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Pretty
forest-print
bunting
KNIT IT SEW IT
HOW FACEBOOK LAUNCHED CRAFT-SELLER LOUISE FIRCHAUS DREAM BUSINESS
MY NEW LIFE IN THE COTSWOLDS
|:/ /.:
ISSUE 28 OCTOBER 2013 4.99 WITH GIFT
Handmade
projects
WIN!
1350
WORTH OF
PRIZES!
Cheeky
chums
GO NUTTY FOR OUR
FELT SQUIRRELS!

EXCLUSIVE
PAPER STAGS HEAD
VINTAGE TEACUP CANDLES
CROCHET WOODLAND CREATURES
Adorable owl
motif scarf &
glove set
Delicious
squash
cupcakes
BAKE IT
89
BEST-SELLERS
FOR EASY PROFIT
autumn
START
SELLING
FROM
HOME
IN 7 EASY STEPS
HOW TO

A
s autumn draws in, take inspiration from our
fairytale woodland theme this issue - perfect for
cosy nights in and a sure-re hit for sellers. Try
our sweet cover stars on page 16, have a go at stitching
the forest-themed bunting on page 28 and check out our
cute crochet creatures on page 84. If you love spending
time in the kitchen, make the most of the plethora of
delicious autumn fruits with our baking section from
page 43, which includes apple and g chutney and
mouth-watering blackberry and elderower cheesecake.
As always, this months mag is packed with advice on how to sell your
makes and bakes. Our real-life story this issue (p22) follows the success of
paper cutter Louise Firchau, who proved the power of social media by building
a 12,000 strong Facebook following, whilst our feature on page 79 looks at the
importance of having a good blog when launching your career.
Our FREE Halloween project book is packed with spooky things to make
and sell too, including a pumpkin costume, haunted house lanterns and
some creepy crawly cupcakes! You can even get the kids involved with 15
easy projects for your little terrors.
Have fun crafting - see you next month,
Welcome
COVER
How cute?! Squirrels
are fantastic sellers
at this time of year
16
Pretty forest-print
bunting will make a fab
addition to your stall
28
Try this
contemporary,
stylish stags head
31
Tis Peter Pan beaded
collar is easy to make
and hard to resist
34
Vintage teacup
candles sell
everywhere!
92
ZEENA MOOLLA EDITOR
4 Craftseller
Contents
October 2013
Nutty friends!
Make these lovable squirrels from
felt, and embellish with embroidery
30-minute make
Our wax crayon hearts are so simple
and sweet, you wont want to stop!
Treetops bunting
Fun fabrics add a seasonal feel to
this gorgeous home decoration
Stag head stunner
Create a focal point for any home
with this fabulous piece of wall art
Pearly queen
Our Peter Pan collar is a stylish and
easy make for your jewellery stall
16
27
28
32
34 62 94
Blackberry cheesecake
A truly scrumptious dessert with
a touch of delicate elderower
Spiced apple & g chutney
Use your apple windfalls to make
this delicious autumn pickle
Squash cupcakes
The perfect sweet treat for
Halloween and harvest festivals
Autumn Days papers
Create cards for the new school
term, Halloween parties and more...
Mummy makes
We show you how to transform
simple pebbles into lovely ladybirds!
44
46
47
50
From junk to funk
Wellies arent just for wearing
they make brilliant plant pots, too!
Creature comforts
Add owls to your knitted range,
with our scarf, hat and mittens set
Woodland friends
Your customers will love this group
of adorable crocheted critters!
Make a crafty tenner
Go vintage with these gorgeous
shabby-chic teacup candles
More ways than one
Make a bag, cushion and keyring
from our cross stitch camper motif
72
74
84
92
50
28
32
84 76
43
L
ook a
t th
is
m
on
th
s g
org
eou
s
free p
a
p
ers!

Projects

92
O
V
E
R

13
0
0
O
F PR
IZES
TO
W
IN
!
PA
G
E 68
Craftseller 5
16
Turn to page 102 for those
all-important templates
Special gift
Subscribe today and choose
your free gift!
40
Reader offer
Making news
Get the lowdown on the latest
crafty news and views
Dear Craftseller
Your chance to share all your
crafting and selling success stories
Pin it!
Be inspired by sumptuous autumnal
tones on our bronze mood board
Stash it!
Make the most of the woodland
trend with this must-have stash
Real life: Louise Firchau
Louise tell us how her Facebook fans
made Paper Panda such a success
8
10
12
15
22 79
Seven steps to selling at home
Find out how simple it could be to
start your craft business from home
Charity bakes
Support three good causes by
baking up a storm in the kitchen
Fab freebies
Enter now and you could get your
hands on some brilliant prizes
Diary of a craft-selling mum
Erica has a busy month and sells her
makes at Harrys rst school fair!
Blog it!
Find out how a blog can help you
transform your crafting career
38
48
68
70
Ask us!
Let our experts solve your craft-
selling queries with the best advice
My craft shop
Find out how these three successful
sellers make cash from their craft
Crafty courses
Choose from a range of inspiring
courses to expand your craft skills
Online loves
Check out our favourite makes
selling well on the web this month
89
98
100
106

Features

BE AN INSIDER
We want to know what you think. After all, the more
we know about you the better placed we are to bring
you the best magazine possible. So we would like to
invite you to join our online reader panel Insiders.

Interested? Log on to www.immediateinsiders.com/
register to ll out the short registration survey and
well be in touch from time-to-time to ask for your
opinions on the magazine
and other relevant issues.

We look forward to hearing
from you soon.
DESIGNERS
6 Craftseller
Contributors
Meet three Craftseller designers who have
created projects just for you
Siobhan Gough
Siobhans crayon hearts will only take you
30 minutes to make turn to page 27
Siobhan is an avid crafter with a
particular interest in paper crafting,
everything from origami to paper
cutting and creating beautiful paper
decorations. Siobhan sells her creations
through local shops and craft fairs as
well as taking commissions for special
gifts and wedding unique decorations.
Vicky Craxton
Vickys adorable felt squirrels our cover
stars can be found on page 16!
Vicky used to join her mum selling at
craft fairs as a child, then went on to
study animation at university. She set up
as a full-time craft seller after receiving
positive feeback on Facebook about her
handmade bags and owls. Bold prints,
quirky designs and vintage fabrics are
features of Vickys gorgeous work.
Emma Read
If you love pearls, check out Emmas
gorgeous Peter Pan collar on page 34
Emma started her business, Hapitat,
when she couldnt nd a fascinator to
wear to Ascot. Her speciality is pretty
silk owers, but generally she loves
to work with silks, chion and other
delicate fabrics to create a wide range
of beautiful accessories. Her passion for
eco-friendly fashion is clear to see.
Editor Zeena Moolla
Editorial Assistant Beth Collins
Art Editor Lisa Jones
Publisher Alison Worthington
Publishing Director Cath Potter
Managing Director Andy Marshall
Advertisement Director Caroline Herbert
Senior Advertising Manager Jane Hendy
Advertising Designer Catherine Howlett
Production Director Sarah Powell
Production Managers Rose Griffiths and
Louisa Molter
Marketing Director Jacky Perales-Morris
Direct Marketing Manager Penny Clapp
Marketing Executive Lucy Osmond
Reprographics Tony Hunt, Chris Sutch
Photography Louise Broom, Ally Stuart,
Steve Sayers
Distribution Frontline
Printed in the UK by William Gibbons
A special thank you to contributors and designers
Jo Benner, Helen Burge, Katriel Costello, Liz
Ward, Wendy Massey, Anne MacGregor, Siobhan
Gough, Vicky Craxton, Jessica Sharp, Jane Tooze,
Annie Bellamy, Claire Watkins, Sarah Chadwick,
Steve Wright, Marie Parry, Holly Johnson, Sophie
Jordan, Poppy Benner, Verity Gough, Karen Dunn,
Emma Read, Susanne Frank
Subscriptions and customer enquiries
To place a subscription or order any of our wonderful
sewing, knitting or craft magazines, please call the
subscriptions hotline on 0844 844 0388. Its open
weekdays 8am-8pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.
Join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter
Become a fan of Craftseller on Facebook or follow
@craftsellermag on Twitter and you can take part in
competitions, share news, tips and more.
Copyright guidelines for projects
We have requested specific permission from authors, book
publishers and designers so that you can recreate and sell
the projects from this issue. Please credit the designer where
appropriate and when it has been requested. Craftseller is for
crafting enthusiasts who want to make beautiful, handmade
items to sell. You can individually make as many as you
wish to sell either for yourself, your local event, summer
fete or to raise money for charity. You cannot go into mass
production, which means you cannot manufacture in large
quantities, especially by machine. Please respect one
anothers copyright.
Immediate Media Company Limited is working to ensure
that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests.
Immediate Media Company Limited is dedicated to producing the very best consumer
specialist interest magazines, edited and designed to inform our readers, enhance their lives
and give them the best value for money possible. Please visit www.immediatemedia.co.uk
for details of our other publications. We take great care to ensure all elements of Craftseller
are accurate. However, we accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes that appear
in this magazine. All prices quoted are correct at the time of going to print. Immediate
Media Company Limited.
Craftseller is published by:
This magazine can be recycled, for
use in newspapers and packaging.
Please remove any gifts, samples
or wrapping and dispose of it at
your local collection point.
Immediate Media Company Limited, 9th Floor, Tower House,
Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN. Tel: 0117 927 9009
Fax: 0117 934 9008
A SPECIAL MENTION TO
AUTUMNSHOWS
Inspirational features, displays, workshops
and demonstrations for all creative crafters
THURS 12 - SAT 14 SEPTEMBER
CREATIVE STITCHES
& HOBBYCRAFTS
EVENTCITY, MANCHESTER
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THURS 26 - SUN 29 SEPTEMBER
STITCH, SEW &
HOBBYCRAFTS
WESTPOINT, EXETER
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THURS 24 - SUN 27 OCTOBER
CRAFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
HOBBYCRAFTS
SECC, GLASGOW
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THURS 7 - SUN 10 NOVEMBER
CRAFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
HOBBYCRAFTS
ART MATERIALS LIVE
NEC, BIRMINGHAM
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FRI 8 - SUN 10 NOVEMBER
CAKE INTERNATIONAL
THE SUGARCRAFT, CAKE
DECORATING & BAKING SHOW
NEC, BIRMINGHAM
SAVE UP TO 2 OFF
EACH ADULT & SENIOR TICKET
IF ORDERED AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE THE SHOW.
Buy tickets on-line www.ichf.co.uk
or phone Ticket Hotline 01425 277988
CRAFTY UPDATE
8 Craftseller
Little Purls
8 patterns for babies
frompremature
to 3 months
Silver Maple Beanie &
Booties page 3
Crochet Beanie
page 4
Bobble Hat & Booties
page 5
Diamond Pixie Hat
page 7
Pattern guide - all patterns available from sizes from premature to 3 months
Welcome to your one-stop shop for all the latest
craft trends, dates and celebs
1
He started out by selling his own clothes literally,
straight out of his wardrobe in 1980 at Camden
Market. Together with his wife, he had expanded to 16
stalls within the space of just one year!
2
Having sold his hugely successful Red or Dead fashion
label, Wayne now works on a range of projects including
Kioskiosk, which helps creative businesses nd affordable
retail spaces in prominent locations, as well as mentoring
up-and-coming talent for The Princes Trust.
3
He launches the UKs rst National Festival of Thrift
on 21-22 September, taking place at Lingeld Point,
Darlington. He promises us a Life-changing, life-afrming
event, which includes a pop-up allotment, upcycled fashion
show, street food stalls and vintage vehicles!
3
things we
love about...
Wayne Hemingway
D
ownload these
Bergere D
e France
patterns and raise
m
oney for Sparks
To nd out more about Waynes
latest venture, check out
festivalofthrift.co.uk, or take a
look at his ofcial website at
hemingwaydesign.co.uk to see
some of his newest designs.
#minifashionprotest
I
f you love fashion but hate sweatshops, join craft
author Perri Lewis and top TV crafters like Tilly &
the Buttons in making mini protest banners for
London Fashion Week, which will be displayed at an
exhibition in the autumn. Visit craftivist-collective.
com or follow #minifashionprotest on Twitter.
CELEBS CRAFT TOO!
Dannii Minogue recently revealed a
secret love of cross stitch. I have done
it since I was a kid. Its so relaxing.
Making news
SUPER
SITES
Our pick of
the best from the
world of online
this month
sewyeah.co.uk
A colourful blog thats
packed with ideas on
everything from felting
to crochet and DIY tricks.
stellaireblog.blogspot.
co.uk
Lifestyle blogger Jess
shares her love of all
things handmade.
sweetapolita.com
Warning: do not enter
this website when
hungry. Recipes and
video tutorials to make
your mouth water!
N
o
r
m

O
o
r
l
o
f
f
/
N
e
w
s
p
i
x
/
R
e
x

F
e
a
t
u
r
e
s
CRAFTY UPDATE
Craftseller 9
KNITTED CHIC
BEING CREATIVE is all about
thinking outside the box and doing
something different, and thats why we
love queen of the yarn, Jessica Biscoe (jessicabiscoe.
co.uk). Proving once again that knitting is cool, she
has been featured in various national magazines and
has just relaunched her website, where you can view
her contemporary takes on traditional patterns.
IKAT PRINTS
THIS ANCIENT WEAVING
technique has been reinvented
in the form of printed fabrics,
homeware and fashion
accessories and we love
its retro, tribal feel! The trend
is set to continue into 2014,
so make sure that zig-zags
and rich, vibrant hues are
on your creative radar.
TOP TREND TOP TREND TOP TREND TOP TREND TOP TREND TOP TREND
T
ra
n
sform
a

p
a
ir of old
h
eels
w
ith
th
ese kn
itted

sh
oe clip
s!
CRAFTY
EVENTS
Our pick of the
best crafty events
around this
month...
Creative Stitches &
Hobbycrafts
EventCity,
Manchester
12-14 September
Bluebird Events
Craft Fair
Taunton
14 September
London Design Festival
Various locations
14-22 September
Big Stamp and
Scrapbooking Show
Alexandra Palace,
London
21-22 September
Festival of Thrift
Lingeld Point,
Darlington
21-22 Sept
Craft and
Jewellery Fair
Pavilion Gardens,
Buxton
21-22 September
Crafts Unlimited
Association Craft Fair
Glasgow
22 September
Brighton Craft Fair
Ship Street,
Brighton
28 September
Upcycling Academy
The Knitting and
Stitching Show,
London
10-13 October
Talent
SPOT
Love to bake?
I
f cakes are your thing, or you want to meet
some top baking stars including TGBBO
winner John Whaite, then dont miss Te
Cake and Bake Show, Earls Court (13-15 Sept)
and Manchester Central (4-6 April 2014). We
have ve pairs of tickets to Earls Court visit
craft-seller.com for your chance to win!
S
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n
n
a

