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We love Christmas dinner!

[Clockwise from top left] Sugar and spice and a shimmering Christmas pudding fascinator… nice! Mind your Ps and Qs with these linen, manners napkins by Betsy Grace. Add a finishing touch to your Christmas dinner outfit with a Peter Pan collar. Find the tute in Gathered by Mollie Makes (issue 9). Let the expert show you how it’s done; with a  squirrel nutcracker you can’t go wrong! Decorate the dinner table with these festive paper Christmas trees featured in Mollie Makes Christmas.

Happy Christmas from everyone here at Mollie Makes xx

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My family begins celebrating the Christmas season the moment the last slice of pie is consumed on Thanksgiving Day. We love Thanksgiving, but I think we are honestly more excited about the season that follows. Participating in family traditions is truly my favourite part of the holidays.

When I think back over the years, I am thankful that very little has changed in the way we celebrate. The simplest things, like decorating the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, become an important family event. We would never dream of Black Friday shopping on that day, because for my family it is – and always will be – Decorating Day.

Some of my family’s most memorable traditions occur on Christmas Eve. We have our favourite holiday movies playing in the background all morning as we bake batches of scrumptious sugar cookies. We make homemade icing in a variety of bright colours and then settle in for some serious cookie decorating.

Every year it always comes as a surprise when my Dad, the least patient member of my family, pipes a few designs on his own tree-shaped cookie. However, his time spent decorating is short-lived because he eventually sneaks a few cookies into a napkin and leaves the rest of us to play with the pastry bags.

I used to think he decorated cookies to make me happy as a child, but now that I’m much older, I can see that he actually enjoys this tradition himself.

Every year, without fail, we always open a pair of new pyjamas – my favourite tradition on Christmas Eve. Who knew pink, sheep-covered PJs could be so exciting? My Grandparents started this tradition with my Mom and her siblings. I love looking back at old photographs of their whole family in red and green pyjamas, gathered around the twinkling Christmas tree. My Mom decided to continue the tradition and I hope to have the opportunity to do the same.

As time passes, and our family experiences change, I hope a few of these traditions stay the same as a reminder of all of the Christmases we spent together.

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This column originally appeared in issue 10 of Gathered by Mollie Makes. Available now for iPad and iPad mini from Apple Newsstand.

About the author Meredith Crawford is a yarn-lovin’ crafter based in Dallas, Texas. She is a regular columnist and contributor to Gathered by Mollie Makes and can be found blogging over at One Sheepish Girl.

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Ho, ho, ho! Meeeeeery Christmas! Issue 10 of Gathered by Mollie Makes is an absolute cracker (even if we do say so ourselves!). Projects this week include a lovely mini photo book, a bow-tie necklace and some potato-printed placemats.

Elsewhere in the issue we reveal the top 5 mittens, have a chat with I Am Acrylic and a little look around the studio space of artist Katie Green.

Gathered by Mollie Makes is available to download to your iPad now. Single issues cost just £1.49/$1.99, or get 5 FREE issues when you sign up to a risk-free one-month or one-year subscription.

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Gathered by Mollie Makes issue 9, out now for iPad – © molliemakes.com

Woohoo, issue 9 of Gathered by Mollie Makes is out now! This week we show you how to make a yarn-wrapped wreath, a customised clutch bag and a pretty felt Peter Pan collar.

We’ve also got the top 5 mug cosies, an interview with Joanne Hawker and a look round the studio of Soraia Balelo.

Gathered by Mollie Makes is available to download to your iPad now. Single issues cost just £1.49/$1.99, or get 5 FREE issues when you sign up to a risk-free one-month or one-year subscription.

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Brrr, it’s mighty cold outside! We sure hope you’re keeping warm. Speaking of which, this week’s free tutorial is a gadget cosy perfect for a snug winter. This super-cute cosy was designed by Angela Poole for The Making spot. If you’re making a handmade gift for someone special this Christmas, this could be just the treat.

To get your craft mitts on the pattern, just head over to The Making Spot (also a great for to browse) to download the free tutorial.

Oh, deer! Too cute.

Happy stitching!

Don’t forget to keep in touch! Check out our official Facebook page, Twitter tweetage and pic-a-tures on Instagram. xx

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[Clockwise from top left] Fine Day Press’s gold foiled notebooks are great for making last-minute Christmas notes. Instil a bit of December glitz with a few metallic paper leaves. Sequin encrusted Peter Pan collar? Yes, please! Spruce up a Christmas jumper with Sweetheart and Roses’ winter scene brooch. No burning the candle at both ends; fit a beaming diamond bulb for instant sparkle and shine! String up a few metal origami stars for a heavenly ambiance.

Don’t forget to keep in touch over the holidays. Check out our official Facebook page, Twitter tweetage and pic-a-tures on Instagram xx

More Christmas sparkle

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Remember, remember the month of November.

Making pom-pom wreaths, hanging glitter encrusted snowflakes and collecting vintage baubles were just a few of our most recent adventures. Although stitching with Singer-loving Rosie, eating yummy meals and going on winter walks are always on the agenda. There also always time for a bit of a rummage in our local charity shops – we just cannot resist it! A great, big thank you for our very first Christmas card we received last week – oh, and did we mention that we were featured in Grazia? We were so chuffed; you can find the Christmas origami tree tutorial here.

Next month at the Mollie Makes headquarters: a Christmas round up! Yuss!

Don’t forget to keep in touch over the holidays. Check out our official Facebook page, Twitter tweetage and pic-a-tures on Instagram xx

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[Clockwise from top-left] Ensure precious scribbles are stored safely in this Lovely Pigeon notebook. We really love these mustard jersey bracelets by BaobabFabricArt. Keep skin super soft with InnerEarth‘s goat’s milk soap. Print on cards, scrapbooks and more with this adorable camera stamp. Raindrops as buttons? A-mazing! From Eternal Maker. Deliver a cup of joy with ThatRetroPiece‘s thrifty find.

More Christmas gift guides

Want to make something instead?

Inspiration, ahoy!

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In the Mollie Makes headquarters we’ve devised a full-proof(ish) brother Christmas gift ideas board. Get your handmade gift wrap ready and feast your eyes on these present ideas.

Gifts for dudes.

[Clockwise from top left] Boys smell! So a bar of ninja soap from Sapling Naturals will come in handy. Karate chop that stink – high-ya! Some rather swish push pins by Emma from The Lucky Fox. Simon Pilkington has designed a stationery poster exclusively for Folksy that the designer gent’ will appreciate. A guitar plectrum keyring is a rocking stocking filler for a dude. If he’s quoting Kevin McCallister all the way up to Christmas then a Home Alone t-shirt is perfect for the ‘Filthy Animal’.

Don’t forget to keep in touch over the holidays. Check out our official Facebook page, Twitter tweetage and pic-a-tures on Instagram xx

More gift ideas for Christmas

Making a gift? Check out our tutorials

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