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1 A Bustle & Sew Publication Copyright © Bustle & Sew Limited 2016 The right of Helen Dickson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this book is accurate. However, due to differing conditions, tools and individual skills, the publisher cannot be responsible for any injuries, losses and other damages that may result from the use of the information in this book. First published 2016 by: Bustle & Sew The Cottage Oakhill Radstock BA3 5HT UK www.bustleandsew.com 2 Welcome to the January Issue Helen xx 3 Tips for Stitchers Cross stitch is probably one of the easiest stitches of all. It may be worked separately, as an open “scattering” or close together to fill an area. It is a geometric stitch and looks best (and neatest) if all the stitches are placed evenly on the background fabric which is why it’s most often worked on even weave fabric. Some of the oldest embroideries in the world have been discovered in the Greek Islands. These are very frequently worked in cross stitch. Cross stitch should be worked so that the second stitch, which forms the X shape is always slanted in the same direction. This makes the stitch very smooth and even. Leaping Rabbit pattern available instore 4 61 13 53 42 22 Between this month’s covers … Tips for Stitchers Page 4 Hand Embroidery Hint - your hoop Page 37 January Almanac Page 6 Little Fox Clock Page 38 Small Beginnings Hoop Page 8 Rosie’s Recipes: Puddings and Pies Page 42 Nature Notes (1) Page 11 Lovely Idea: DIY Lace Up Boots Page 49 Easy Rhubarb Jam Page 12 Daisy the Draught Excluder Page 50 Little Stitching Bear Embroidery Tutorial Page 13 The Beach in Winter Page 52 Lovely Idea: Pom Pom Mouse Page 19 Meet the Maker: Diane Kavanagh Page 53 Pea Pod Pin Cushion Page 20 Sweet Clementines Page 56 A Long Winter’s Sleep? Page 22 The Twelve Months Page 57 A Winter Garden Page 26 Around the Year Hoop Page 58 Seasonal Ingredients: January King Page 27 Home Comforts Page 61 Harvey & Cole Zipper Pouches Page 28 Calendar 2017 Page 62 Poetry Corner: As You Like It Page 32 In the Kitchen: Conversion Tables Page 60 A Little History of Whitework Page 33 Templates Page 61 Nature Notes (2) Page 36 5 January As midnight approaches on New triumphant blast of trumpets. She though winter will never end. But Year’s Eve and the festivities reach later recorded in her diary, “This don’t despair. Although January their climax, bell-ringers gather in had a fine solemn effect which brings frosts, sometimes snow, churches all over the country to quite affected dear Albert, who trees are bare and everywhere follow the old tradition of ringing in turned pale, and had tears in his seems on first inspection quite the New Year. Where there is just eyes and pressed my hand very lifeless, in fact the rhythm of life has one bell, then midnight will be rung warmly.” simply slowed, not stopped on a single note, but wherever the altogether. Many animals are church as a full set, then a cheerful Once the Christmas and New Year hibernating and migratory birds peal of bells will greet the birth of festivities have come to an end, have headed south for warmer 2017. In the UK the bells are rung we’ve all returned to work, and the climes, so fewer birds will be seen not in unison, but one after another, cheerful seasonal envelopes in the fields and hedgerows. In with the sequence changing after dropping on our doormat bringing many places farmers move cattle each round is complete. flocks of robins, snowmen and and other stock indoors to over- reindeer have been replaced by winter in barns. But the days are In many villages this peal of bells is those plain versions with windows lengthening and new life is the signal for people to spill out of containing bills, offers of life beginning to stir. Catkins will pubs and parties to listen to the insurance and other such delights, already be appearing on hazel notes floating across the crisp cold then the beginning of January can bushes, turning from lime green to air, then turn to wish each other a seem a little flat - even depressing. yellow as the month progresses. Happy New Year. When Victoria The days are still short, the weather You may spot the earliest shoots was Queen, she decided one year is at its worst and, with no holidays of wild garlic sprouting up through that New Year at Buckingham to look forward to in the near the leaf mould, recognisable by Palace should be heralded with a future, sometimes it can feel as their pungent smell if you crush 6 them between your fingers. In the church and then paraded around with suet onions and oatmeal and gardens the earliest spring bulbs, the parish by the farm labourers traditionally boiled in a sheep’s including snowdrops of course, will collecting money from stomach) served with tatties and be beginning to appear and householders along the way. neeps (potatoes and mashed hellebores will be in flower. swede). The festival of Epiphany itself Keen gardeners may be outside celebrates the arrival of the Magi in The 26th brings Australia Day, a washing out seed trays, edging Bethlehem - the three wise men public holiday throughout that lawns and undertaking other small who had travelled from the East to country commemorating the tasks, whilst those of the fair meet the young king, bringing gifts foundation of the first colony of weather variety (self included!) may of gold, frankincense and myrrh. European settlers at Port Jackson be sitting indoors reading seed and (now Sydney) on that day in 1788. bulb catalogues, making planting “We three kings of Orient are; The immigrants, mainly convicts, plans for the spring and summer Bearing gifts we traverse afar, had travelled from England in a fleet months to come, encouraged by Field and fountain, moor and of eleven ships under the command the passing of each January day mountain, of Captain Arthur Phillip, who when the sun lifts slightly higher subsequently became the founder above the southern horizon, and Following yonder star.” and first governor of New South provides enough heat by the end of John H Hopkins Jr (1857) Wales. the month to make my unheated greenhouse pleasantly warm for a Also known as Twelfth Night 6 The month draws to a close with few short hours at least. January is the last of the twelve the anniversary of the execution of days of Christmas and is the date King Charles I who was beheaded Ploughing the fields in preparation by which Christmas decorations on January 30 1649. His long- for sewing is the first task of the must be taken down to avoid bad running dispute with Parliament had agricultural year. The first Monday luck. led to the English Civil War which after Epiphany (6 January) is known began in 1642 and continued after The birthday of Scotland’s most as Plough Monday, this was his death. The monarchy was famous poet, Robert Burns, falls on formerly the day that farmhands replaced by a Protectorate led by 25 January and Burns Night is returned to work after their Oliver Cromwell, and then his son celebrated by those of Scottish Christmas holiday - not that they Richard, until 1660 when Charles II descent across the world. At the actually did much work on this day was restored to the throne. For 200 centre of the festivities is a as it was marked by various years after the Restoration January traditional Burns Supper of haggis ceremonies and usually ended in 30 was observed as a holy day with (a dish made of the heart, lungs and general merrymaking. The plough fasting and solemn church services liver of a sheep or calf, chopped up would have been blessed at the in honour of the “murdered” king. 7 Small Beginnings Hoop January is of course all about new beginnings, and whether we’re trying to keep our New Year’s Resolutions or browsing through seed catalogues deciding what to plant in the spring, or perhaps making changes to our lives, it’s important to remember that big things do indeed have small beginnings. This is a very easy hoop to stitch, the seed packet is appliqued to a felt background and the hand embroidery is simple - just straight stitch, back stitch stem stitch and satin stitch. Shown in 5” x 9” oval hoop. match your seed packet fabric and Materials oddments for the seeds, flower head (I used variegated floss for these) and the ● 12” x 8” white felt (or you could use any stripy pot. plain fabric if you liked. I rather liked the contrast of the felt with the texture of the ● Bondaweb linen fabric I used for the seed packet though). ● 5” x 9” oval hoop ● 4” x 3” natural coloured fabric for seed packet. ● Stranded cotton floss in two shades of green, brown and black.