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v
a
s

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r
i
n
t
,

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LETTERS
10 Craftseller
CRAFTY
BLOG
joythebaker.com
My favourite blog is
a baking blog called
joythebaker.com. Its
full of beautiful photos
of some of the most
weird, wonderful and
imaginative recipes,
both sweet and savoury.
Until you have tried
Joys chocolate peanut
butter pretzel brownies,
you havent lived!
SHERI THOM, EXETER
Send us your latest crafting and selling stories each issue
the star letter wins a StickyTiger prize!
Its my party
FOR MY LAST BIRTHDAY I invited lots of
friends to my house for a vintage tea party. Your
pattern for the Drink Tea Here sign was a perfect
addition, even if I did nish it with only an hour
to spare before my guests started to arrive! It
looked fabulously festive sitting next to my
teapot-shaped birthday balloon.
JANET NUTTER, TRAWDEN, LANCS
Ed: Happy (belated) birthday, Janet! Your sign
looks great we think you chose a fab colour.
Hope your guests loved it, too.
A
driana
experim
ented
w
ith
our D
andy
D
eer design
Ians signs are fab quality
and make for great gifts
Dear Craftseller
Resounding success
I RECENTLY STARTED SEWING cushions, then I
expanded to lampshades, and nowI also repaint
and reupholster furniture. I was so inspired by your
magazine and the wealth of information inside
that I decided to see whether I could sell some of
the things I was making, so Mols & Tati-Lois was
born. I was so taken with your article in the June
issue on outdoor selling, that I even ventured out.
I followed your tips and, I have to say, the day was
a resounding success. So huge thanks all round, to
you and your brilliant mag.
NATALIA PRICE-CABRERA, MOLS & TATI-LOIS
Ed: Wow, so much success in such a short time
congratulations, Natalia, were really impressed!
My dandy deer
I JUST WANTED TO express my gratitude for such
a beautiful pattern I love this design! As you can
see, I made one in the same style as it was printed in
the magazine, then I started experimenting a little
bit by adding some crochet details and changing the
colours. I am looking forward to selling them online!
ADRIANA, BY EMAIL
Ed: Both your deer are adorable Adriana, and so well
nished. We love the realistic bambi design.
LETTERS
Craftseller 11
CRAFTY
TALK
Here are some
of our favourite
posts and tweets
this month
Search for Craftseller
on facebook.com
@craftsellermag yourletters@
craft-seller.com
Dear Craftseller, 9th Floor,
Tower House, Fairfax
Street, Bristol BS1 3BN
Loving Craftsellers July
article...10 Top Tips
to Launch your Crafty
Career...great advice!
@TRINKETS123
@CraftsellerMag Loving
my new #Craftseller mag,
it makes me #Smile :)
@FUSSYBITCH1961
@Craftsellermag loving
the Russian doll make.
@SONIKMUMMY
My dog brooch was
spotted on @folksy
and featured in
@CraftsellerMag
@KAYLEIGHOMARA
I think @CraftsellerMag is
quickly becoming one of
my favourite magazines!
@LAURENASPENCER
BEST MAG
I WAS REALLY EXCITED when I
picked up Craftseller recently, and I was
amazed at the amount of content and useful
information inside - I dont know how Ive
gone without it. I am looking forward to
working on my craft space, and Ive already
started making use of all the hints, tips and
advice. I wanted to say a big thank you for one
of the best craft magazines in the UK.
AMANDA TROUGHT, REALITYARTS.CO.UK
Ed: Your makes look great, Amanda! Heres
45 to spend on crafting and selling supplies at
StickyTiger. Happy shopping!
Matryoshka heaven
IM A SEMI-RETIRED school teacher, and your mag
gave me the push I needed to have a go at selling my
felt creations. After going through CE testing, Ive
just created a Facebook page - Bobosunbeam - and
started selling at local craft fairs, too. When I saw
the lovely matryoshka doll in the August issue I had
to write, as theyre one of my favourite things to
make. I thought you might like to see one of mine.
JILL HOLLIDAY, NORTH EAST LINCS
Ed: Your matryoshka is really sweet, Jill. Te hand
embroidery gives her a lovely, professional nish.
Star letter prize!
Tis month our star letter writer
wins 45 worth of vouchers
for stickytigersupplies.co.uk
Little cutie
THIS IS THE BUNNY I created using the pattern in issue 24 of
Craftseller. Its the rst time that Ive ever followed a written
pattern, so Im really pleased with how it turned out. Tanks so
much for such a great design I loved it!
CHARLOTTE HEGGIE, BY EMAIL
Ed: Your bunny really is adorable, Charlotte! We love Liz Wards
simple patterns keep reading Craftseller for more of her
designs, and turn to page 84 in this issue for some really simple
and very cute woodland creatures for you to try your hand at.
StickyTiger. Happy shopping!
Ma
IM A S
gave m
felt cre
just cr
started
th l
Amanda loves
crafting with our
free papers
Star
LETTER
dery gives her a lovely, professional nish.
Jill has been making
matryoshka dolls,
ahead of the trend
PIN IT
12 Craftseller
Autumnal copper and bronze colours are
abundant in nature at the moment, so start
adding these rich shades to your crafts, too
Bronze
a
a
1
2
3
5
4
6
7
8
PIN IT
Craftseller 13
1 John Robshaw Fig Ikat Cushion, 79,
idyllhome.co.uk 2 Starburst Metal Wall
Art, 75, very.co.uk 3 Cirque Round
Cushion, 12, isme.com 4 Deco Jewel
Structured Cuff, 15, accessorize.co.uk
5 Loose Leaf Brass, 5.95, anniesloan.
co.uk 6 Handmade Pillar Bronze
Candleholder, 140.86, felicityandlee.
com 7 Copper Sunower Tea Light
Holders, 21, maudinteriors.com 8 Beaten
Copper Tray, 60, bitten.myshopify.
com 9 Goddess Metallic Maxi Dress,
220, coast-stores.com 10 Literary
Terms Bronze-Effect Cu inks, 30,
theliterarygiftcompany.com 11 Metallic
Bronze Sequin Film, 4.50, josyrose.com
12 Early industrial light by GEC, similar
available from skinintdesign.co.uk
13 Black and Gold Brass Bowl, 19.99,
oscarandeve.co.uk 14 Copper Milk Pail,
14; Copper Casserole Dish, 125; Atelier
Table, 599, johnlewis.com 15 Rose C
Crepe de Chine, 49 per m, liberty.co.uk
16 Joy and Sorrow A Crepe de Chine, 49
per m, liberty.co.uk 17 Metallic Ginger
Glow Edible Silk, 2.50, justbake.co.uk
13
12
14
16
15
17
10
9
11
The definitive events for anyone
with a love of stitch and creative crafts.
Supplies, workshops and textile art.
Alexandra Palace, London 10th to13th October
RDS, Dublin 31st October to 3rd November
Harrogate International Centre 21st to 24th November
Book at www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com
or call 0844 848 0132
Groups of ten or more call 020 7688 6830
I
m
a
g
e
:

J
a
n

B
e
a
n
e
y
Animal Party Forest Fun Fabric Natural Lime, 3.30 per Fat Quarter, frumble.co.uk Deer and Woodland Friends Fabric-covered Buttons,
4.25 for ve, Den Uartige Kat on etsy.com Rusty The Fox Iron-on Patches, 3.95 a pack, dotcomgiftshop.com
Set of Wooden Owl Stamps, 8.99, pandurohobby.co.uk Enchanted Forest Fabrics, 11 per metre, thefabricloft.co.uk
Leaves Clear Tape, 8.95 for set of two tapes, papermash.co.uk
John Lewis Glitter Edged Ivy Leaves, 12 for a pack of 10, johnlewis.com Fairy Retro Off-White Sewn-on Love Birds Motif, 1.29 each,
myfabrichouse.co.uk Squirrel Cookie Cutter, 1.70, Sugar Fox Shop on etsy.com
Inspiring ideas for your crafty makes
S
tash it!
d i d b i d B
s
d Forest Fabrics 11 per metre thefabricloft co uk
NOW
W
IN
IT!
ON PAGE
68
SHOPPING
Craftseller 15
FELT IT
16 Craftseller
Nutty friends!
These adorable felt squirrels, with their soft tummies and big bushy
tails, are the perfect decoration for autumn! By Vicky Craxton
g bushy
axton
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
MAKE FOR 3
FOR
10
FELT IT
Craftseller 17
COVER
stars
Templates
Using the templates on page 102, cut the
felt shapes out as follows:
Red/brown: cut two of BODY and two of
ARM.
Grey: cut two of BODY and two of ARM.
White: cut one of FRONT and four of EYE.
Beige: cut one of FRONT.
Black: cut two of NOSE and four of PUPIL.
How to make the felt squirrels
Y
our customers will go nuts over
these adorable little woodland
critters, especially when they see
the pretty embroidered owers on their
tummies! They're sure to appreciate the
delicate blanket stitch detail, too, which
gives a wonderful handmade look. These
lovable characters each have a ribbon loop,
so they can be hung up anywhere around
the home as seasonal decorations. Make a
whole family of felt squirrels and present
them on a twiggy tree on your craft stall, or
display them among lots of autumn leaves
and acorns for your product photos.
1 On one of the body shapes in each
colour, sew the eyes onto the face using an
overstitch. Then sew the pupils in place in
the middle of each eye.
SAFETY FIRST This colourful make is
likely to appeal to children. Make sure
you sew all the different parts on
securely, and make sure any toy lling
is non-toxic and rmly sewn inside.
Remember, if you intend on selling
them, even if they are not sold as
toys, there are strict regulations to
adhere to. Visit craft-seller.com/
free-downloads for more legal
advice on child safety.
5 For the embroidered design on the
squirrels tummy, start with cross stitches
for the owers, a small running stitch for
the stems, and single chain stitches for the
leaves. Use pink thread for the owers on
the grey squirrel, and yellow thread for the
owers on the red/brown squirrel.
6 For each squirrel, fold a 20cm (8in)
length of the ribbon in half to make a loop,
and sew it onto the back body shape. Use a
single cross stitch to sew the ribbon in place,
so the cross appears on the reverse.
FELT IT
18 Craftseller
INFORMATION
Materials
* 28 x 17cm (11 x 6in) grey felt
* 28 x 17cm (11 x 6in) red/brown
felt
* 11 x 10cm (4 x 4in) white felt
* 11 x 7cm (4 x 2in) beige felt
* 5 x 5cm (2 x 2in) black felt
* 40cm (15in) of 9mm emerald
green and white polka dot
grosgrain ribbon
* Sewing thread in black, white,
brown and grey
* Embroidery thread in dark brown,
grey, emerald green, pink, yellow
and black
* Polyester toy lling
Size: 14 x 10cm (5 x 4in), not
including ribbon
Ribbon loop approx. 7.5cm
(3in) long
Skill level: Easy
2

With the grey embroidery thread, sew
the white front onto the grey body using a
blanket stitch. With the brown embroidery
thread, sew the beige front onto the red/
brown body using a blanket stitch. Only sew
the top and the bottom edges of the front.
3

Sew the nose onto the face using an
overstitch. Then, with black embroidery
thread, sew a little smile under the nose.
4

With an overstitch, sew the arms onto
the front so that they are resting at the top
of the tummy.
7

Sew the front and back body pieces
together using a blanket stitch. Start from
the feet and stop before the end of the tail.
Stuff the squirrel with toy lling through the
gap, then nish sewing the rest of the tail.
These squirrels can
be made in lots of
different colours, and
personalised with
embroidery
SELL MORE
FELT IT
Craftseller 19
W
e love
th
e d
elica
te
em
broid
ery
20 Craftseller
Read our top tips to help you sell your sweet felt squirrels
NOW SELLING ON...
NOTHS: Tree animals by The
Contemporary Home, 20
Xxxxxx xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
DaWanda: Felt hanging owl by
Federica Creation, 24
Wowthankyou: Woodland animals
fairy lights by Button Owl, 26
SELL IT
1
Make your squirrels collectable
by offering a whole family of them,
including a mum, a dad and babies. 2
Offer a personalised service, with the
option to have a name stitched onto
the tummy. Charge a higher price for
this service to maximise your prot.
3
Photograph your products in a pretty
woodland setting. Hang them from
trees, or shoot them nestled amongst
pine cones and rustic autumn leaves.
4
Mix up your colours to cater for all
tastes use different ribbons and vary
the colour of the stitched owers.
5
Give your animals names. Making
each squirrel feel unique will add to
the value of your product and appeal to
the younger audience you could even make
them mini birth certicates!
6
Get festive cater for the Christmas
gift market by using ribbon with a
holly leaf or mistletoe motif.
7
Make door signs out of your squirrels
by creating little felt plaques to hang
round their necks.
8
Continue the woodland theme by
presenting each squirrel in a little
brown box lled with shredded paper.
9
Display your squirrels in a shop or at
a craft fair by hanging them from cut
tree branches placed in a vase.
10
Sew a tag into the back of your
animal to make sure people know
where it was bought from.
Youve made it,
now sell it...
www.silversewing.co.uk
For your nearest stockist and expert advice, please contact
Silver Viscount on 01933 311888 or enquiries@silverviscount.co.uk
Facebook fans let me
quit my day job
Paper-cutter Louise Firchau has built an army of 12,000
Facebook fans, so now she can live her dream by Karen Dunn
T
ucked away in a little cottage in
the Cotswolds in the grounds of an
impressive manor house, Louise
Firchau, 37, is furiously working away with
her scalpel cutting, perhaps, the most
intricate design you have ever seen.
Louise, or Paper Panda as her followers
know her, is a social media success story.
Her (whopping) 12,000 Facebook followers,
including some of the most devoted fans
you could ask for, have allowed her to turn
her hobby into a fully-edged business.
Te only word to describe where Louise
lives is idyllic. Te manor houses gardener
regularly delivers fresh veg from the
country garden, there are elds all around,
and a whole host of friendly pets eager to
be stroked. Sat in her country kitchen, she
alternates between cutting bespoke paper
designs, checking Facebook and chatting
with her husband Ryan, who also works
from home. Modest Louise, however,
insists her online fame is all a uke
Tree years ago I was a full-time graphic
designer then one day I spotted paper-
cutting on Etsy and my life changed. I
ordered a scalpel from eBay, made a design
on my computer and started cutting. It
took me seven hours, but I was hooked.
I love typography, so my rst one was
a simple phrase: You are the sun in my
Sunday morning. I was really proud of it,
so I put a picture of it on Facebook.
It was supposed to be just for me, but a
friend wanted it so I gave it to him. Ten I
made another one and someone else asked
for it. I was so excited I went out, spent
22 on a frame, 10 on postage and only
charged her 30 for it. Before I knew it,
I was selling commissions to people who
started liking my business page. It was
totally crazy, and a real shock.
I had no business sense at rst. I was
just so happy that people liked them, and
I made a loss on every single paper-cut I
nished for the rst few months!
I was the rst paper-cutter on
Facebook. Even Rob Ryan wasnt on there
when I joined, but after six months Paper
Dreams, run by a girl called Amy, popped
up. At rst I panicked and thought there
wasnt room for both of us, but rather than
competing we joined forces. We bought
frames together, split the costs and shared
tips. Joining forces made us both see what
we were doing as a real business, and Amy
and I became best friends in the process.
We decided wed take new paper-cutters
under our wing and all work together. It
was lovely to see everyone ourishing.
Gradually I was doing more paper-
cutting and less of the day job. Ten,
two years ago, my husband Ryan got the
opportunity to take redundancy. Wed
been to Bourton-On-Te-Water on holiday
and had fallen in love with the place. One
Friday night we decided we would move
down here. Within a weekend we had
found a gift shop to rent and a cottage to
live in. By the Tuesday, Ryan had told work
he was leaving and that was it. It was a
mental couple of weeks!
It also happened to be the weekend
Paper Panda decided to go crazy with
orders. I had 85 all at once! Cuts were going
so quickly I was selling them within two
seconds of putting them on my page. We
decided Id work in the shop and Ryan
would freelance, but as I got busier paper-
cutting, we were getting robbed blind I
was too busy to notice people were stealing
things! Ryan took over in the shop, but
after a year we decided to sell up and make
Paper Panda my o cial full-time job.
A lot of people ask me how I got to over
12,000 likes for my page, and the answer
is you have to throw every single minute
of the day at it. Even on holiday I have to
check the page, and I now have an assistant
who checks it and responds when I cant.
You have to be prepared to work
insanely hard for the rst couple of years.
You do, however, have to learn your
limitations. Tis time last year I was cutting
so much, my hand was becoming like a P
h
o
t
o
s
:

S
i
m
o
n

H
a
d
l
e
y
/
U
N
P

REAL LIFE
22 Craftseller
I was the rst paper-
cutter on Facebook. Even
Rob Ryan wasnt on there
when I joined
Clockwise from left: Louise prides herself on hand-
cutting her products its what makes her work
so unique and a delight to own; the cottage is lled
with a collection of whimsical characters that inspire
Louises work; Louises very rst sale was a framed
cut that she sent to a friend at a loss, and these are
still some of her best-selling products
claw. Te breaking point came when I got
really ill and was admitted to hospital, and
Ryan ended up bringing my cutting mat in
so I could nish some orders!
After years of getting annoyed at
people accusing me of laser-cutting my
prints rather than doing them by hand, I
decided to do a laser-cut range to make
some cheaper cuts. I also had cushions,
cards and cups printed up, using only
small businesses in the UK from Facebook
(mainly other mums working from home).
Having so many followers means you
can nd new businesses quickly you all
help each other out. My followers are pretty
fearsome, too. If someone copies my cuts,
theyre very quick to tell them to stop.
Ive made hundreds of friends through
Facebook, which is amazing especially
since I was never popular at school!
Last November, myself and Amy from
Paper Dreams started making and selling
a range of paper-cutting starter kits. Te
rst batch sold out within a day, and now
weve sold 1,000 kits. All the cutters who
sell on Facebook after learning through our
kits call themselves Panda Cubs, which is
lovely. With so many new cutters on the
scene, Ive had to diversify to stay unique.
Ive moved away from typography and am
drawing my own designs, rather than using
a computer. I didnt have the condence to
Last year I was cutting
so much, my hand was
becoming like a claw
Clockwise from top: Louise
stays on top of her Facebook
page; complex designs were
almost damaging; Louises
cottage is so idyllic
Louise Firchau
Follow Louises latest news
and check out her Paper Panda
ideas at facebook.com/
PaperPandaPapercuts
or shop for her intricate designs
at paperpanda.bigcartel.com
Be nice and go the extra mile
Good customer service when you sell online is
essential. One bad review could ruin you, or at
least be very damaging. You also have to be
professional all the time. If a package is late
Ill always send another one out immediately
even if it means the customer ends up
getting two. I have done cuts to incredibly short
deadlines, but I always make sure they get there
on time by using special delivery.
Network and make friends
There are lots of great networking groups for
crafters on Facebook, like Send In The Troops and
Hike Those Likes. Some people say lots of likes
dont necessarily mean gaining sales, but they
really do. Its very simple the more people who
see your work the more potential buyers there
are, as you can only sell to friends for so long.
Give stuff away for free!
I do a lot of offers and giveaways and I always
make sure Im being generous, so that the
offer creates enough hype. You do have to be
careful and make sure you dont break Facebook
rules, though. To be safe, I always put any
competitions on my blog and link from Facebook
to there. I recently ran a competition that
probably cost me 50, but I ended up with
400 new likes and 800 comments, making it
more than worth every penny.
Louises top selling
tips for Facebook
do it that way before, but the support from
the Panda Cubs has really spurred me on.
Ive also just started using watercolours to
paint my two favourite characters bird
and bunny and my dream is to write a
childrens book lled with paper-cuts of
what theyre getting up to.
If you had told me three years ago Id
be living somewhere this beautiful, selling
my own cuts, Id never have believed you
but thanks to Facebook I have a business I
could only have dreamed of.
REAL LIFE
24 Craftseller

