Behind the scenes at Making Time.

On guardian.co.uk you get to see a nice tasty picture of something I’ve made looking lovely. Over here you get to see how I took the photo. That’s my feet in my PJs, with the housemate’s Christmas cards peeking in the corner, a random hanger and the TV stand.

This week I made two things that competed for the title of Things Perri Will Tell Other People To Make On The Guardian Website. Homemade crackers and this wreath. The wreath came in first, mostly because it fitted in so nicely with a little piece about Kirstie’s show. Crackers to be snapper later on in the week.

I think I have been bitten on the arse by craft karma.

I feel like I’ve been a bit mean tonight.

I did enjoy Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas. I really did. I might not agreed with the show’s view of what constitutes Good Handmade Stuff, but I’m glad it made it past the commissioning stages at Channel 4. I’m sure the team who made it had to satisfy a lot of People In TV who know nothing about craft.

In other news, I’ve just spent the only free moments I had today and yesterday crocheting something wrong. Very wrong. Which is a massive waste of time.

Maybe it’s craft karma for being so negative about the show?

Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas, part three: the verdict.

She came, she crafted. She used gold leaf that cost £30 to cover some pears. She made some crackers. It was ok. I wasn’t bowled over. I even considered switching over to something else at one point.

I don’t really have much else to say apart from that.

The verdict: meh. Sorry Kirstie. It’s not you, it’s the people behind you who chose the crafts. Do better next time.

Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas part two: the verdict.

10 things I have to say about tonight’s Channel 4 show:

1. People are very very horrible about Kirstie over on Twitter.

2. Personally, I like her. Yes, she is a bit middle-class and a *bit* annoying, but would you rather watch this, or some of the rest of the crap that is on TV?

3. Cinnamon sticks have been very over-used in tonight’s show. They should not have been. They are very naff. As is tinsel.

4. My mum could out-wrap my Kirstie any day. Her wrapping is one million times better than hers.

5. Teddy bears are really expensive to make. Like, really expensive. Don’t fancy that then? Check out FeltMistress’s stuff. It’s much much nicer.

6. Soap takes six weeks to set properly. Which means that a show that teaches you how to do it in the first week of December is a bit weird. Me thinks something went wrong with timings there.

7. Apparently there have been musings that Kirstie’s lettering, “WOW”, in her kitchen, stand for World of Warcraft.

8. I can get very jealous. I am jealous that I don’t have my own craft TV show.

9. I may seem a bit negative, but really, I do enjoy watching this show.

10. 4Homes‘ website is better than the TV show. There are much better ideas over there.

Verdict: again, too traditional for me, but still a good night of TV.

For more wonderful musings on the show, take a look at Guardian TV editor Vicky Frost’s brilliant blog.

This man is a nice man.

If you are in London on Christmas on your own, this lovely gentleman is doing a free festive craft workshop.

You can find a little piece from me in this edition of The Knitter.

I’ve written part two of their Behind the Scenes series. Hope you like.

Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas: the verdict.

Props to Kirstie for getting craft on Channel 4. For that, I’ll always give her nuff respect. And all the people she features – if they get just a quid more from sales, class bookings, whatever, I’m very happy. Plus, if it makes people make, that can only be a Good Thing.

But for me, the wreaths, the cards, everything was just a little bit 90s. The stuff my mum used to decorate her house with.

I’ll get you some pictures of my house when I go back home. My mum absolutely bossing the decorations mix. It takes her a few days to put them up and then we have to take them down in stages otherwise the house looks so empty.

Verdict for tonight’s show: not so inspiring for me, but still glad it’s on telly. Will watch again.

Ooooh, this is a wonderful Guardian Making Time slot this week.

Look how awesome this is! A beautiful shoulder thing. I really love it. I’d like one please.

I’m tweeting about Kirsty Alsopp’s Homemade Christmas over on Twitter.

In case you cared.

Everyone loves a bit of craftivism. Even 80-year-old knitters.

“An 80-year-old climate change activist has been busy knitting blue hats for Bradford on Avon marchers who will be heading for London tomorrow to take part in a mass demonstration.”

Well done Sheila Blethyn.