Woman's Weekly

Every year I make some crocheted stars and attach them to presents that I’m gifting. The recipient can save them and use them again year after year, to either hang on their Christmas tree or display around their home. Pat Hughes, by email Seasons g

The 27 curlews released into Dartmoor National Park this year have had quite the journey! Curlew eggs were first rescued by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust from RAF Airfields, then popped into warm incubators. The fluffy hatchlings had ‘mum mops’ – the

Former nurse Kecia McDougall, 57, is director and distiller at Tayport Distillery in Fife, which produces an award-winning range of spirits including eau de vie, vodka and gin. I have always loved experimenting with distilling at home. I come from O

A whole new world of cycling has been opened up, thanks to the e-bike. They’re tearing down physical barriers, getting more people in the saddle and helping level the two-wheeled playing field between family members. And, yes, they’re good for your h

Three years ago, as Christmas approached, mum of four Kirsty Drury was trying to focus on her family’s coming festivities. But she was distracted by symptoms of what seemed like recurring conjunctivitis. ‘I work as a senior manager, putting in long

1 Remington Proluxe Midnight Straighteners, £99, uk.remington-europe.com 2 L’Occitane Almond Festive Bauble, £12, uk.loccitane.com 3 Rodial At Home Facial Edit, £25, lookfantastic.com 4 Escentuals Peony Eau de Parfum, £12.99 for 100ml, amazon.co.uk

Josie Dom, 51, is a children’s author and lives in Essex with her 16-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. Christmases as a child for me were steeped in family traditions. My mum bought decorations for me and my brother Karl, now 52, to hang on the

Jen hitched up her stripy green tights, adjusted her collar with bells on and straightened her bobble hat. Never in a million years did she imagine, at the age of 49, she’d be working as one of Santa’s little helpers in a Christmas grotto. ‘Can you

✔ Make the salad dressing. ✔ Whizz the turkey butter and prepare the turkey. ✔ Make and wrap the stuffing balls. ✔ Slow-cook the ham and prepare the glaze. ✔ Prep the butternut squash ready for roasting. ✔ Parboil the potatoes and toss them in the po

Love the classic Monopoly board game but itching to go further than Mayfair? With this travel-themed edition, properties have been swapped for destinations around the world, including Angkor Wat and the Great Barrier Reef. Players buy them up, comple

Not many people know that you can get varicose veins in your pelvis as well as your legs. But if you have them in your legs you may have them here too, because around one in six women with leg varicose veins also have them coming from their pelvis.

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching, known as bruxism, may often be related to anxiety, stress or sleep problems. It may not always cause symptoms, but can lead to facial pain and headaches, and will eventually wear down teeth surfaces over time, leadin

I’m in the garden centre pushing my trolley and have already chosen two poinsettia plants to give as presents. I’ve bought holly and ivy to make a display for the village hall and, on a whim, I’ve also flung in a big spray of mistletoe. Wishful think

10 November-23 December There’s been a Christmas market in Cardiff for about 30 years – it has more than 130 stalls lining the wide pedestrianised streets close to Cardiff Castle. The focus is on handmade and artisan wares, from jewellery to upcycle

You don’t have to have seen well-known Christmas films such as Miracle on 34th Street and Home Alone 2 to know that New York is famous for its festive atmosphere. From al fresco skating rinks to towering light-strung trees, opulent store window displ

Grasses have become hugely popular over the past 10 years – and with good reason. These low-maintenance lovelies have a long season of interest, with sculptural forms, lush leaves and textured flower heads that appear in summer and last through winte

Wake up, sleepy head!’ Frank peered blearily at the clock. ‘But, Carol, it’s only eight o’clock. What’s the rush?’ He reached for her, but she moved out of his way. ‘I don’t want to waste a single second. We need an early breakfast so we can do justi

TESTED BY US so they work for you Difficulty level ✣ A photocopier ✣ Tracing paper and pencil ✣ One 30 x 20cm square of felt in pink, turquoise, purple and yellow ✣ Two 30 x 20cm squares of felt in green, lilac, red and cream ✣ Bonding web ✣ Stranded

Difficulty level TESTED BY US so they work for you ✣ 40cm of 110cm-wide ruby linen fabric ✣ Tracing paper ✣ Sharp HB pencil ✣ 30cm embroidery hoop ✣Large-eyed crewel embroidery needle ✣Size 9 crewel embroidery needle ✣1 skein of stranded cotton embro

Difficulty level TESTED BY US so they work for you To fit bust 82 (87) (92) (97) (102) (107) (112) cm/32 (34) (36) (38) (40) (42) (44) in. Actual measurements 90 (97) (105) (112) (119) (126) (134) cm/35½ (38½) (41¼) (44) (46¾) (49¾) (52½) in. Side se

Difficulty level Approx 12-13cm/4¾-5in tall, excluding ribbon. 1 x 100g (295m) ball of Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic) in each of Dark Brown (1004) and White (1001), and small amount of Red (Matador 1010) and Green (Apple 1852)*. Size 3mm croche

THE STORY SO FAR: 1927. Clara works alongside her friend Irene in the china and glass department of Denton’s department store. Both girls love watching romantic films at the Ruby cinema, and Irene, in particular, has a vivid imagination when it comes

Opening the opulent silk curtains in her bedroom, Carrie gasped at the beauty of the morning as winter sunlight shone on the garden. With the dusting of frost that had settled on the trees, it looked as if nature had started the Christmas decorating

Lizzie lay under the duvet, unable to sleep, thoughts whizzing round her head. It was three weeks until Christmas and there was so much to do. There were many items she needed to add to the supermarket shopping list for a start. Glacé cherries for t