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Clean girl aesthetic

Indulge in self-care while also caring for the planet with a set of reusable face wipes tucked away in a cute basket. Grab the Spa Bathroom Crochet Kit for £35 at www.stitchingmesoftly.co.uk to hook a practical set of five washable face wipes in a choice of two different sizes, plus a super-easy basket to put them in, all using 100% recycled cotton cord.

LET’S EVOLVE

At the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace in October, TOFT put on an interactive exhibit with two gigantic butterfies hooked by designer and founder Kerry Lord and her team. Attendees were invited to stitch spots for the butterflies’ wings, and could buy new TOFT butterfly kits with £3 from each sale going to mental health charities. Visit www.toftuk.com

SCIENCE IN STITCHES

Heads up, biology fans! The Phage Beanie, designed by biologist and pharmaceutical researcher Ali Yesilkanal, looks like a normal hat at first glance, but if you look closely, the cabling is is shaped like bacteriophages – a type of virus.“There are endless motifs and shapes in nature that are awe-inspiring,” says Ali.“I wanted to see if I could bring some of these motifs into my knitting and crocheting.”The pattern is £6.34 at AlisFiberArts on Etsy.

WILD AND WONDERFUL

For a modern take on animal toys for little ones, check out the new book Animal Friends of Pica Pau 3 by Argentine designer Yan Schenkel (aka Pica Pau). As you may have guessed, this is the third book in Yan’s Animal Friends series, and it includes 20 amigurumi patterns inside. Meet – and make – Cosmo Snail (pictured here), Gilbert Rabbit, Horacio Polar Bear, Greta Hen and many others. These cuties are all hooked in muted shades of blue and orange and wear a variety of adorable outfits – you’ll make trousers, skirts, hats, striped shirts and even cardigans for your new animal buddies. These unique and characterful creatures are sure to delight kids and adults alike, so pick up a copy of the book for £16.95 on www.amigurumi.com