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Dressing the Christmas tree

Dressing the Christmas tree is a lovely ritual in which all the family can participate. Choose a time when you can work in an unhurried way – ideally towards the end of the afternoon or early evening so that the lights can be switched on with a degree of ceremony when it gets dark.

The idea of the ‘styled’ tree, with all the objects newly bought to fit in with an agreed colour scheme, is anathema to the homemade approach. Instead, bring out vintage decorations that have become family heirlooms since your own childhood and beyond, plus newer ones made by hand, perhaps some of them by the children in your life. Homemade items bring an energy all of their own to the tree, adding to its significance as a family talisman, loaded with memories and associations, from year to year.

Like the eggs on the Easter tree, your collection of homemade tree decorations will become a treasured possession that you can add to year by year. As well as making pieces, such as the embroidered felt shapes on the next page, we also buy a few new or second-hand items every so often – from vintage finds on eBay to those picked up on trips around the country or travels abroad.

Less is most definitely less when it comes to tree decoration. In our book, you can’t have enough decorations and we load our trees with this eclectic mix of old and new until there is very little greenery showing in between.