Handmade Christmas Crafting
with Nerrisa Pratt
After connecting with the talented maker and author Nerrisa Pratt, also known as @nerrisaexplainsitall, at our recent Halloween Murder Mystery event, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to send her a selection of fabrics from our 2024 winter collection, just in time for her to transform them into a crafty creation as part of her ‘Handmade Christmas’ project.
With a range of hand-painted Hope & Ivy prints at her disposal, we sat down with Nerrisa to chat more about her festive plans to round out the year, her favourite pieces from our Timeless Tapestry collection, and of course, to get those all-important crafting tips from the expert!
H&I: Hi Nerrisa! Thanks so much for making time to chat to us today. Tell us a little more about ‘Nerrisa’s Handmade Christmas’ and how you’ve been counting down to the festive season this year...
Nerrisa: Hey! Thanks so much for having me. It’s a project I’ve wanted to do for such a long time and this year I decided no more waiting, it’s time to inspire the internet with my crafty Christmas ideas. I wanted to bring a range of inspiration, upcycling and ways to use what you have with a twist and so this felt like the perfect showcase for all of those projects.
H&I: We’re so delighted to have been able to give you this deadstock fabric to reimagine into a beautiful Christmas creation. What are some ways you’ve been able to incorporate recycling and sustainability into your crafting projects?
Nerrisa: Christmas is without a doubt the craftiest time of the year, but I often find myself watching content and thinking ‘well that’s going in the bin after’ and so I wanted to tackle the trends in a way that I can either re-upcycle them next year or just make things that I can use throughout the year. From stash-busting gifts to building a capsule collection of Christmas decorations, I really think I’ve hit the brief!
H&I: How did you get started on your crafting journey? Do you have any top tips for beginners looking to get creative with decorations and gifts this Christmas?
Nerrisa: My mum is an artist, so we were always encouraged to be creative, and I guess it started from there really. I got my first sewing machine aged 11 because I wanted to become a fashion designer and I’d always played with buying charity shop clothes and customising them, along with some very basic makes. When me and my now husband moved in together, the spare room became my crafting space and then I really locked in. I guess my best advice is just to give it a go. Will your first project probably be rubbish? Yes..., but will you learn a new skill that you can hone and master while having some much-needed mindful fun on the way? Also yes!
H&I: What’s your favourite Christmas tradition and how will you be celebrating this year?
Nerrisa: For me it’s all about crafting. It’s a nice mindful way to ease the hustle and bustle of the busiest time of year but also, there’s something so satisfying about having a loved one open something you made with your own two hands on Christmas Day – this year, I would say 80% of what I’m gifting, I’ve made by myself which is quite the achievement!
H&I: You look fantastic in our Cerise dress! What made you choose this design in particular, and do you have any other favourites from our most recent collection?
Nerrisa: Thank you, I’m such a fan of the vintage silhouette and in case it’s not clear by now, I’m also a huge colour lover. I love the subtle mixed print paired with clashing shades and of course the little feather detail makes it feel a little ‘extra’. I feel like this is one I’ll quite confidently wear to a range of occasions, from Christmas parties to festivals – can you imagine this paired with cowboy boots!? Dreamy.
H&I: The Christmas bow garland you’ve made using our fabrics is absolutely incredible! Would you be able to talk us through the process?
Nerrisa: Yes! I kept seeing the viral ‘bow garland’ on social media and so as soon as I saw this delicious bag of scraps, I just knew we needed our own Hope & Ivy version! For this no-sew bow, I made 6 bows in total, each one made up of two pieces cut to 6 inches by 15 inches. For the bow itself I folded over the two ends and used an elastic to secure it in the middle and then for the tail end, I did a loop knot to cover over the middle join. Finally, to piece the whole thing together, I used safety pins and pinned from the inside edge of the bow and went through both layers – that’s it! Super simple, a great way to use up scraps and the fabric is just perfect!
H&I: Well, we’ll certainly be giving Christmas crafting a go this December. Thank you so much for making such a beautiful, one-of-a-kind decoration using our festive fabrics and we hope you have a very Merry Christmas!