Take a journey into
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Create lots of these sweet decorations they look fantastic in the
sunshine and cost just pennies to make! By Siobhan Gough
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
M
AKE 100
FOR 3
3 FOR
1
2
Place an old tea towel and a
piece of baking paper on an ironing
board. Sprinkle a thin layer of
shavings onto the paper, mixing
the colours. Overlap the colours
slightly to blend them.
1
Grate crayons to
make wax shavings
(the finer the better),
keeping the colours
separate as you do this.
INFORMATION
Materials
* Coloured wax crayons
* Baking paper
* Twine for hanging
* Fine grater
* Iron
* Old tea towel
Size: 7.5 x 7cm (3 x 2in)
Skill level: Easy
These can be made
to shoppers needs
garlands for parties
or larger individual
decorations
SELL MORE
3
Lay a sheet of baking
paper on top. Iron over
the paper to melt the
wax. Immediately place
a heavy book or weight on
top while the wax sets.
4
Use a stencil to draw heart
shapes on the paper. Cut the
hearts out, just inside the outline.
Punch a small hole near the
top and thread with a piece of
vintage-style twine to hang up.
MAKE IT
Craftseller 27
Treetops bunting
This fairytale forest-print bunting with a reversible gingham side looks
perfect indoors or outside, for late summer parties By Jane Tooze
3
Trim off excess seam allowance and
snip across the bottom point to make
turning easier. Turn and press each ag.
4
Fold the bias binding in half along the
length, and press, creating a channel to
pin in the ags. Pin the ags at 3.5cm (1in)
intervals. Sew in place and press. Sew a
length of ribbon to either end for hanging.
How to make the
woodland bunting
1
Using the ag template, cut out 20
red gingham ags and 20 woodland-
print ags. Draw around the template on the
wrong side of the fabric. When cutting out,
add on another 1.5cm (in) seam allowance
all the way around the ag.
2
Pin together one gingham and one
woodland piece of fabric, right sides
facing, and sew around the two sides of the
triangle, leaving the top edge open. Repeat
until all ags are sewn.
T
his sweet bunting with a traditional
pattern will appeal to all ages. Its
perfect for decorating spaces at
parties, with soft colours that will look great
in the garden or even at harvest festivals.
You can also use it to make a childs room
extra special. The cute woodland theme
works well for kids and will appeal to both
boys and girls. If you sell online, think about
offering a made-to-order range, personalising
each string for different occasions or colour
schemes. The possibilities are endless
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
MAKE FOR 8.50

FO
R
20
Use offcuts of fabric
left over from other
projects, to keep
the cost down when
making bunting
TOP TIP
SHOW US ON FACEBOOK!
Wed love to see your pretty bunting on the Craftseller Facebook page
C
h
oose fa
bric
th
a
t a
p
p
ea
ls to
every
on
e
SEW IT
28 Craftseller
INFORMATION
Materials
* 1m (40in) cotton gingham
* 1m (40in) cotton woodland print
* 5m (16ft) green bias binding
* 2m (80in) coloured ribbon
* Green cotton thread
* Sewing machine
* Tape measure
* Scissors
* Pins
* Iron and ironing board
Size: 246.5cm (97in) excl. strings
Skill level: Easy
SEW IT
Craftseller 29
Tel: 0844 880 5381
www.thesoapkitchen.co.uk
Est. 2000 | Devon
Ingr
Ingr
Ingr
Ingred diients Fo
Ingr ddients Fo Fo
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R s R s sse se
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lm lm Oil Oil
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onut Oil
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n t Oi Oil
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Red Co ou
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S
eamstar have recently launched Craft Club, a great community for
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Rona Sewing Machines Waltham Cross EN8 7BX 01992 640250
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The Sewing Centre Battersea SW11 3BP 0207 2283022
The Sewing Shop Canterbury CT1 2HX 01227 457723
Theobalds Luton LU1 5AA 01582 720332
Tysons Sewing Machines Ltd Southall UB1 3DA 0208 5741750
Tysons Sewing Machines Ltd Hounslow TW3 1NW 0208 5706790
Woking Sewing & K/M Centre Woking KT15 3NY 01932 352958
South West
Cafe Crafts Weston Super Mare BS24 6SE 01934 838327
Direct Sewing Machines Redruth TR15 2DY 01209 216942
Exeter Sewing Machine Company Exeter EX1 2LD 01392 275660
Franklins Group Limited Salisbury SP2 7SU 01722 554466
The Stitch Academy Taunton TA1 1NZ 07547 006618
Bredons Taunton TA1 3NB 01823 272450
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How to make the stag
1
Cut out the shapes from mountboard
using the templates on page 102.
2
Cut along the dotted lines to make the
slots that hold it all together. You will
need to make sure each slot is wide enough
to t the width of the card into it (2mm), but
narrow enough that the board is held tightly
together so start small, then enlarge.
3
Once all the pieces are cut out, you
can begin to build the stags head.
Start off by slotting in the very rst nose
piece and then the last piece, to give the
nished shape some structure.
W
e love the look of a statement
stag head, and have created
a minimalist design that looks
very classy in any kind of setting. This
traditional trophy is usually associated with
country houses and the hunting-shooting-
shing crowd, but our majestic mountboard
beast brings the wall hanging into a new
century. Gone are the glassy eyes that follow
you round the room this sleek and simple
version is made from layers of mountboard
to create a stylish 3D sculpture. Stand head-
and-shoulders above the competition by
offering coloured or dcoupage versions!
4
One by one, add in the other pieces
until your stag head is complete.
Make sure that you add the antler piece one
section in front of the ears.
5
Being careful not to cut through the
mountboard, add two score lines to
the back end of the main head piece, and
bend them to create a at edge. Add strong
glue or double-sided tape to the folded
ends, and mount onto a nal piece of board.
You can use an oval shape that will sit
discretely behind, as we have done here.
Alternatively, why not experiment with a
more elaborate shield shape?
6
Now bend the ring-pull a little, and
glue to the nished stag with the ring
end bent slightly away from the at board,
so that it is easy to hang on the wall.
Stag head stunner
This piece of minimalist wall art will stop your customers in their
tracks. Its denitely got the wow factor! By Annie Bellamy
32 Craftseller
MAKE IT
INFORMATION
Materials
* 2 x A1 sheets of thick white
mountboard
* Sharp craft knife
* Strong glue or double-sided tape
* Ring-pull (from a drinks can)
Size: 20.5 x 23.5 x 33cm (8 x 21 x 13in)
Skill level: Easy
Use a self-healing
cutting mat if you
can. Alternatively, a
surface like a bread
board will work
TOP TIP
Craftseller 33
MAKE IT
MAKE IT
34 Craftseller
Pearly queen
Keep fashion-conscious buyers happy, with this stunning
pearly Peter Pan collar By Emma Read
g
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Craftseller 35
P
eter Pan collars are popular on the
high street at the moment, but who
needs the mass-produced ones?! Our
hand-crafted version will instantly turn a
plain dress or top into a cute vintage outt
that oozes femininity. It can be made in an
evening from odd beads and buttons, and
you can really use your creative talents to
offer customers a unique look. This example
uses a couple of long pearly necklaces, plus
smaller pearls to ll in the gaps. Once you get
the principle of making the collar, youll be
amazed at the effects you can achieve.
INFORMATION
Materials
* Square of beige/cream felt
* 1m satin ribbon
* Cotton thread
* 2 long xed pearl necklaces
(or approx. 220 large pearls)
* 2 loose pearl bracelets
(or approx. 120 small pearls)
* Copydex or strong fabric glue
* Size: Adjustable
* Skill level: Easy
1
Using the template on page 102, cut
two felt collar shapes. Cut the satin
ribbon in half, widthways. Take one felt collar
piece and machine-sew one ribbon end to
one tip of the felt, and the other ribbon end
to the other see photo for guide. This will
be the underside of the collar.
2
Take the front felt piece. If youre using
a pearl necklace where the pearls are
xed to a thread, keep them strung to the
thread and lay in place on the felt. Sew a
stitch through the thread in between each
bead. If the beads are loose, sew them on
individually, rst sewing the beads around
the edge of the felt, then working evenly
into the centre. Next, ll in the gaps with the
smaller beads.
3
Stick the back felt collar piece to the
front collar piece using a thin layer of
Copydex or strong fabric glue. The ribbon
ends will be sandwiched in between the two
layers. To seal the ends of satin ribbon and
stop them from fraying, quickly and carefully
sweep them over a naked ame.
TOP TIP
Scout charity shops
and car boot sales
for old beads, vintage
buttons and lace to
add to your
collars
How to make the Peter Pan collar
NOW SELLING ON...
Etsy
beetrims on etsy.com
Folksy
Hollybird Beads on folksy.com
MAKE IT
36 Craftseller
TELEPHONE 01767 262304 WWW.COUNTRYVIEWCRAFTS.CO.UK
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FREE Pattern online
7 The Green, Haddenham, Ely, Cambs, CB6 3TA
01353 749853
www.spoiltrottenbeads.com
Mixed Rondelle Strands
2.50
Seaglass Hanks 2.95
Silver Swirl Strands 1.95
Bejewelled Kit 5.50
available in other colours

