The heavy metal maker

It’s so easy to get bogged down when crochet goes awry, isn’t it? Imagine, you’re making good progress with something and then the yarn breaks, the stitch count is way off or the whole thing is too bi

We discover the secret recipe behind the illustrator’s unique style and how she uses her sketchbook as a medium to test out new tools

■ Yarnsmiths Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/106m) 1 ball of each: Black (3000) Just Purple (3324) White (3040) Carrot (3126) ■ A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook ■ A stitch marker ■ Toy stuffing ■ 24 safety eyes

Inspired by the tones and textures of the Brecon Beacons, designer Dee Hardwicke shares her philosophical approach to knitting with a global community of crafters and blue-chip clients

There’s a photograph of me, age 4 – my pink-cheeked, chubby face is set against the marbled blue backdrop inextricably linked with school photos from the 1990s. I am wearing a frothy white wedding dre

The Lost Bear Studios founder on the spark behind his passion, why he keeps a secret sketchbook and his advice for budding artists