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Did you take part in Granny Square Day last weekend? I loved seeing all the colourful squares across Instagram. In case you missed it, here's a granny square I shared on my page. 

WATERMELON GRANNY SQUARE - UK Crochet terms

 Abbreviations

R Round
ch Chain
dc Double crochet
htr Half treble
tr Treble crochet
dtr Double treble crochet
sl st Slip stitch
st (sts) Stitch(es)
ch sp Chain space

R 1 Make a magic ring in red, 6dc into ring. Pull ring tight....

This pattern was inspired by the Mexican folk art of 'Alebrijes'. Alebrijes are brightly coloured fantastical wooden sculptures originally created by Pedro Linares in Mexico, quite often a mix of two or more creatures. In the 1930’s Linares fell very ill and had a vivid dream where, the story goes, in a forest, the rocks and clouds were turning into strange creatures, for example a lion with an eagle head or a donkey with butterfly wings. They were all shouting one word ‘Alebrijes!”

This pattern was originally designed...

Kate on Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas

I can’t quite believe it all happened, it was a very surreal day. I’m writing this the day before the show is aired and to say I’m a little nervous about watching myself on the telly box is a bit of an understatement.

It all started when an email landed in my inbox in the summer of 2019 saying the show was looking for contestants, and I thought ‘I might as well have a go and apply’. So I filled out the application form for the toy category, sent it off and promptly forgot about...