Y
oull be relieved to hear that setting up a business from home is relatively
easy and cheap. Almost all small craft businesses began with talent, a
work space, understanding of free marketing and a place to sell. Just be
prepared to work hard, stay focused and disciplined! Our tips, expert advice and
quotes are here to hold your hand while you take those rst, tentative steps
So youre ready to take the plunge and start selling your wares
from home? Great! All you need now are our top tips to help take
the fear out of going it alone By Sophie Jordan
to craft sellng
from home!
1
Become an expert
If youre a multi-crafter, choose the skill you love and become
exceptional at it. Find local courses to learn the latest techniques, like
Katherine Pentney from thecannysquirrel.co.uk: I enrolled on an
evening textile design course My eureka moment came when I
was shown machine embroidery. I took to it straight away!
3
Know the law,
and the industry
Be aware of legal dos and donts for selling,
read the Sales of Goods Act and Distance
Selling Regulations in the business section at
tradingstandards.gov.uk. Join national forums
like craftsforum.co.uk to get an insight into
the world of craft selling, plus dont miss all
the great advice on craft-seller.com.
2
Know your market
Check whats on the market and make something that
ts the trend, but has a unique spin. Hand out potential items
to family and friends and ask for honest opinions. If you give
out a short feedback form, youll have something to refer back
to later. I think you have to understand your market thoroughly,
and have a good price range within your collection, says
screenprinter, Lucy Anne Harding from madebyhandonline.com.
4
Set up a
workspace
If youre serious about your business
set up a craft area in your home.
Potter, Jane Booth, adds: Im pretty
happy with my own company at
home most of the time, because I
am doing what I love, but sometimes
I do miss the social interaction of a
workplace, so I make time to meet up
with other makers regularly.
easy steps
7
SELL IT
38 Craftseller
Milkgirl, Lucy Anne
Harding, uses her
milkround customers
to inspire her work
You can see all of
Jane Booths pretty
pottery at madeby
handonline.com
7
Market and sell
Even if your business is tiny, put
together a business plan. Include what
you hope to achieve for the rst six
months, then the rst year, and how
you plan to achieve it. It will keep you
focused on your goals and youll appear
more professional. Make the most
of free social media (e.g. Facebook,
Twitter and Pinterest). Its great for
word of mouth and can give your
business a friendly voice, which helps
with branding. Katherine Pentney from
thecannysquirrel.co.uk, says: Test the
waters by selling items at craft fairs
too you will get valuable feedback
about how you can improve your
range. Just make sure you get some
business cards printed to take with you
and give out to browsers.
SELL IT
Craftseller 39
6
Write a good story, take great pictures!
Develop a story for your business. Talk about who you are, what you love and why you
started out. Passion will always attract attention and hopefully sales. Back up your story with
good pictures of you, your workspace and your products. Terri Leahy from terrileahy.co.uk
suggests, have your range professionally photographed, unless you are really good with a
camera. Youll use these photos over and over. Get cut-out images for press features too!
Terri Leahys Best
In Show toy range is
full of fun characters
with personality
5
Cost your
products wisely
In order to make a prot, you need to
know exactly what youre spending, so
get a notebook (or even a spreadsheet)
and write it down! Its important that
you give everything a price, even
if fabrics/materials were recycled
consider how much they would cost
to replace. Designer, Petra Boase from
petraboase.com advises: Be realistic
about how long it takes to produce your
items. Include materials and your time
you dont want to end up not earning
anything from all your hard work.
Katherine Pentneys
Royal Highland Show
cushions look great
on display together
Petra Boase products,
like these quirky
cards, are always
carefully costed
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projects for easy prot, monthly expert advice and real life success
stories, Craftseller is the perfect companion to inform and inspire
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on Amazon.co.uk or visit Pippinkits.com
Seasonal bakes
Autumn is a bountiful month with plenty of natural ingredients in season,
so pick your own and harvest a healthy return! By Jessica Sharp
BAKE IT
Craftseller 43
We love...
Using
ingredients in
season
1
Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C fan,
gas mark 4. Place the biscuits in a food
processor and pulse until they resemble
breadcrumbs (or put them in a freezer bag
and bash with a rolling pin). Add the melted
butter and mix thoroughly.
2
Press the biscuit mix into the base of
a 23cm (9in) round springform tin and
bake for 10-15 mins, until lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool
completely in the tin.
3
Meanwhile, make the blackberry sauce.
Place the blackberries and sugar in
a saucepan and put on a moderate heat.
Bring the mixture to a boil, while stirring and
mashing the blackberries. Cook for 5-10 mins,
until the blackberries have broken down and
the consistency is thick. Push the mixture
through a sieve, add the elderower cordial
and leave to cool. This can be made up to
two days in advance and stored in the fridge.
4
To make the lling, beat the cream
cheese and sugar together, using an
electric whisk or a freestanding mixer tted
with the paddle attachment. Add the eggs,
our, soured cream and elderower cordial
and beat until smooth.
5
Pour half the lling onto the base,
then dot over half the sauce using
a teaspoon. Top with the rest of the
cheesecake mix, then dot the remaining
blackberry sauce over. Use a metal skewer to
swirl the sauce into the cheesecake.
6
Place the cheesecake in the oven
and bake for 10 mins, then lower the
temperature of the oven to 110C, 90C fan,
gas mark and bake for a further 30 mins.
7
After this time, turn the oven off and
leave the cheesecake inside for one
hour. Remove from the oven and run a sharp
knife around the edge of the cheesecake,
before covering with a large mixing bowl
these measures should prevent the surface
of the cheesecake from cracking, but dont
worry if it does. Once completely cool, place
the cheesecake in the fridge to set.
8
To serve, remove the cheesecake from
the tin and slice it into 12 pieces. To
achieve a nice clean cut, dip the knife into
hot water and wipe with kitchen paper
between each slice.
INGREDIENTS
For the base:
* 300g (10oz) digestive biscuits
* 140g (5oz) butter, melted
For the lling:
* 250g (9oz) caster sugar
* 900g (2lb) full-fat cream cheese, at room
temperature
* 50g (1oz) plain our
* 3 large eggs, at room temperature
* 200ml (7 oz) soured cream, at room
temperature
* 1 tbsp elderower cordial
For the blackberry sauce:
* 150g (5oz) blackberries
* 1 tbsp caster sugar
* 1 tbsp elderower cordial
Special equipment:
* 23cm (9in) round springform tin
Time: 2 hours (plus cooling time)
Makes: 12 slices
Skill level: Moderate
Blackberry and
elder ower cheesecake
44 Craftseller
BAKE IT
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eve got three sensational
bakes for you this month,
using the best ingredients
autumn has to offer. Make the most of
food in season its much cheaper, so
youll see prots start to climb. This rich
blackberry and elderower cheesecake
is a sumptuous dessert, and no one can
resist a savoury pickle with a chunk of
good cheddar, so dont miss our spiced
apple and g chutney. Finally, try our
amazing squash cupcakes. Tell passers-
by that theyre made with vegetables
theyll be so intrigued, theyll have to buy!
BAKE IT
Craftseller 45
1
Peel and dice the onions into a large
saucepan. Peel, core and chop the
apples into the pan and top with the vinegar.
2
Chop the gs, and peel and nely grate
the ginger. Add to pan with sugar, spice
and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer
for 2-2 hours until nearly all the liquid has
reduced. Stir occasionally to stop it sticking.
3
Meanwhile, sterilise six jars with
airtight lids. To do this, wash in hot,
soapy water then rinse and place on a baking
tray in a pre-heated oven at 180C, gas 4 for
10 mins. To sterilise the lids, place in boiling
water for 10 mins and dry on kitchen paper.
4
Remove jars from oven and ll with
chutney. The jars must be hot when
you add the chutney so they dont crack.
Wear clean oven gloves to screw the lids on.
Allow to cool completely before covering and
labelling. Store for at least a month before
using, to allow the vinegar avour to mellow.
Spiced apple and
fig chutney
INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
* 1kg (2lb) tart eating apples, eg Granny
Smith
* 2 large onions
* 200g (7oz) dried gs
* 350g (12oz) granulated sugar
* 425ml (15 oz) malt vinegar
* 2 tsp mixed spice
* 5cm (2in) piece of fresh ginger
* 1 tsp salt
Time: 3 hours
Makes: Approx. six jars
Skill level: Easy
46 Craftseller
BAKE IT
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Ask to see if anyone
has an apple tree.
Theyre bound to
have a glut of apples
to sell or swap
TOP TIP
INGREDIENTS
For the cupcakes:
* 225g (8oz) squash, peeled and coarsely
grated
* 100g (3oz) caster sugar
* 50g (1oz) soft light brown sugar
* 2 eggs
* 125ml (4 oz) light olive oil
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 150g (5oz) plain our
* 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
* 1 tsp ground cinnamon
* 75g (2oz) pecans, chopped
* Zest of one orange
For the icing:
* 175g (6oz) full-fat cream cheese, at room
temperature
* 125g (4oz) unsalted butter, at room
temperature
* 400g (14oz) icing sugar
* Zest of one orange
* Orange food colouring
Special equipment
* 12-hole mu n tin & cases
* Electric whisk
Time: 2 hours
Makes: 12
Skill level: Easy
1
Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C fan,
gas mark 4 and line a 12-hole mufn
tin with paper cases.
2
Using an electric hand whisk or
freestanding mixer, beat the sugars
with the eggs for a few minutes. Still
whisking, slowly add the oil and vanilla
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extract, followed by the orange zest. Mix
the our, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon
in another bowl, then add this to the wet
mixture, whisking until just combined.
3
Using a large metal spoon or rubber
spatula, fold in the pecans and grated
squash. Divide the mixture between the cake
cases and bake for approximately 25 mins
or until risen and lightly browned. Leave
the cakes to cool in the tin for 5 mins, then
transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
4
To make the icing, beat the butter and
cream cheese together using a hand
whisk or freestanding mixer until combined.
Add the icing sugar in three batches, beating
Squash cupcakes with
cream cheese icing
between each addition. Add the orange zest
and colouring and mix briey. If you want the
frosting to have a rippled effect, stop mixing
before the colouring is fully dispersed.
5
Cover and refrigerate for up to two
days before use, remembering to
remove the frosting from the fridge about 30
mins before you wish to ice the cakes.
6
To ice the cakes, spoon the icing into a
piping bag tted with a wide, star-
shaped nozzle and pipe onto the cakes in
swirls. Keep the cupcakes refrigerated and
eat within three days.
BAKE IT
Craftseller 47
GOOD CAUSES
48 Craftseller
From tea parties to cupcake competitions, get involved and
help raise funds for these three worthwhile charities
Bake up a storm in the kitchen to help
poverty-stricken people around the world
Be inspired in the kitchen this October and
join the Bake a Difference campaign. This
fun, annual event calls on keen bakers and
cake decorators to join forces and bake and
sell treats to raise money.
Make safe,
nutritious food
available to all
How you can help
For more info on Concern Worldwide, call
020 7801 1850 or visit concern.net
Bake a Difference raises money to fund
Concern Worldwide and help create a world
where safe, nutritious food is available to
all. It works with communities on solutions
that help save lives and build livelihoods.
Treat friends, family and colleagues to
a feast of sweet creations. You could bake
scones for a cream tea, decorate cupcakes
and biscuits in a ghoulish, Halloween
theme, or host a baking competition or bake
sale. Gather any friends who are handy in
the kitchen, then sell tickets to your event
or ask tasters for a minimum donation on
each purchase. Make sure you have buckets
so people can offer their change!
Hold your event during October just
email bakeadifference@concern.net and
visit concern.net to download a free starter
pack including a sale poster and price tags.
Try Eric Lanlards
lemon and coconut
cupcakes at your sale
Concern
Worldwide
Everyone can
take part in Bake
a Difference
Charity bakes
GOOD CAUSES
Craftseller 49
Blind Veterans UK
How you can help
Find out more about Blind Veterans UK at
blindveterans.org.uk
How you can help
Find out more at Rainbow Trusts social
media pages, @RainbowTrustCC on Twitter
and facebook.com/rainbowtrust
Take a break from biscuits, brownies and
cupcakes bake tarts for the troops!
Put your baking skills to good use this
summer and throw a Tarts for Troops party.
Blind Veterans UK is behind this tasty
initiative theyre asking crafters to create
a range of mouthwatering treats and sell
them to raise funds to help improve the
lives of blind veterans. The charity believes
that no one who has served our country
should battle blindness alone, and offers
lifetime practical and emotional support,
getting ex-service men and women back
on their feet and helping them to live an
independent and fulfilling life.
Whether its a Bakewell, lemon or
savoury cheese tart that tickles your
tastebuds, get baking to help this fabulous
cause. Its easy to take part. Decide what
sort of event you want to hold it could
be a bake-off between colleagues, a Tarts
and Tea Party at your craft club, a coffee
morning in your community or a gourmet
tart dinner party for your sophisticated
friends! Once youve chosen a venue,
date and time, put up posters, promote
it on social media and send out personal
invites. Now comes the fun part dust off
those cookbooks and get baking! You can
find a whole host of delicious recipes on
tartsfortroops.org.uk for inspiration.
Have fun with
friends and bake
Tarts for Troops
Host a Tarts and
Tea Party to raise
much-needed funds
Rainbow Trust
Take advantage of that extra hour get your
craft club baking when the clocks go back!
When the clocks go back this October, put
that extra hour to use and join The Big Hour
Cake Sale. The campaign, run by Rainbow
Trust, aims to inspire people across the UK
to get baking to support the families who
understand how just precious a single hour
can be. Rainbow Trust Childrens Charity
provides care and support to families when
their child has a life-threatening or terminal
illness. It offers emotional and practical help
to families around the clock, helping them
cope with the present and prepare for the
future. Rainbow Trust relies almost entirely
on voluntary donations, and thats where
your baking skills come in.
Make your bakes
colourful to appeal to
children and adults
So, whip up an old favourite or try
something new, then hold a Big Hour Cake
Sale. Get your craft club together for an
extra hour and sell cakes to members, or
turn it into a coffee afternoon. Share photos
of your event on Rainbow Trusts social
media pages, @RainbowTrustCC on Twitter
and facebook.com/rainbowtrust.
Heather Wood, chief executive of
Rainbow Trust says: Many of us lead busy
lives and an hour can pass without noticing.
For families who have a sick child, time is
so precious. I think baking a cake is a great
way to show your support.
1
Cut a piece of white card to a nished
size of 10.5 x 14.8cm (4 x 5in) and
cover the with apple paper. Cut a square of
white card, round the corners and ink the
edges in orange. Stick to the card.
2
Cut a simple pumpkin shape from
orange card and draw in some detail
using a pencil, stick to the white square.
3
Cut a stalk shape from brown card and
add to the pumpkin. Trim the bottom of
the card with a length of lace.
4
Print out the words happy halloween
using a spooky font and orange colour.
Cut the words into a strip, colour the edges
using matching ink or crayon and then stick
down, overlapping the white square.
Happy Halloween
Be prepared and make sure all the local kids have a funky card to
take to Halloween parties next month. By Annie Bellamy
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How to make the Happy Halloween card
MAKE IT
50 Craftseller
INFORMATION
Materials
* Craftseller papers and tags
* White card or blanks
* Orange ink
* Orange, red and brown card
* Coloured pencils
* Lace scrap
* Brown embroidery thread
* Scissors and glue
* Size: 10.5 x 14.8cm (4 x 5in) and
14.8cm x 14.8cm (5 x 5in)
* Skill level: Easy
Practise drawing your
pumpkin a couple of
times before you cut
out a nal version to
add to your card
TOP TIP
H
alloween hasnt always been a big
celebration in the UK but with more
and more Brits joining in the fun
every year and the global reach that many
online marketplaces have, there are plenty of
reason to stock up on a batch of these quirky
cards for the October festivities. Weve used
our autumn-themed apple papers as the
backdrop for this greeting but if you want to
add some truly spooky crafts to your range
there are plenty of scary papers on sale. Plus
turn to page 59 for the cutest Back to School
card for anyone whos enjoying their rst day
at school this month. Good luck!
Autumn days
PAPER COLLECTION
8 PAGES
of exclusive
designs
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Back to school
Mark the rst day at school with a sweet design and a heartfelt tag to
send nervous new pupils on their way. By Annie Bellamy
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MAKE IT
Craftseller 59
MAKE IT
Create a template for
the apple shape so
you get it right rst
time and dont waste
valuable card
TOP TIP
How to make the
Special Day card
1
Cut a piece of white card to 14.8 x
14.8cm (5 x 5in). Carefully cut the
front half into an apple shape.
2
Cover with the red and white
mushroom patterned paper. Cut out a
rectangle of red card, round the corners and
stick down as shown. Then add a smaller
rectangle of apple patterned paper.
3
Cut out the special day tag and tie
a piece of brown embroidery thread
through the hole, then stick into place.
4
Print out at school, cut into a strip,
then stick onto the tag. To nish off, cut
a stalk from brown card and stick to the back
of the apple shape to form the apple stalk.
ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!
Call on 0844 844 0388 and quote Handmade Xmas 13

Online at www.subscribeonline.co.uk/magazinespecials
Lines open weekdays 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am-1pm. Overseas please call +44 (0)1795 414 676.
Eur price 9.99 Rest of world price 10.99. All prices include P&P
Inside this issue:
Pretty knitted bunting
Edible tree treats
Stylish table linen
Fabulous floral wreath
Cute crochet stockings
Sewing expert May Martin
discusses the next series of the
Great British Sewing Bee, shares
her most treasured make
and reveals her top tips!

Plus
Dont miss out!
48 festive projects for your home, plus on-trend
looks and ideas for the perfect crafty Christmas
Handmade

O
rd
er
N
O
W
CHRISTMAS EDITION
B
R
A
N
D
N
E
W
!
JUST

7
.9
9
INC P&P
Handy step-by-
step guides for
every project
EAST ANGLIA
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ISLE OF WIGHT
NEWPORT 20A St. Thomas Sq 01983 529696
STOCKISTS
For more information
and where to buy visit
www.singerco.co.uk
Introducing the SINGER One

sewing machine. Its bold, fresh design

stands out for a reason. The SINGER One

sewing machine is the start

of a new line, built for the way you sew, with just the right combination of
easy-to-use features, technology and style. We changed home sewing
forever with our first machine. 160 years later, were still bringing you
the next big thing.
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
MAKE SET FOR 4
FOR
15
Mummy makes
These ladybirds rock! Theyre quick to make from pebble collections and
will brighten up any craft stall By Wendy Massey
MAKE IT
62 Craftseller
MAKE IT
Craftseller 63
SEW IT
00 Craftseller
T
hese ladybirds are so versatile
transform the tiny ones into fridge
magnets, medium ones work well as
paperweights and large ladybirds are perfect
door stops. Any size, they make great garden
ornaments, too! These little critters will
especially appeal to children, so emphasise
the gift potential here, and maybe sell each
one with its own little drawstring bag. This
way you can command a higher price and
make a comfy prot. Use acrylic paint for a
long-lasting nish, and apply clear varnish as
double protection from scratches and knocks.
INFORMATION
Materials
* Smooth pebbles
* Acrylic paint in a selection of
colours and white
* Fine permanent marker pen
* Clear varnish
Size: Varies
Skill level: Easy
How to make the ladybird rocks
1
Paint the top of each pebble with
white acrylic paint, leaving the underneath
unpainted. If there are any areas you would
like to be left as a natural pebble colour,
mark out and leave those unpainted too.
Allow to dry. Paint the underneath of each
pebble white. Leave to dry.
2
Paint the pebble in your chosen main
colour. Allow to dry and repeat. Once dry,
paint the bottoms of the pebbles to match
and leave to dry again. Paint patterns onto
the pebbles as required dots, owers,
hearts, swirls or stars are all good options.
T
h
is frien
d
ly

