ISSUE 102 SNEAK PEEK

Toymakers, listen up! The latest issue of Let's Get Crafting features an impressive Toymaking Special which is certain to inspire you to enter our annual Toymaker of the Year competition. As always you'll find incredible projects, giveaways and features too. Issue 102 hits the supermarket shelves on 14th June so make sure you pick up your copy. Here's a little peek at some of the patterns you'll find inside...

CAMP SCENE

Make it in miniature with our charming crochet collection. Sarah-Jane Hicks has crocheted two tents, a sleeping bag, a blanket, a log and fire to make an idyllic camping set-up that’s perfect for playtime. Whether a little one you know favours Sylvanian Families, Playmobil or Lego, these designs are a match made in heaven. The blanket uses the corner to corner (C2C) crochet method. Not sure how it works? Search ‘corner to corner’ at craftsy.com.

BABY ROMPER

Make a garment fit for a prince with our little garment. With the arrival of Prince Louis we can’t help but be inspired to turn our needles to classic babywear and Dawn Finney’s project is the perfect place to start. To keep your knitted garment in tip-top condition, gently hand wash the romper inside out, shape and then lay flat to dry on a clean towel. When it’s only slightly damp, press it inside out with a cool iron.

RUSSIAN DOLLS

Have fun embellishing crochet dolls with Heather Gibbs’ amigurumi pals. Inspired by matryoshka dolls these toys are sweet and simple to make. They’re a brilliant opportunity to practise crocheting in the round – place a stitch marker in the top of the first stitch to mark the start of a round, and you won’t get lost! We’d love to see how yours turn out, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with your pictures.

SAFRARI TEDDY

Meet David Attenbear! With his trusty map and travel bag, Sarah Louise Read’s ted is always ready to explore the depths of the jungle and find his next adventure. Impress your crafty friends with David’s accessories – your ombré yarn from this issue’s Melody kit creates a stunning two-tone effect and looks as if you’ve worked intricate colour changes, when really it’s just one ball of yarn!

JAR COSIES

Light up an al fresco evening with these pretty jar cosies. These covers make jars so versatile – if you’d rather not use them for candles then store pens in them to spruce up your craft room, pop them in your bedroom and fill with hair clips, or even add to the bathroom to home cotton buds.

GUINEA PIGS

Practise your colour changing technique with our knitted guinea pigs. Meet Daisy, Digby and Dwayne, the chatty trio who love nothing more than munching on leftover trimmings and keeping active with fellow pals. Each guinea pig is worked in the same way, however Sachiyo Ishii has used the intarsia method to achieve various colour patterns.

BEACH HUT

Feel the sand between your toes with our knitted beach hut project. For those of you that don’t have the luxury of a local seaside escape, Nicola Valiji has come to the rescue – now you can bring the joy of your summer holidays right into your home. Why not add a heavy weight and adapt it into a fun and quirky doorstop to be enjoyed all year round?

STYLISH SUCCULENTS

No watering is required with Heather Gibbs’ cacti! Here at Let’s Get Crafting HQ we’re planning on making one in every colour imaginable! You can weight the plant pots to ensure they stand up straight and why not add wire to make them positionable too? Make sure you share your plant pictures with us on Facebook and Twitter.

ICE CREAMS

All of the fun and none of the calories, try our knitted ice creams in the latest issue. Knitting pro Nicola Valiji has created a trio of treats that we can’t wait to make. Unlike in real life, these characters won’t melt so you can enjoy crafting them on a sunny afternoon. They’re fun to play with so whip them out at your next garden party to keep little ones entertained.

PINEAPPLE EARRINGS

Sport Sarah-Jane Hicks’ fruity yet fancy accessories to your next summer soirée and you’ll be guaranteed to make heads turn. A statement earring is a great way to add a whimsical touch to any outfit and these pineapple pendants are bang on trend.