Stratford - 20 to Make: Mini Christmas Knits

Repeat these instructions until the cord is long enough. By pulling the yarn behind the stitches on the needle, you close the gap and give the appearance of French knitting. Alternatively, you can work the stitches in stocking stitch and sew up the seam. Mattress stitch This is a really neat way to join two pieces of stocking stitch together. The seam is practically invisible and not at all bulky. Begin by laying the work side by side with the right side facing you.

Thread a darning needle with yarn and slip your needle through the horizontal bar between the first and second stitch of the first row on one piece and then repeat this process on the opposite piece. Work back and forth up this line of stitches for about 2.5cm (1in). Gently pull the yarn in the direction of the seam (upwards) and you will see the two sets of stitches join together. Repeat this process until you reach the top of the seam. Wrap and turn This technique ensures you do not end up with a hole in your knitting when working short row shaping and turning your work mid row. Slip the following stitch from the left needle to the right needle.

Move the yarn from the back to the front of the work, between the needles, and slip the stitch back to the left-hand needle. Turn the work. Moss stitch Row 1: (K1, P1) to end of row. Row 2: (P1, K1) to end of row. Therefore, on the second row you are purling the stitches you have knitted on Row 1 and knitting the stitches you have purled on Row 1. French knots Bring the needle up from the back of the work through to the front and wind the yarn around the needle twice.

Take the needle through the work, half a stitch away, holding the loops around the needle with your finger while pulling the yarn through to the back of your work. Fasten off. Blanket stitch Thread a darning needle with yarn and bring to the front of your work about 1cm (in) from the edge. Leaving a small gap along the edge of the work, take the needle to the back of the work approximately 1cm (in) in from the edge and bring it back to the front at the edge of the knitting. Loop your yarn under the needle and pull it through until it lays neatly against the emerging yarn. Repeat this process.

Making up All the mini knits are sewn together using a darning needle and the same yarn the item has been knitted in. If any other needles (e.g. a sewing needle) are required, they are shown on the individual patterns.

Twinkling Star Materials: Gold 4 ply yarn Sequin yarn Spare needle/stitch holder Toy filling Needles: 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) knitting needles Measurements: Approx. 8cm (3in) across from point to point