bu
n
ch
w
ill look
g
ood
in
y
ou
r
h
om
e or g
a
rd
en
3
Paint a face by rst painting two white
eyes, then embellishing them when dry with
eyelashes and irises. You can do the same
with the mouth by painting a white smiling
shape and adding the lip details afterwards.
4
Finish by outlining the painted shapes
with a ne marker pen a Sharpie works
well as it writes on almost any surface. If
your pebbles are intended for an outdoor
space, paint them with two-three coats of
outdoor-quality varnish. While not absolutely
necessary, it will make your paintwork
withstand the weather for much longer!
You wont need much
paint for this project
so once youve
invested in a set itll
last you a while
TOP TIP
SHOW US ON FACEBOOK!
If youve enjoyed making
these why not post a photo on
the Craftseller Facebook page?
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
Tweet us your tips and
advice, and follow our own
tweets @craftsellermag
FIND US ON PINTEREST!
Weve got loads of crafty
inspiration for you to browse
at Pinterest.com/craftseller
MAKE IT
64 Craftseller
We sell unique and affordable handmade jewellery for weddings,
special occasions and everyday wear. We use Swarovski Crystal
pearls, Swarovski crystals, Preciosa Czech glass pearls and crystals, semiprecious
beads and many more in our creations. Our collections are updated regularly.
www.lisuweddingandhandmadejewellery.co.uk
facebook.com/pages/LISU-Wedding-and-Handmade-Jewellery/422523874433117
pinterest.com/LISUJewellery
01389 730077
LISU Wedding and Handmade Jewellery
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thecraftersbarn.co.uk
Or contact Claire on 07966 417169 /
info@thecraftersbarn.co.uk for more information
Join us now!
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t
Or c
inf
Fabrics, Ribbons,
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in Bristol &
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www.milliemoonshop.co.uk
Beaker Button
Fibre craft and Yarn shop
We design and make our own range of Dorset button kits, from simple buttons to beautiful pieces of jewellery.
We hold workshops felting, knitting, crochet, button making, spinning and lots of other wool related craft.
We provide a personal service to help you, from choosing your next project to xing that dropped stitch.
info@beakerbutton.co.uk www.beakerbutton.co.uk
Studio 11, The Fairground Craft and Design Centre, Weyhill, Andover SP11 0QN
Tel: 07738 534164
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Fabulous Modern Quilting Fabrics
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68 Craftseller
OVER
1300
OF PRIZES
TO WIN
1
YOUR HANDMADE MARKETPLACE
Enter for a chance to win one of 30 copies
of The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin
(11.99). Perfect for the beginner or the pro.
Visit storey.com
TO ENTER, text KARI followed by your
name, address and email to 87474*
2
TEXTILE PRINTING FUN
Two lucky readers will win a Homecrafts
textile printing pack (90), with everything
you need to create unique textiles and prints!
Visit homecrafts.co.uk
To enter, text LINO followed by your
name, address and email to 87474*
3
GET SILKY MITTS
We have ve tubes of specialist Seams
Hand Cream (9.50) to give away. It helps
soften, strengthen, mend and protect, and the
non-greasy formula is perfect for crafters!
Visit seamsbeauty.co.uk
To enter, text SEAMS followed by your
name, address and email to 87474*
4
SHARE NICKIS KNOW-HOW
Enter for a chance to win one of three
50 vouchers to spend on a Crochet or
Knitting Workshop. Youll learn from author
Nicki Trench in a friendly, relaxed environment
just outside Lewes. With lots of homemade
refreshments and practice materials, it
will make a great gift, or a day out for you!
Visit nickitrench.com
To enter, text NICKI followed by your
name, address and email to 87474*
5
WANDER IN THE WOODS
Win one of two complete Enchanted
Forest fabric collections, worth 45 (11/m)
enough to make a gorgeous double quilt!
Its designed by Phylida Coroneo and inspired
by her childhood memories of Somerset.
Visit thefabricloft.co.uk
To enter, text ENCHANTED followed by
your name, address and email to 87474*
Be inspired by these gorgeous giveaways, and enter today for
your chance to walk away with a fab prize!
Fab freebies
3
2
1
4
5
3 prizes
TO WIN!
WIN IT
Craftseller 69
WIN IT
6
HALLOWEEN MAGIC
You could win one of three fantastic tool
sets from Dremel. Each set includes a Dremel
3000 kit including 15 accessories, a Detailers
Grip and the Drill Bit Set 628, worth 75 in
total! Now try the project on craft-seller.com
Visit dremel.co.uk
To enter, text DREMEL followed by your
name, address and email to 87474*
7
PRACTICAL VINTAGE STYLE
Want a sturdy sewing basket or stash
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Dotcomgiftshop (25), which is both pretty
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away, so enter now for your chance to win!
Visit dotcomgiftshop.com
To enter, text STASH followed by your
name, address and email to 87474*
8
EXPRESS DELIVERY
Tired of lugging around your makes and
materials? Then enter to win a Tote Express
(125). It offers big storage space, plus
wheeled transport that you can separate for
smaller tasks, or use as a two-layer carry-all.
Visit readicut.co.uk
To enter, text TOTE followed by your
name, address and email to 87474*
Terms and conditions for giveaways: *The Promoter is Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 years or older. Texts will be charged at 25p
plus your standard network tariff rate. To enter by post: write your name, address and chosen freebie on the back of a postcard and send to: Craftseller 28, Immediate Media Company,
9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN. By entering this competition you are agreeing to receive newsletters, offers and promotions by post, email and telephone from
Immediate Media Company Ltd and the prize providers sending offers and newsletters to you by post, email or phone. You can unsubscribe from these at any time. If you do not want to
receive this information please add the words NO INFO at the end of your text message or write NO INFO on your postcard. Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 30/09/13. For the full
terms and conditions visit craft-seller.com/competitions
7
8
6
CRAFT SELLERS DIARY
70 Craftseller
Diary of a craft
selling mum
Every month, craft seller and mum of two, Erica Martyn, who makes
toys for her business Odds & Soxlets, invites us into her world
THIS MONTH
* Crafty makes 35
* Craft Fairs 1
* Sales 22
* New product ideas 3
* Tweeting 6 hours
Te new Kitty Cat
motif is so cute on
a babygro
Harrys new t-shirt
matches Lotties
Kitty Cat babygro
Day 1
Today is the day I am going to get
hashtagged up! I need to get to grips with
Twitter. I love Facebook and blogging but
Twitter, despite the fact that I signed up
nearly two years ago, has always left me
feeling a bit of a twit. I dont quite get it
but everyone says its a great way to
network and promote your business so
maybe its time to tackle it. Deep breath
Im off a-tweeting!
Day 3
Wow, #love tweeting! Yes, Im a convert.
Twitter can be wonderful its true. Feel
free to RT (which means retweet and not
Radio Times as I previously thought). Ive
already discovered #dorsethour which
is a great way for me to network locally.
Theres also #handmadehour every
Wednesday between 7.30-8.30pm which is
a great way to showcase your crafty makes
and make yourself known when retailers
are looking for handcrafted products.
Through using Twitter Ive already picked
up two clients one for a bespoke painted
bag and another for a couple of dolls. Not
bad for a couple of hours work! Finding the
time can be a struggle but I realise just an
hour a week can be really beneficial.
Day 9
Lottie had her first wedding (my sister-
in-law, Lucys) today and was a dream!
She spent most of the day happily gurgling
All about me
I am 34 years old, and mum to three-year-old Harry
and baby girl Lottie Rose! I have a husband called
Martin and a naughty but very sweet 12-year-old
Yorkshire Terrier called Mr Biggles. We live in Dorset
and I began my business in May 2011. Im still
learning heaps, while at the same time juggling
home life, nances and the needs and demands of
my growing family and my customers
CRAFT SELLERS DIARY
Craftseller 71
Harry helped
Erica at the
school fair
Little Lottie looks
adorable in her Day
of Te Dead outt
Ericas dream
inspired Lotties
new babygro
or sleeping
soundly. She
looked so adorable in her skull and
crossbones polka dot dress that I made last
month and I attached a matching Dinkie
Dollie cat taglet to her pram to keep her
occupied when she did wake up.
Day 16
This recent spell of hot weather has been
awful for poor Lottie and, in turn, for
me too! She cannot sleep Ive done
everything I can think of including fans,
cool baths, limited clothing. I posted a
Facebook update saying as much and
someone suggested popping the sheet in
the fridge before bedtime. Great advice! Her
not sleeping has thrown my schedule out of
kilter a bit, but hopefully well be back on
track now and I can carry on making.
Day 18
I am so excited! I bought a secondhand
t-shirt printing plotter and heat press,
which will mean I can design and print
t-shirts from home now, as well as add
branding and personalisation to my co-
ordinating products. In the past Ive tried
hand-sewing appliqu names but the
material puckers and never looks as clean,
neat or as professional as the vinyl printing.
The process is so simple and even though
the machine cost me about 400, Im
hoping to get a return on it eventually.
Day 22
Last night I had a dream involving dancing
cats which gave me the idea to make
outfits that co-ordinate with my new Kitty
Cat dolls with little tutu skirts. I got to work
immediately. First I appliqud a baby
vest with Lotties Kitty Cat toys head
onto the front, then I added a frilly
tutu skirt using some co-ordinating
fabric in-between gorgeous lace.
Then I did a boys t-shirt version
for Harry with his cat dolls head and
customised both with their names on the
back using my new printing equipment.
I took Lottie out today in the outfit and
already picked up an order from a friend, so
it looks like my weird dream is a winner!
Day 24
Came home shattered today felt like Id
run a marathon and then gone on to swim
the Channel. It was actually Harrys school
fair to raise money for our local primary
school. I dont do many fairs and I thought
this would be a fun way to spend the
afternoon. Wrong! My stall was next to the
face painting, which gave me a huge footfall
and lots of inquisitive children asking lots of
lovely questions. Id made heaps of smaller
items, like my baby sock monkeys and sock
charms, and they sold really well. What
I was also reminded of is that fairs arent
just about sales theyre a great way to do
market research as well.
Right, Im off to check my Twitter feed.
Catch up with you all next month!
Erica is going to add
t-shirt printing to
her range of crafts
Teses baby sock
monkeys sold really
well at the school fair
UPCYCLE IT
72 Craftseller
From junk to funk
Turn kids wellies into bright plant pots thatll earn you some
bootiful prots! By Claire Watkins
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
MAKE FOR 4.35

FOR 8
Ask local schools
or nurseries for old
wellies, and offer a
donation to the PTA
from your prots
TOP TIP
1
Remove any sole insert in the bottom
of the welly. Clean thoroughly. Drill or
push a screwdriver into the sole to make
a few drainage holes. Be careful not to
damage the sides or the top of the boot.
2
Place a few pebbles or broken bits of
old terracotta pot into the bottom. Fill
with compost, leaving enough room for the
plant. Place plant in the top and ll with
compost around the root ball. Water well.
W
e love the idea of taking
something ordinary and turning
it into something really special,
and the quirkiness of this project is bound to
pull in the punters. These cute welly planters
are a great little upcycling project, but
equally as good with new wellies. For those
with green ngers, you can grow plants from
seed for extra savings, or take cuttings from
well-established plants at home to really
reap the revenue. Weve planted herbs in our
wellies, which will t a kitchen window sill.
Offer them as pairs or single planters, and
customise plain wellies by painting them in
bright colours. A perfect autumn make!
How to make the welly
planters
NOW SELLING ON...
Etsy
HalfGlassed on etsy.com
Coriandr
Anne10 on coriandr.com
UPCYCLE IT
Craftseller 73
INFORMATION
Materials
* Wellies, old or new
* Compost for pots or containers
* Plants
* Drill or screwdriver
* Pebbles or broken terracotta
plant pots
Size: Varies
Skill level: Easy
74 Craftseller
KNIT IT
Creature comforts
Get ready for autumn with these fun accessories that will swoop off
your shelves. Knit them all, and sell as a set! By Susanne Frank
woop off
Frank
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
MAKE FOR 25

FOR 50 - 60 SET
KNIT IT
Craftseller 75
Fingerless gloves
Before you start: make two small bobbins
each from the pink yarn and the green yarn.
Youll need several strands of yarn for the
intarsia motif.
Right glove
Using 5mm needles and green, cast on 34sts.
Row 1: (k1, p1) to end.
Row 2: (k1, p1) to end.
Repeat to row 16 until you have 16 rows of ribs.
Row 17: k in pink.
Row 18: p in pink.
Row 19: k in green.
Row 20: p in green.
Start thumb gusset
Row 21: in pink k18, m1, k1, m1, k15. 36sts.
Row 22: p in pink.
Row 23: in green k18, m1, k3, m1, k15. 38sts.
Row 24: p in green.
Row 25: in pink k18, m1, k5, m1, k15. 40sts.
Row 26: p in pink.
Row 27: in green k18, m1, k7, m1, k15. 42sts.
Row 28: p in green.
Row 29: in pink k18, m1, k9, m1, k15. 44sts.
Row 30: p in pink.
Row 31: in green k18, place 11sts on stitch
holder, cast on 2sts using the backwards loop
method, k15. 35sts.
Row 32: p in green.
Rows 33-52: follow the pattern chart,
continuing with pink outside of the motif. Use
separate pink bobbins and make sure you keep
the stitches nice and tight.
Cast off.
Finish the thumb
Row 1: place the 11sts from the stitch holder
onto double-pointed needles and using pink,
knit across them. Pick up 5sts from the cast-on
sts. Divide sts evenly on your needles. 16sts.
Rows 2-8: k in pink, cast off.
Right ear
Using pink, pick up 4sts for the right ear at
the right-hand edge. Youre facing the front of
the owl when you pick up the stitches.
Row 1: p.
Row 2: k.
Row 3: p.
Row 4: k2tog twice. 2sts.
Break strand, thread through remaining sts and
pull together.
Turn the knit over and do the same from
the other side. Sew the two parts of the ear
together and darn in the loose ends.
Left ear
Pick up 4sts for the left ear (above left eye).
Row 1: p.
Row 2: k.
Row 3: p.
Row 4: k2tog twice. 2sts.
Break strand, thread through remaining sts and
pull together.
Turn the knit over and do the same from
the other side. Sew the two parts of the ear
together and darn in the loose ends.
Left glove
Knit in the same way as the right glove until
row 20.
Start thumb gusset
Row 21: in pink k15, m1, k1, m1, k18. 36sts.
Row 22: p in pink.
Row 23: in green k15, m1, k3, m1, k18. 38sts.
Row 24: p in green.
Row 25: in pink k15, m1, k5, m1, k18. 40sts.
Row 26: p in pink.
Row 27: in green k15, m1, k7, m1, k18. 42sts.
Row 28: p in green.
Row 29: in pink k15, m1, k9, m1, k18. 44sts.
Row 30: p in pink.
O
wls have proven to have enduring
appeal, so tap into this trend with
our cute set of knitted beret, ribbed
scarf and ngerless gloves! You can use a
yarn of your choice, but wed recommend
opting for a high-quality yarn to set your
products apart from cheaper, novelty knits.
Soft green and pink will brighten up grey
autumn days, and weve used bigger needles
for the hat and scarf to achieve a lovely soft
texture. It's a good idea to price the items
individually, but give a discount for the
whole set to really entice buyers to spend!
INFORMATION
Materials
* 150g Rowan Pure Wool Aran in Vert
(686) and Burlesque (689), plus a
small amount of white and black
Aran yarn from your stash
* 5mm (UK 6, US 8) knitting needles
* 5mm (UK 6, US 8) double-pointed
needles
* 7mm (UK 2) and 8mm (UK 0, US 11)
knitting needles
* Stitch holder or large safety pin
* Tapestry needle
* 8 small black buttons or beads
Size: Gloves: 22cm (8.5in) long, 10cm
(4in) wide (excl thumb), to t a
medium/large womans hand
Hat: 23cm (9in) high, 50cm (20in)
circumference
Scarf: 160cm (62in) x 15cm (6in)
Skill level: Moderate
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2sts together
p: purl
p2tog: purl 2sts together
m1: make one stitch by picking up
horizontal bar in between
stitches
st(s): stitch(es)
st st: stocking stitch
ABBREVIATIONS
KNIT IT
76 Craftseller
Row 31: in green k15, place 11sts on stitch
holder, cast on 2sts using the backwards loop
method, k18. 35sts.
Row 32: p in green.
Rows 33-52: Follow the pattern chart,
continuing with pink outside of the motif. Use
separate pink bobbins and make sure you keep
the stitches nice and tight.
Cast off.

Making up
Close the side seam on each glove. Darn in
loose ends. Sew a black button in the middle
of each eye.

Hat
Using 7mm needles and green, cast on 72sts.
Rows 1-2: (k1, p1) to end in green.
Rows 3-4: (k1, p1) to end in pink.
Rows 5-6: (k1, p1) to end in green.
Rows 7-8: (k1, p1) to end in pink.
Rows 9-10: (k1, p1) to end in green.
Break green strand, continue in pink.
Row 11: (k3, m1) to last 3sts, k1, m1, k2. 96sts.
Change to 8mm needles.
Rows 12-36: (k2, p2) to end.
Row 37: k2, (p1, k2tog, k1, p2, k2) to last 6sts,
p1, k2tog, k1, p2. 84sts.
Row 38: knit sts as they appear.
Row 39: k1, (k1, k2tog, k1, p1, k2tog) to last
6sts, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog. 60sts.
Row 40: knit sts as they appear.
Row 41: k2, k2tog, (k1, k2tog, k2tog) to last st,
k1. 37sts.
Row 42: p.
Row 43: (k1, k2tog) to last st, k1. 25sts.
Row 44: p.
Row 45: (k2tog) to last st, k1. 13sts.
Row 46: (p2tog) to last st, p1. 7sts.
Cut off yarn, leaving a long tail. Pull sts together
and close side seam. Darn in loose ends.

Eyes
Using 7mm needles and white, pick up 4sts
above the rib.
Row 1: p.
Row 2: k1, m1, k2, m1, k1. 6sts.
Row 3: p.
Row 4: k1, m1, k4, m1, k1. 8sts.
Rows 5-9: Work in st st.
Row 10: k2tog, k4, k2tog. 6sts.
Row 11: purl.
Row 12: k2tog, k2, k2tog. 4sts.
Cast off.
Knit a second eye in the same way.
Making up
Sew each eye onto the hat and sew a button in
the middle of each eye. Using black yarn and a
tapestry needle, make a few horizontal stitches
for the beak.
Scarf
Rib pattern:
(k2, p2) to end.

Using 8mm needles and pink, cast on 32sts.
Work in rib pattern as follows:
Rows 1-2: pink.
Rows 3-4: green.
Rows 5-6: pink.
Rows 7-8: green.
Rows 9-10: pink.
Rows 11-33: Follow the pattern chart,
continuing with green rib pattern outside of
the motif. Use separate pink and green bobbins
and make sure you keep the stitches nice and
tight.
Row 34: Continue in green rib pattern.
When your scarf measures 140cm (55in),
alternate two rows pink with two rows green
until you have 10 pink stripes.
Cast off.

