the final task in the annual ritual of decorating the branches. And what could be more charming than this little knitted angel?

You will need

4-ply wool in the following colours (use up ends to make this angel as it takes tiny amounts): cream, tan or skin tone, pink, yellow (or other colour, for hair)

3.25mm (UK size 10; US size 12) knitting needles

Stuffing or cotton wool

Tension over stocking stitch

14sts and 18 rows = 5cm (2in)

Abbreviations (#litres_trial_promo)

Arms (make 2)

Cast on 10sts in cream, 2sts in tan.

Work 6 rows in stocking st (knit one row, purl one row).

Cast off 12sts.

The arms and legs naturally roll so that the reverse side of st st is on the outside. Catch together cast-on edge to cast-off edge in the direction that they have rolled. Sew in any loose ends.

Legs (make 2)

Cast on 12sts in tan, 2sts in pink or a contrast colour.

Work 6 rows stocking st.

Cast off 14sts.

Catch and sew edges as for the arms.

Body

Cast on 20sts in cream.

Work 17 rows in st st.

Then knit 6 rows more.

Cast off.

Head

Cast on 4sts in tan or skin tone.

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Knit, inc 1st at either end of row (6sts).

Row 4: Purl.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 (8sts).

Work 4 rows more in stocking st.

Row 11: Knit, dec 1st at either end of row (6sts).

Row 12: Purl.

Rows 13 & 14: As rows 10 and 11 (4sts).

Row 15: Purl.

Row 16: Knit.

Cast off.

Wings (make 2)

Wings are all garter st (knit every row).

Cast on 6sts in cream.

Rows 1 & 2: Knit.

Row 3: Knit, inc 1st at either end of row (10sts).

Row 4: Cast on 4sts at beginning of row, knit to end (14sts).

Rows 5–7: Work 3 rows in garter st.

Rows 8–11: Rep last 4 rows (18sts).

Row 12: Cast on 4sts at beginning of row, knit to end (22sts).