Making up
Darn in loose ends. Sew a black button in the
middle of each eye. Add fringes to the edges
of the scarf.
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21
Green
Black
Pink
White
Chart key
Scarf
Right glove
Left glove
KNIT IT
Craftseller 77
SELL IT
1
Be allergy aware! Lots of people are
allergic to pure wool, so make up some
sets using kinder yarns, like bamboo. 2
Make a child-size version. Little
ones will love this sweet set. Just
swap the buttons for stitching to
ensure your items are kid-safe!
3
Experiment with different stitches.
Beginners can use a simple stocking
stitch, while advanced knitters can
attempt a pretty but tricky cable pattern.
4
Play around with colour. Try
autumnal hues or contrasting brights
make a note of the best sellers and
whip up a few extra in those tones.
5
When displaying items, group as
single items as well as a set not
everyone will want all three makes,
so don't limit your buyers' options.
6
Pin smart. Owls are everywhere this
season, so publicise your makes to
a global audience on Pinterest.
7
Include washing instructions, as
wool's a notorious shrinker and buyers
want to keep items for years to come.
8
Charge for added extras. Wrap in
tissue paper and pop in a simple
white box for a gift-on-the-go.
9
Add appliqu detail to gloves for
a pop of interest. It's on-trend and
will showcase your crafting talent!
10
Attract the Christmas crowd by
labelling your items as 'Festive
gifts' or 'Christmas gift sets'.
Youve made it,
now sell it...
78 Craftseller
Read our top tips to help you sell your snuggly owl set
NOW SELLING ON...
Etsy: Blue Owl Scarf with Pockets
by Afra, 33.42
Etsy: Cute Owl Face Knitted Baby Hat
by BijouBabies, 24.85
Etsy: Owl Fairisle Scarf in Winter
White and Grey by Clovaknits, 50
Craftseller 79
Find out how a blog can help
transform your crafting into the career
you wantBy Holly Johnson
Blog it!
SELL IT
T
hink of any successful craft
business and youre guaranteed
to nd them online - they will no
doubt have a website, a blog, a Facebook
page and a Twitter account - because the
more ways they can reach their audience,
the better. A blog, in particular, gives you
a great platform to showcase your talents
and engage an audience in your brand.
Some of the best crafty bloggers have
even gone on to write books and win
awards. One such success story is Maggy
Woodley, who runs redtedart.com a
colourful craft site for kids. Maggy won
the UK Craft Parenting Blog of the Year
in 2011 and 2012 at the Mum and Dad Blog
Awards (MADS), and her site now gets up
to 600,000 page views per month.
A blog provides that instant online
presence, says Maggy. Its a great way to
connect with your customers, share your
wares and establish your brand. My blog
has led to my rst book being published
Red Ted Art, Cute and Easy Crafts for Kids
(published by Square Peg, 15.99).
A blog is also a great way to nd an
online community - after all, crafting can
sometimes be a solitary business, and it
helps to build a support network. Fellow
craft bloggers are a great resource for
exchanging tips and ideas, says Maggy,
who also uses her blog as a way to try
out new crafts to see what response she
gets a kind of market research tool
(and a condence booster if you get nice
feedback). You can see what works and
what doesnt. My crafting skills have
denitely grown through my blog.
Getting started
If youre worried youll need technical
knowledge or programming expertise,
dont be. Sites like Blogger.com and
Wordpress.com enable you to quickly
and easily create your own blog using
a choice of templates, which can be
customised using different fonts, colours
and backgrounds. You dont need to pay
anything, unless you want to use an
upgraded template or specic domain
name. Its very easy to start a blog,
Maggy tells us. It did take me a while to
learn how to use it, but on the whole it is
pretty self-explanatory and user friendly.
Another craft blogger who has built a
mini empire with minimum expertise
is Claire Donovan at hearthandmade.
co.uk. Her beautiful and inspirational
site is packed full of styling ideas and
craft tutorials, and now receives around
6,000 hits a day. It also won Cosmopolitan
magazines Blog of the Year award for the
DIY and Crafts category in 2012.
I began crafting in 2009, towards the end
of my degree in photography. Te following
year I took Holly Beckers blogging
course, and I havent looked back, says
Claire. Holly Becker is a world-renowned
blogger who receives 48,000 hits a day at
decor8blog.com. Her e-courses (available
through her site) cover everything from
online etiquette to blogging trends.

Te good blog guide
So what does it take to create a successful
blog? Dedication to blogging often
is important, says Claire. Its also
important to be able to connect with
potential customers. Having a blog full of
good, relevant content keeps you in touch
with people and keeps them on your site
longer. It also means you can share designs,
old and new, which opens the door for
custom orders and new clients.
A blog post should be considered
carefully. Decide what youre going to talk
about and, if youre not a condent writer,
keep your posts short and let your images
do the talking. A very important aspect
for doing well in blogging is good photos,
says Maggy. You want to make your crafts
look appealing and your photos are key.
Tink about varying your posts, perhaps
including the odd step-by-step tutorial
(which are really popular and could drive
more tra c to your blog), as well as linking
to craft-led content youve seen elsewhere.
Linking out is important, as this enables
Google to nd you for online searches.
Another great use for a blog is to build
excitement about upcoming designs
giving people a sneak preview of a new
range, for example. Use Twitter to tweet
about it and include a link to your blog
post. Wordpress and Blogger both have a
site stats option, so you can see which
posts have been popular.
Finally, ensure your blog is easy to read.
Choose a strong blog design that isnt
cluttered, advises Claire. People are quick
to click on to something else if it doesnt
capture their imagination straight away.
Start setting aside half an hour a day
for your blog and social media and, who
knows maybe one day you, too, will have
a book with your name on it.
Maggy knows the importance of using great
photography to entice browsers to stop by
Blogging success led to a surprise book deal
for Maggy Woodley from redtedart.com
My blog has led to
my rst book being
published!
SELL IT
5 of the best craft-
selling blogs
1 FLOSSIETEACAKES.BLOGSPOT.CO.UK
Mum of two, Florence, blogs about fabulous
fabrics and her sewing obsession. She also
sells her cute sewing patterns from the blog.

2 THROUGH-THE-ROUND-WINDOW.BLOGSPOT.
CO.UK
A great example of a simple yet effective blog
Flora designs stained-glass items and shares
details of projects shes working on, as well as
other pretty things shes come across.

3 PLANETPENNY.CO.UK
Take a trip into the woolly world of Planet
Penny for recipes, tutorials and a link to her
colourful Etsy shop.

4 VERYBERRYHANDMADE.CO.UK
Crafter Ali sells Liberty Tana Lawn fabric and
shares her love of sewing, crochet, baking,
gardening and more on her info-packed site.

5 LUCYKATECRAFTS.BLOGSPOT.CO.UK
Tips and creative inspiration from Amy Adams,
who makes unique patchwork, sweet soft toys
and stylish appliqu creations.
1 Sharing lifestyle stories or insights into your
life will make your blog an interesting read 2 Use
your blog to offer sneak previews or tutorials as a
way to engage your audience 3 Claire Donovans
blog won Cosmopolitan mag DIY/Craft Blog of
the Year in 2012 4 Maggy Woodley uses her blog to
showcase her best sellers and family craft projects
5 Hearthandmade.co.uk is lled with stunning
ideas and tutorials for crafting and styling
1
3
4
5
2
SELL IT
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Woodland friends
If you go down to the woods today, be sure to invite these cute critters
to join your craft range they'll be snapped up! By Liz Ward
critters
rd
M
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A

P
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FIT
!
MAKE FOR 5

FOR 10--15
CROCHET IT
84 Craftseller
CROCHET IT
Craftseller 85
U
se con
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a
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for ex
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Basic body
Using 3.5mm (UK 9, US E/4) crochet hook
and main yarn colour.
Start with 6dc into magic ring. 6sts.
Round 1: 2dc into each st to the end. 12sts.
Round 2: (dc in the rst st, 2dc in the next
st); repeat to end. 18sts.
Round 3: (dc in the rst ve sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 21sts.
Round 4: dc in each st to the end. 21sts.
Round 5: (dc in the rst six sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 24sts.
Round 6: dc in each st to the end. 24sts.
Round 7: (dc in the rst seven sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 27sts.
Round 8: dc in each st to the end. 27sts.
*Mark this round.*
Round 9: (dc in the rst eight sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 30sts.
Round 10: dc in each st to the end. 30sts.
Round 11: (dc in the rst nine sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 33sts.
Round 12: dc in each st to the end. 33sts.
Round 13: (dc in the rst ten sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 36sts.
Rounds 14-23: 23dc in each st to the end.
36sts.
Round 24: (dc2tog, dc in next four sts);
repeat to end. 30sts.
Round 25: (dc2tog, dc in next three sts);
repeat to end. 24sts.
Round 26: (dc2tog, dc in next two sts);
repeat to end. 18sts.
*Insert the toy eyes now.*
Round 27: (dc2tog, dc in next st); repeat to
end. 12sts.
*Stuff the body now.*
Round 28: (dc2tog); repeat to end. 6sts.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and pull
through loop to secure.
Using a wool needle, weave the yarn through
the last six sts and pull tight to close. Weave
in yarn ends and cut off remaining yarn.
Bunny
Make body in Beige yarn.
Place 9mm eyes on marked round, 6sts apart.
Ears (make 2)
Start with 6dc into magic ring. 6sts.
Round 1: 2dc into each st to the end. 12sts.
Round 2: (dc in the rst three sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 15sts.
Rounds 3-4: dc in each st around. 15sts.
Rounds 5-11: dc2tog, dc in next and each
following st to end. 8sts at end of round 11.
Round 12: dc in each st around. 8sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.
Cut bunny ear inners out of cream felt and
glue, then sew, to the ear. Sew ears in place
on the bunnys head.
Tail
Start with 6dc into magic ring. 6sts.
Round 1: 2dc into each st to the end. 12sts.
Round 2: dc in each st around. 12sts.
Round 3: dc in each st around. 12sts.
Round 4: (dc2tog); repeat to end. 6sts.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and pull
through loop to secure.
Stuff slightly. Use the photo as a guide and
sew the tail in place on the body.
Cut the face shape out of cream felt. Glue
onto the bunnys face and sew a line of
brown embroidery thread in the middle.
Hedgehog
Using Nature, start with 4dc into magic ring.
4sts.
Rounds 1-5: 2dc in the rst st, (dc in each st)
to the end. 9sts at the end of round 8.
Round 6: (dc in the rst two sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 12sts.
*Mark this round with a stitch marker.*
Round 7: (dc in the rst three sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 15sts.
A
s summer comes to a close, the
woodland critters come out to play!
These stylised woodland amigurumi
creatures are simple to make, and brought
to life with little details and owery accents.
Using only small amounts of yarn, these
chaps and chapettes are perfect stash
busters and a sure-re way to boost your
prot. They're also easy to customise and
personalise by changing colours, tails and
ears, so you can use this pattern to make
virtually any critter your shoppers desire!
INFORMATION
Materials
* 50g Rico Design Essential Cotton
DK in Red Brick (072), Beige (091),
Taupe (081), Nature (051), Dark
Grey (045) and Grey (025)
* 3.5mm (UK 9, US E/4) crochet hook
* 6mm and 9mm safety toy eyes
* Wool and embroidery needle
* Toy stu ng
* Brown embroidery thread
* Felt in pink, peach, mint, blue,
brown, cream and reddish brown
* Fabric glue
* Small buttons
Size: 10 x 5cm (4 x 2in)
Skill level: Moderate
ABBREVIATIONS
dc double crochet
st(s) stitch(es)
dc2tog double crochet the next two
stitches together
BLO work in the back loop of the
stitch only
How to make the woodland creatures
CROCHET IT
86 Craftseller
Round 8: (dc in the rst four sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 18sts.
Round 9: (dc in the rst ve sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 21sts.
Continue from round 5 of main body pattern,
but work every stitch in the back loop of the
stitch only (BLO throughout).
Spines
Use Taupe yarn and start at the head end, on
round 5 of main body pattern, and working in
the loops created by BLO rows.
Rounds 5-28: (2ch, 1dc) in each st to the end.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and pull
through loop to secure. Weave in yarn ends
and cut off remaining yarn.
Cut nose from brown felt, then glue and sew.
Fox
Make body in Red Brick yarn.
Pause at round 26 to create face.
Cut large face shape out of cream felt and
face detail out of reddish felt. Glue and sew
the face onto the cream base. Cut holes out
for the eyes. Place the 6mm eyes through the
holes and through the stitches on the marked
round of the body. Secure in place at back
with the washers. Glue and sew the face to
the body and cut the nose out of brown felt,
then glue and sew this in place as well.
Tail
Working in BLO throughout, with Nature, work
4dc into magic ring. 4sts.
Round 1: 2dc into each st to the end. 8sts.
Round 2: (dc in the rst st, 2dc in the next
st); repeat to end. 12sts.
Round 3: (dc in the rst three sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 15sts.
Round 4-6: dc in each st around. 15sts.
Change to Red Brick yarn at end of round 6.
Rounds 7-13: dc2tog, dc in next and each
following st to end. 8sts at end of round 11.
Rounds 14-15: dc in each st around. 8sts.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and pull
through loop to secure.
Stuff slightly. Use the photo as a guide and
sew tail in place on the body.
Ears (make 2)
With Red Brick yarn, work 4dc into magic
ring. 4sts.
Round 1: 2dc into each st to the end. 8sts.
Round 2: (dc in the rst st, 2dc in the next
st); repeat to end. 12sts.
Round 3: (dc in the rst three sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 15sts.
Rounds 4-6: dc in each st around.
SAFETY FIRST Hand-crafted amigurumi items
are collectibles and are not intended as
toys or for young children. However, always
make sure you use natural yarns, safe toy
stufng and safe toy eyes. Pay attention
when stitching together and adding detail,
so that everything is securely attached.
Remember, if you intend on selling
them, even if they are not sold as toys,
there are strict regulations to adhere to.
Visit craft-seller.com/free-downloads for
more legal advice on child safety.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Cut fox ear inners
out of cream felt and glue, then sew, to the
ear. Sew ears in place on foxs head.
Racoon
Make body in Grey yarn.
Pause at round 26 to create face.
Cut eye mask out of charcoal felt and face
detail out of cream felt. Cut holes for the
eyes. Place the 6mm eyes through the holes
and the stitches on the marked round of the
body. Secure in place at back with washers.
Use photo as a guide to sew nose and mouth
on cream face patch with brown embroidery
thread, then glue and sew in place as shown.
Ears (make 2)
With Grey yarn, work 4dc into magic ring. 4sts.
Round 1: 2dc into each st to the end. 8sts.
Round 2: (dc in the rst st, 2dc in the next
st); repeat to end. 12sts.
Round 3: (dc in the rst three sts, 2dc in the
next st); repeat to end. 15sts.
Rounds 4-5: dc in each st around.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and pull
through loop to secure.
Use the photo as a guide and sew ears in
place on the body.
Tail
Work the same as foxs tail but with alternate
two rounds of Grey yarn and two Dark Grey.
Flowers
Cut two ower shapes out of two different
pastel felt colours, layer up and glue together.
Sew a small button in the middle. Leave to
dry, then sew in place on your animal.
CROCHET IT
Craftseller 87
SELL MORE
Make a bunch of these
and put them together
with more felt owers to
make a forest-themed
kids' mobile
SELL IT
Youve made it,
now sell it...
1
Display your critters among leaves,
toadstools and pine cones to create
atmospheric product photography. 2
Create characters for your critters
and stamp their name onto a card, to
pop in with the packaging.
3
Go mini! Create all manner of cute
collectables. Think bag and phone
charms, keyrings and hanging decos.
4
Make 'em weighty. Add a weight to
the stufng before sewing up, and
sell your creatures as paperweights.
5
Swap buttons for beads, pearls and
gems, or add ribbon, to create a more
luxe embellishment for each animal.
6
Stamp simple brown paper with
pine cones, mushrooms or leaf motifs
for a sweet and cheap packaging idea.
7
Mix it up. Use old scraps of oral or
patterned fabrics in place of the felt,
to make a vintage-style version. Don't
forget to market the retro element.
8
Make a scented pomander. Fill your
crochet critter with a small bag of
dried lavender or rose petals, and add
a ribbon loop so it can be hung up.
9
Save money on materials. Raid
your stash for felt and fabric scraps,
buttons and threads. As it's not
a worn item, you can also use cheaper yarn!
10
Create a range of puppets.
Insert a wooden dowel into the
bottom of each animal, glueing
it securely in place at the base.
88 Craftseller
Follow our handy hints to help you sell your cute woodland critters
NOW SELLING ON...
Etsy: Crochet Fox Supersoft by
REcreationsyarn, 16.50
Etsy: Crochet Woodland Mobile by
SpikeyCake, 59.45
Etsy: Amigurumi Chocolate Brown
Hedgehog Plush by 72stitches, 15
Et Et Et Et Et Et Et Et Etsy sy sy sy syy sy sy ssy syy s :::: : :: : Cr Cr Cr Cr Cr Cr Cr Cr Cr Cr Crroc oc oc oc oc oc oc oc oc oche he he he he he he he he he he h t ttttt t ttt Fo Fo Fo Fo Fo Fo Fo Fo FFo Fo F xxxx x x xxxx Su Su Su Su Su Su Su Su Su SSu S pe pe pe pe pe pe pe pe pee pe peers rs rs rs rss rs rs rs rsssof of of of of of of of of of fttt t tt tt ttt by by by by by by by by by bbbb
Q&A
Our panel of experts is on hand to answer all
your crafting and selling questions
Pretty paper trails
Q
Ive been asked to help organise my sisters wedding next year. Shes on a
tight budget and we are toying with the idea of using paper doilies to
decorate. What do you think?
FRANCESCA OBRIEN, LONDON
A
Lace is a trend thats here to stay for a few seasons yet, and doilies are a
perfect cheap and adaptable alternative. You can use them to cover mason
jars lled with candles for atmospheric lighting, stick a few together in a funnel
shape to hold the brides bouquet, write on them as place settings and tie with
twine to hold the cutlery together, or place under a glass plate. A white doily
could be folded in the shape of a wedding dress with a ribbon bow centre, and
used as the invite. Tey can be wrapped around the wedding favour packages
after wrapping them in Kraft paper, or even use a pretty doily stitched onto
a plain purse to transform it into a wedding clutch. A few strung together as
bunting, or written on as a banner, look beautifully effective. We like this example
created by expert party suppliers Ginger Ray (gingerray.co.uk, 8.99).
Vintage Doily
Just Married
Bunting, 8.99,
gingerray.co.uk
Craftseller 89
Ask us
Press ahead
Q
I really want to start getting my work seen in
publications. Whats the best way to do this?
KAROLINA, BY EMAIL
A
Google the names of journalists that might be
interested in writing about you. Follow them
on Twitter, check out their LinkedIn page and see
what else theyre listed on. Get to know them and
keep an eye out for any press call-outs. Email writers
and journalists directly with a concise and clear
press release, all your contact details and decent
images. Let them know youre willing to assist with
last-minute case studies. Tis way theyll know
youre organised and reliable, and be more likely
to feature you. Get in touch with the PR agencies of
your suppliers, and offer yourself and your business
as a customer case study for their products. If youre
on Etsy or Folksy, contact their press o ce and tell
them you are interested in press opportunities. Also
regularly check the forums for case study requests.
Set Of 72 Pink Heart
Paper Doilies, 3.95,
dotcomgiftshop.com
f l
Make contacts to get
your work featured
in craft magazines
MY TOP
TEN TIPS
90 Craftseller
Q&A
Channel the
collar trend by
adding buttons
to your clothes
1
Talk to everyone.
They may be a
shopper or an expert.
2
Carry business
cards to make
the most of chance
meetings.
3
If you can, wear
your crafts!
4
Test your products.
Unhappy buyers
make you unhappy.
5
Overall, the cost
of Special Delivery
will outweigh the cost
of a few resent orders.
6
Visit fairs to see if
theyre busy with
buyers or browsers.
7
Dont be put off
by one bad fair.
8
If youve quit your
day job, keep to
regular craft hours.
9
Try an HMRC Tax
Returns workshop.
10
The more you
put in, the
more you get out.
HANNAH ASHWELL
has been making and
selling textile origami
gifts and accessories
under the name bY Mi
since 2008. Here are
her business top tips.
Te on button
Q
Ive been hoarding spare buttons for years and
now have quite a few. Any suggestions as to
how I might use them?
THERESA MALTBY, DONCASTER
A
Look no further than your wardrobe and
get upcycling! Embellishment is big news,
whether you use them to add borders to pockets,
Blackwork
doesnt have to
use black thread
replace matching buttons for mismatched ones to
create a unique look, glue them onto canvas pumps,
create a collage or a monogram on your t-shirt,
make a sexy false opening by sewing a line down
the centre of a dress (back or front), or even sew
them down the side of woollen tights to make a
seam. We particularly love this button collar, using
Hobbycraft Assorted Multicoloured Buttons (100g
for 1) from hobbycraft.co.uk as a simple and cost-
effective way to update an old black cardi.
Back to black
Q
I love the look of blackwork cross stitching.
Can you tell me a bit more about it?
PENNY FOX, BY EMAIL
A
Blackwork is a type of embroidery that dates
back to 14thcentury Britain and is said to
have originated from Spain, hence it is also known
as Spanish work and has Arabic inuences. Its
usually worked in monochrome on white or natural
linen, and shows the clear denition of the stitches
and pattern. Many embroiderers, including Senior
Technical Editor Anne MacGregor whose work
is shown here are adapting it for contemporary
designs, and the style is enjoying a resurgence.
Popular designs include geometric patterns, owers
and fruit. During the time of Henry VIII it was a
fashionable way of embroidering garments, and
was said to be introduced by the Kings rst wife,
Catherine of Aragon. If you are thinking of trying
your hand at blackwork, regular stitches worked
with precision produce the best results.

FAQ
This month our
top Facebook
question is
Q
Can you tell me, is
there an easy-to-
use tool for adding press
studs to my work?
STEPH MARTIN
A
Kathy at
Artisan Leather
(artisanleather.co.uk)
suggests trying the
Popper Fixing Tool. It
costs 7.50 and only
needs a quick tap with
a mallet to x the two
popper halves together.
The tool comes in small
and large sizes, so there
should be something
suited to your crafts. I
hope this works for you.
A collar is a great
way to use your
spare buttons
Craftseller 91
Q&A
Search for Craftseller
on facebook.com
@craftsellermag yourletters@
craft-seller.com
Dear Craftseller, 9th Floor,
Tower House, Fairfax
Street, Bristol BS1 3BN
After coming up with an idea and doing your
research, writing a brief business plan is your
rst practical step to starting your business. A
business plan will act as your map it will guide
the business from start to growth, with milestones
along the way. For example, you might want to
open a shop, launch a website or reach a number
of customers within a certain time. And youll need
to refer to resources what you have already, what
youll need and how youll pay for it.
This type of organisation of your short- and
long-term business thinking is essential. You will
certainly need a plan if youre looking to raise
money, be that from friends or family or the bank.
But its also a very important document, even
if you arent looking for external funds just yet.
With it in hand, youll be off on your business
journey. Im off! you might say. Or in other words
IMOFF. This is an easy way to remember the
headings to include in your business plan: Idea,
Market, Operations, Financials and Friends.
1
Idea: Whats your idea? Make this clear and
concise to help you stay focused.
2
Market: Who will be your customers or
clients? And who is your competition?
3
Operations: How will you develop the idea,
promote it and offer good customer service?
4
Financials: Can you earn more than you
spend, so that the business makes a prot?
Do you need any funds to get started?
5
Friends: Do you have a support network for
when you need business advice? Are there
businesses youve identied where partnerships
are a possibility?
Have these as headings in your plan, and youve
taken a big step closer to becoming your own boss.
GUEST EXPERT
EMMA JONES is founder of
Enterprise Nation and StartUp Britain.
Shes the author of Spare Room
StartUp and A House Beautiful Home
Business. In June, she was awarded
an MBE for Services to Enterprise.
ESSENTIAL CRAFT TOOL
NAME: Julie Mortimer
SHOP: Jooles Bespoke
Handbags
WEBSITE: Jooles
Accessories on folksy.com
TYPE: Designer Handbags
TOOL: Viking Emerald 118
AVAILABLE FROM:
Sewingmachinediscount.
co.uk, 279
Two years ago we had
loads of snow and I
was stuck in the house
for days. I dragged out
my grannys sewing
machine and made
myself a handbag. I got
so many compliments
that I started selling
them to family and
friends, but my poor old
machine couldnt cope
with the leatherette.
Reluctantly, I realised it
was time to invest in a
heavy-duty machine. The
Viking Emerald 118 has
transformed the way I
worked. Its made all the
difference to my time
and effort, as well as the
quality of the nished
handbag. It glides over
the material, the stitches
are consistent and, dare
I say it, it has made my
work more enjoyable.
Grannys machine will
always have a special
place in my heart, but
the Viking Emerald 118
has won me over!
Neck and neck
Q
I have started subscribing to your magazine and I love it! You have inspired
me to start selling my own scarves. Any tips for a novice but keen knitter?
PIPPA CHAPMAN, BY EMAIL
A
A scarf is a great introductory knitting project, as it doesnot need to
follow a pattern or involve advanced techniques. Since the scarf will be
up against the face and neck, go for
soft yarn. A thick but easy chenille
is great for beginners. Knit and purl
rows, without sewn seams, will
make your scarf curl into a tube.
Try garter stitch for an easy stitch
that looks good on both sides just
knit every row. Consider the front
and back when choosing a stitch,
as both sides will show on a scarf.
Moss stitch, seed stitch and twin
rib are all good reversible choices.
Knit a gauge swatch to determine
how much knit youre getting from
your yarn. If your wool quantity
is limited, make the scarf long and
thin rather than short and wide. For
more inspiration and tips, try Easy
Knitted Scarves by Monica Russel
(4.99 from searchpress.com).
Viking Emerald 118 has
A

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Simple scarves are
a great project for
beginner knitters
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
MAKE FOR 14

25 FOR 5
MAKE IT
92 Craftseller
INFORMATION
Materials
* Vintage cups
* Container candle wax
* Wick
* Metal wick tab
* Coloured dye
* Saucepan
* Double boiler insert or a
heatproof bowl
* Scales
* Old spoon for stirring wax
* Scissors
* Pliers
* Measuring jug
* Pencil
* Blu-Tack
Size: Varies
Skill level: Easy
Make a crafty tenner
Transform pretty china teacups into trendy tea lights that will wow the
shabby-chic crowd and turn a healthy prot By Claire Watkins
S
imple to make and cost effective,
these candles will be a big hit with
buyers looking for a vintage touch. Not
only good for tea parties, they also make
beautiful wedding table decorations and can
be personalised with a special scent. After a
small investment in a double boiler, our only
other major outlay was the cups. We sourced
cups that had small hairline cracks or minor
chips, which made them cheaper. Buying
in bulk will also save money we bought
a selection on eBay, but you could build a
collection from boot sales or charity shops.
Once you start, you wont be able to stop!
1
Work out how much wax youre going
to need for your candle. To do this,
ll the teacup with water and pour into a
measuring jug. The amount of water in the
jug, minus 10% from this measurement,
will tell you the amount of wax you need to
make a candle to t your cup.
2
Put the wax into your double boiler
or heatproof bowl and place over a
saucepan of water, and begin to heat to a
low temperature so it starts to steam the
wax. Never place the wax directly into a
saucepan as it may catch re!
3
Once the wax has melted, add the dye
of your choice. A 10p size piece of dye
is enough for 100g of wax. Stir this into the
wax and add scent, if using.
4
Now prepare the wick. Wick
thicknesses will differ for the size of
your container, so check a candle-making
website for the correct gauge. Dangle the
wick into the teacup, and cut it to measure
about 6cm (2in) higher than the rim of the
cup. Push the wick into the wick tab, leaving
a small tail sticking out at the bottom. Close
the smaller metal hole with pliers. Trim the
wick on the bottom of the tab.
5
Pour a small amount of wax into the
bottom of the teacup and pop the
wick tab into it, making sure its upright and
central in the bottom of the cup. This xes
the tab in place. Once this small amount of
wax has dried (this usually takes about 15
minutes), pull the wick upright, being careful
not to pull too hard and dislodge it.
6
Blu-Tack a pencil across the rim of the
cup, x some more Blu-Tack on the
middle point of the pencil and secure the
wick to it. This is the simplest way to hold
the wick upright and in place while you pour
the rest of your wax into the teacup. Once
this is ready, pour the wax into the cup to
about 1.5cm (in) from the rim. Leave a
small amount of wax behind in the bowl.
This will enable you to make a second pour
for a more professional nish.
7
Leave your candle to set for around 2-3
hours, then make your second pour,
re-melting the remaining wax and adding it
to the cup. Trim the wick to about 1cm (in)
and leave to set for a day before lighting.
How to make the vintage tea lights
MAKE IT
Craftseller 93
STITCH IT
94 Craftseller
More ways
than one...
Flex your funky muscles with a set of bright stitches that will cheer
you up, long after the summer has ended! By Anne MacGregor
ll cheer
Gregor
M
A
K
E
A

P
R
O
FIT
!
MAKE FOR 25
FOR
50
STITCH IT
Craftseller 95
U
sher in a groovy new generation,
or get nostalgic about times gone
by with baby-boomers. This set
of three funky cross stitches will appeal to
anyone whos a fan of the classic campervan!
The cushion is ideal to brighten up any
student bedroom, the bag is the perfect
size for an A4 notepad, and its going to
be very hard to lose your keys with that
striking keyring. So market these makes as
an autumn-term starter pack, and even offer
a student discount! Make yours in different
shades to suit every taste, or use the chart as
a template for a stylish appliqu version.
How to stitch the design
1
Cut your fabric to size. Oversew the
edges to prevent fraying.
2
Find the centre of your fabric by folding
it in quarters. Follow the arrows on the
chart to nd its centre and start stitching
from here, working outwards.
3
Work the cross stitch over two threads
of the fabric using two strands of
cotton. Add the backstitch detail using two
strands of cotton. Where you are working the
backstitch detail over a number of threads,
hold the long length down with a small
overstitch (couching) so that it doesnt gape.
4
Work the long stitch in two strands of
silver thread, and add the sequins on
top at the central point (optional). Sew
narrow lengths of ribbon to the window
struts by using small slip stitches (optional).
Add buttons of your choice.
How to make the cushion
1
Cut a piece of evenweave measuring
36 x 36cm (14 x 14in) and stitch the
design centrally on the piece of fabric.
2
Cut two pieces of backing fabric
measuring 26 x 36cm (10 x 14in) to
create the envelope-style back. Pin a 2cm
(in) double hem along one long edge of
each piece. Machine-stitch and press.
3
With right sides together, pin the long
raw edge of one panel to the top edge
of the stitched piece. Do the same at the
bottom, so that the two back pieces overlap
each other in the middle.
4
Sew around the edge using a 2cm
(in) seam. Trim the corners, turn
through and press. Insert cushion pad.
How to make the bag
1
Cut two 6 x 89cm (2 x 35in) pieces of
fabric for straps. Cut two 40 x 34cm (16
x 13in) pieces of fabric for the main bag.
2
Stitch the design centrally on one of
the main pieces. Place the two pieces
of fabric together with right sides facing, and
sew along the bottom and up the sides.
3
Fold over a 2.5cm (1in) hem at the top,
and sew a line of stitching 1.5cm (in)
below the top edge.
4
To make the straps, fold a long piece in
half, and machine-stitch along the
length using a 5mm (in) seam allowance.
Turn through to the right side and press at,
with the seam along the centre back.
5
Tuck the raw edges inside the strap.
Make the other strap in the same way.
Place the straps in position on the outside of
the bag and machine-stitch in place.
How to make the keyring
1
Once you have stitched your design,
sew a zig-zag stitch around the design,
in a contrasting colour, to create a border and
prevent fraying.
2
Cut out the design and trim to the
border edge. Using the stitching as a
guide, cut out a piece of patterned felt,
slightly larger, and a piece of interfacing,
slightly smaller, than the evenweave.
3
Sew the interfacing to the patterned
felt, with the patterned side of the felt
facing the non-glued side of the interfacing.
4
Position the stitching over the
interfacing with wrong side down, and
iron in place. Make a small hole in the felt
and attach a keyring to nish.
INFORMATION
Materials
25-count tangerine or lime green
colmar evenweave measuring 36 x
36cm (14 x 14in) for the cushion, 40
x 36cm (16 x 14in) for the bag and
10 x 10cm (4 x 4in) for the keyring
DMC stranded cotton as listed in
the key
Anchor Reecta metallic thread as
listed in the key
Size 26 tapestry needle
4 x 8mm and 4 x 5mm silver
sequins (optional)
5 x 4mm buttons for keyring
(optional)
2 x 12mm buttons of choice
metre 5mm wide ribbon
(optional)
Letter buttons available from
Button Planet, visit buttonplanet.
blogspot.co.uk
Cushion pad to t
Size: 30 x 30cm (12 x 12in) for the
cushion; 36 x 30cm (14 x 12in)
for the bag; 8 x 10cm (3 x 4in)
for the keyring
Skill level: Moderate
STITCH IT
96 Craftseller
How to make the campervan set
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10 10 20
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CAMPERVAN KEY
Stitch count of cushion/bag 90 high x 126 wide
Design area 25-count evenweave 18.5 x 25.5cm
(7 x 10in)
Stitch count of keyring 27 high x 37 wide
Design area 25-count evenweave 5.5 x 7.5cm
(2 x 3in)
Tese designs were stitched using DMC stranded
cotton and Anchor Reecta on 25-count
evenweave over two threads of the fabric
Cross stitch in two strands
DMC Anchor Madeira Colour
166 280 1611 green
601 63 703 pink
740 316 204 orange
3844 1089 1102 electric blue
Backstitch in two strands
DMC Anchor Madeira Colour
310 403 2400 black
Long stitch in two strands Anchor Reecta
DMC Anchor Madeira Colour
301 silver
Placement of sequins
O silver
Placement of buttons
O buttons of choice
BAG AND CUSHION CHART
KEYRING CHART
Keep your work in
a hoop while youre
stitching, to ensure
even tension across
the design
TOP TIP
STITCH IT
Craftseller 97
MY CRAFT SHOP
98 Craftseller
Meet a trio of craft sellers who share the
moneymaking secrets behind their success
Louises sewing career started with a project
that saved money and impressed her friends
Crafting has always been in my life making
decorations for the home, recycling old canvases and
decorating old tin cans to make storage.
Then, when the local animal sanctuary was asking
for donations, I started making jewellery. The
confidence I gained from helping to fundraise buoyed
me up during a difficult time in my personal life.
When my granddad died, I gave up my job and
moved back to Hartlepool to look after my nanna.
With no job I got bored very quickly, so I got out
a sewing machine Id bought on a whim. It was a
friends birthday and I had no money for a present,
so I searched for a free pattern for a bag. It was well
received by all my nanna told me that I had the
patience of a saint! I knit and crochet, but sewing
is my craft. For a year Ive built up my business,
alongside a part-time job and caring for my nanna.
When it came to building my website, I started out
using templates from website-building companies
like Yola and Create but I soon found that my ideas
were outgrowing their limitations. So I turned to
my friend Kris who runs a programming company,
The Legend of Skippy. His admin area is easy and
straightforward to use, and its always easy to add a
new product page or change a colour scheme.
I lost my nanna earlier this year, but LCG Creations
is going from strength to strength. I have finally
given up my day job and my products are now being
stocked in two local shops and I am also teaching
others via my So Sew Clever Craft School.
Collaborate. Share
your strengths, learn
from others, make
friends and reach
new audiences
TOP TIP
It was a friend s
birthday and I had no
money for a present
The website owner
LOUISE GARBUTT
from County Durham
WEBSITE
lcgcreations.co.uk
Louises rst
bag was a gift
for a friend
Louise has tried many
different crafts but
loves sewing the most
My craft shop
MY CRAFT SHOP
Craftseller 99
At a very difficult time in her life, Deb found huge
support came from her fellow online craft sellers
I was taught to knit and crochet by one grandma,
and to sew by the other now I pass these skills on to
the primary school children I work with.
I started selling after a successful Christmas Fair.
Before that I gifted items, or made props for story-
telling bags, or story sacks. My best-selling items are
my Story Sacks in particular the Gruffalo* version!
In October 2008 I was invited to join MISI. Im glad
I did the community spirit is amazing, selling fees
are very reasonable, and my shop is easy to update.
In August 2009, our family suffered a tragedy. Our
son Richard passed away as a result of an epileptic
seizure. We set up a memorial fund to honour Rich
by raising funds and awareness of epilepsy. Proceeds
from my MISI shops go towards the fund, and so far
weve raised 2,000. The online community has been
amazing lots of crafters donated items for us to sell.
Funds from Debs
shops go to richard-
meese.muchloved.com
Katie uses the Handmade is Hot Facebook group
to find news of craft fairs across the West Midlands
My handmade business is inspired by all things
retro and quirky. I make a variety of items including
cushions, candles, aprons, memo boards, tote bags
and jewellery, plus cake stands, bowls and clocks
from vinyl records, which I sell at regular craft fairs.
My first fair was one of the lovely Bert and Gerts
Vintage Markets, in Birmingham. I realised how much
I enjoy meeting people and selling my products so
when I turned my hobby into a business, I decided
that regular craft fairs would be an essential part for
me. I must have sold at over 50, including events run
by the local council and Kerrang! Radio.
I sell at weekend fairs across the West Midlands and
I receive news about whats coming up via Handmade
is Hot on Facebook. Its a very useful group.
Like everything in life, craft fairs have pros and
cons. But setting up and packing away are more than
made up for by meeting like-minded people who
appreciate the work that I put into every piece.
The stallholder
I realised how much
I enjoy meeting
people and selling
Te online seller
DEB MEESE
from Stourbridge
Billet Doux
WEBSITE
hennies.misi.co.uk
and bluesunower.
misi.co.uk
Craft fairs are the
time to network with
crafters, vintage
traders, shop owners
and shoppers
TOP TIP
When you are knitting
toys, sew all the parts
together with dental
oss its very strong
and secure
TOP TIP
Katies loved selling
at craft fairs ever
since her rst one
*
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KATIE MORETON
from Walsall
WEBSITE
oldskoolretrokitsch
boutique.co.uk
CRAFTY COURSES
100 Craftseller
Alison loves how
versatile craft is and
wants to share it
with all her students
In a setting that couldnt be more
conducive to creativity, visitors to Lilac
Barn can try their hand at a variety of
crafts in the heart of the Somerset Levels.
Our aim is to provide students with
new skills, or to augment those they
already have, in a relaxed and welcoming
atmosphere, explains Cherry Dobson, Lilac
Barn founder and author of The Upholstery
Bible. Now that adult education centres
no longer run craft courses, theres a lot of
demand for the teaching of these skills.
Courses offered by the hand-picked team
of tutors include upholstery, patchwork,
quilting and lampshade-making.
Men and women, young and old,
beginners and improvers all are very
Why not add a new craft to your skill set? Here are
some of our top courses for you to try this month
welcome, Cherry continues. Students
work on their own projects, at their pace.
Most courses run for a single day, but
patchwork, quilting and upholstery are
taught on week courses, covering a large
project. Furniture has suffered from the
throwaway society, says Cherry. Pieces
are binned before theyve finished their
useful life. By renovating an old loved chair,
youre preserving a part of your heritage,
learning a new skill and having fun.
Students work at
their own pace
Lilac Barn
Crafty courses
INFORMATION
* Courses include Traditional and
Modern Upholstery, 30 per single
workshop, 125 for ve, 245 for
one week including home-cooked
lunches: next week 23-27 Sept.
Patchwork and Quilting, week
course 245: next week 20-24 Oct.
Dressmaking for Fun, 10am-4pm,
45 including lunch.
* For more info contact Cherry on
01823 698707, cherry@lilacbarn.
co.uk or visit lilacbarn.co.uk
Learn to rescue
old, worn out
furniture
Craftseller 101
CRAFTY COURSES
This wool shop and courses provider in
the historic Morpeth, Northumberland,
has received national attention. Treacle
was Highly Commended in the UK
Independent Retailer section in Craft
Business Magazines 2013 awards, and was
also awarded 2013 Best Knitting Retailer
North East by the British Craft Awards.
The teaching at Treacle is an integral part
of the shops ethos. The workshops on offer
cover everything from knitting, crochet,
felting and sewing to dcoupage, upcycling,
pottery and more.
Each workshop is split to suit beginners
and improvers. The workshops are held
in our lovely upstairs room above the main
shop, in an old stone building with stripped
wooden floors and beams, explains shop
owner Kym Hewison. It is a calm and
comfortable space and participants are
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Treacle Wool Shop
taught, informally, by a range of tutors
whose real jobs include plastic surgeon,
author and ex-head teacher!
The aim of each class is for everyone to
have something finished to take away, and
the skills to continue at home. We teach
the skills needed to continue with the craft,
but were always here to help if needed
its not unusual to see a customer sitting at
our side in the shop, Kym reveals.
Search for Craftseller
on facebook.com
@craftsellermag yourletters@
craft-seller.com
Dear Craftseller, 9th Floor,
Tower House, Fairfax
Street, Bristol BS1 3BN
WHY NOT TRY...
Other great craft courses taking
place around the country
The Tudor House
Study a range of arts and crafts at this
beautiful, half-timbered studio and gallery
in Hertfordshire. Full and half-day courses on
offer for six to eight learners per session, so
youll get plenty of help and guidance.
Visit tudorhousesawbridgeworth.co.uk
Seashore Gallery
Glass artist and painter Fiona Crombie hosts
courses in glass fusing, painting, drawing,
pastels, mosaics, jewellery and more at
her studio in the pretty East Lothian village
of Cockenzie. A range of stained glass
workshops, suitable for all skill levels, are
starting this September.
Visit seashoregallery.co.uk
Clitheroe Craft Studio
For anyone who works nine to ve, try
one of the regular evening workshops in
papercrafting, beading, knitting, patchwork,
calligraphy and much more at this friendly
craft shop and studio situated in the east
Lancashire town of Clitheroe.
Visit clitheroecraftstudio.co.uk
Assington Mill
If you want to get back to basics, this
timber-framed farmhouse in Suffolk is
the venue for workshops in a wide range
of rural and traditional crafts including
beekeeping, bread-making, felt-making,
upholstery, childrens cookery and more.
Visit assingtonmill.com
The Bramble Patch
Northamptonshires Bramble Patch is one
of the UKs leading centres for patchwork,
quilting and fabric arts. With a well-stocked
shop and an impressive array of one- and
two-day courses throughout the year,
theres sure to be something that you fancy.
Visit thebramblepatch.co.uk
INFORMATION
* Courses include Lets Crochet,
10am-12.30pm, beginners and
improvers, 22: next session 28 Sept.
Knit Wire Jewellery, 10am-12.30pm,
22. Wet Felting, 10am-3pm, 35.
Beginner Machine Sewing, 10am-
3pm, 40: next session 21 Sept.
* For more info contact Kym
on 01670 504045, email info@
treaclewoolshop.co.uk
or visit treaclewoolshop.co.uk
We re always here
to help if needed
Templates
Use these templates to make the squirrels on page 16, bunting on page 28, stag on
page 32, collar on page 34 and the woodland creatures on page 84
102 Craftseller
COLLAR
(COPY AT 200%)
FRONT
Cut 1 in beige
Cut 1 in white
Add inch seam allowance
Cut 2
BUNTING
(COPY AT 200%)
Vist craft-seller.
com/free-downloads
to print all our
templates in the
right size to use
TOP TIP
SQUIRREL
(ACTUAL SIZE)
BODY
Cut 2 in grey
Cut 2 in brown
EYE
Cut 4 in white
NOSE
Cut 2 in black
PUPIL
Cut 4 in black
ARM
Cut 2 in grey
Cut 2 in brown
WOODLAND CREATURES
(ACTUAL SIZE)
BUNNY EAR
BUNNY FACE
RACOON EYE MASK
RACOON FACE
FOX FACE
FOX FACE 2
FOX AND
HEDGEHOG
NOSE
FOX EARS
MAKE IT
103 Craftseller
STAGS HEAD
(COPY AT 200%)
HEAD
Cut out 2 of these
Cut along the dotted lines
EARS AND ANTLERS
Cut 2 of these
Trace the templates, turn the
tracing paper over and trace
the template again for the
opposite ear or antler.
4+5
Cut 2 of these
1
Cut 1 of these
2
Cut 1 of these
3
Cut 1 of these
7,8,9 + 10
Cut 1 of these with ears
Cut 3 without ears
Add ears here
Add ears here
6
Cut 1 of these with antlers
Cut 3 without antlers
Add antlers here
Add antlers here
TO ADVERTISE IN OUR CRAFTSELLER STOREROOM
PLEASE CALL JANE HENDY ON
0117 314 8823 OR EMAIL
JANE.HENDY@IMMEDIATE.CO.UK STORREERROOOMM
Web: www.thebeadbase.co.uk
Cardmaking Supplies
For Every Occasion
Craft Creations
www.craftcreations.com
THE CRAFT ROOM
Products for cardmaking,
scrapbooking, papercrafts and
beading. Regular demos and classes
held at the shop. Stockists of a wide
range of scrapbooking papers, quilling
papers and decoupage sheets.
57 Queen Street, Newton Abbot,
Devon TQ12 2AU
Tel: 01626 336171 www.fabricmills.co.uk
1000s metres of
Designer Clearance Fabrics
Call 01225 471167
Short ends & remnants from 2 per piece.
Re-upholstery & bespoke commissions.
Soft furnishing & upholstery supplies.
New fabrics in every week
Visit our shops in Cirencester, Bath& Monmouth.
Or go online to order fabric samples.
79 High Street, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8 1PE
Tel: 01278 794751
www.material-needs.co.uk
MATERIAL NEEDS
For Quality products at competitive prices
Wools
Dress, patchwork and quilting fabrics
Cross stitch
Haberdashery, ribbon, lace, braids
...and so much more
www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk
Email: sales@pennineoutdoor.co.uk
Tel: 01524 263377
www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk
FAST MAIL
ORDER SERVICE
SPECIALIST OUTDOOR FABRICS
Technical eece
Breathable water resistant fabrics
Fabrics for bags and covers
Large range of buckles,
hooks, and webbing
Zips, thread, patterns etc. www.craftdepartment.com
A brand-new website dedicated to
bringing you the best craft
materials on the market.
With our Stitching, Felt, Button, Ribbon,
Embellishment, Accessory, Display and Lighting
departments, you are sure to fnd everything you need.
Sewing workshops
in Sandbach, Cheshire
t: 01270 440225 / 07772 684907
e. info@sew-stitch-creat8.co.uk
www.sew-stitch-creat8.co.uk
Sharing a passion for sewing for all age groups!
GENERAL CRAFTS
CRAFTING BEADS
SEWING
FABRICS CRAFT SHOP
Craftseller 105
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ISSUE 25
FREE Mummy Makes
holiday craft book
ISSUE 26
FREE Vintage-style
Ribbon
ISSUE 27
FREE Indian Summer
paper pack
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23 projects to earn you prot
*
How Craftseller helped
launch three successful businesses
*
FREE: Rudolph kit
8 PAGES
of papercraft
papers
FREE GIFT! REAL LIFE
FAVOURITE MAKES
106 Craftseller
Home
* Theres nothing more comforting than a
slice of toast with real butter...to sleep on!
* The Original Toasty Pet Bed by
TheToastyPetCo, 65.47 on etsy.com
Accessories
* Add some geometry to your jewellery
box with a funky ring super geek chic!
* Wooden Laser Cut Geometric Ring by
The Little Chilli, 8 on etsy.com
New Home
* Know someone whos moving house?
Theyd love to receive this cute cushion.
* Terrace Houses Embroidered Cushion
by Stitch City, 45 on folksy.com
Bakes
* Next time we need to make someone feel
special, were sending a pack of these!
* Personalised Love Biscuits by Les
Quatre, 26.50 on noths.com
Fashion
* Looking for something comfy to slouch
around in? Try a colourful knitted t-shirt.
* Knitted Viscose Sweater by TheKnitKid,
177.69 on etsy.com
Cute
* If getting to sleep is a struggle, this quirky
mobile makes counting sheep a doddle.
* Cascading Rainbow Sheep Mobile by
BossyFeltworks, 153.65 on etsy.com
HHome
* Theres nothing more comforting than a
slice of toast with real butter...to sleep on!
* The Original Toasty Pet Bed by
TheToastyPetCo, 65.47 on etsy.com
Accessories
* Add some geome
box with a funky ring super geek chic!
* Wooden Laser Cut Geometric Ring by
The Little Chilli, 8 on etsy.com
New Home
Know someone whos moving house?
Theyd love to receive this cute cushion.
* Terrace Houses Embroidered Cushion
by Stitch City, 45 on folksy.com
Bakes
* Next time we need to make someone feel
special, were sending a pack of these!
* Personalised Love Biscuits by Les
Quatre, 26.50 on noths.com
Fashion
* Looking for something comfy to slouch
around in? Try a colourful knitted t-shirt.
* Knitted Viscose Sweater by TheKnitKid,
177.69 on etsy.com
CCute
* If getting to sleep is a struggle, this quirky
mobile makes counting sheep a doddle.
* Cascading Rainbow Sheep Mobile by
BossyFeltworks, 153.65 on etsy.com
etry to your jewellery
ring super geek chic!
N
*
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Here are just some of our favourite makes from the exciting
designers and crafters weve discovered this month
Online loves
G
eekery
is still on
e
of
th
e
top

tren
d
s
for a
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For further information:
Telephone 0161 666 6011 or visit our website www.janome.co.uk
The Worlds leading sewing machine manufacturer
Our latest Memory Craft 9900 Professional-style
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The amazing MC9900 utilises intuitive technologies and is
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layout on a high resolution LCD colour touch screen, USB port
and unique swing-out carriage offer everything you need in one
compact powerful unit.
For limitless embroidery possibilities optional embroidery
software is available which can convert artwork into stitches
and stitches into works of art.
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Unique
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Go ahead get creative!