Matt Spiers

United Kingdom

Crochet Artist, Designer and Digital Assistant at Simply Crochet Magazine

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Articles

Millionaire’s shortbread

2 weeks ago | yourhomestyle.uk | Matt Spiers

Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Grease and line a 20cm (8in) square baking tin. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric hand whisk. Add the flour and cornflour and continue to whisk until you have a crumb consistency. Pour the mix into a the tin. Spread evenly and press down to create a smooth base. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove and leave to cool.
Madeleine strawberry picnic pots

2 weeks ago | yourhomestyle.uk | Matt Spiers

Take two jam jars and press a madeleine onto the base of each. Sprinkle with Cointreau or fruit juice and press again to flatten the sponge to cover the base evenly. Put half of the strawberries in a pan with the sugar and 50ml (1¾fl oz) water. Stir over a medium heat until very soft. Mash the fruit to a pulp with a fork then add the marshmallows. Stir into the hot fruit until they have completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.
Lemon summer grain salad

2 weeks ago | yourhomestyle.uk | Matt Spiers

Heat a griddle pan or grill to hot. Brush the courgettes with oil, sprinkle over the za’atar and cook in batches for 2 minutes on each side until tender and seared. Remove from the heat and set aside. Tip the peas into a pan of boiling water, cook for 3 minutes, then drain and set aside. Tip the pouches of grains into a large bowl and break up with a fork. For the dressing, whisk together the lemon zest and juice, harissa and 3 tbsp olive oil. Add to the grains and toss to coat evenly.
Cast-on our free sheep knitting pattern for spring!

Mar 17, 2025 | gathered.how | Matt Spiers

Meet Shula – Ann Franklin's sheep knitting pattern! Knitted in a combination of bramble stitch and garter stitch, she's a real cutie and the perfect spring project. Shula is created using 4ply and aran-weight Shetland wools from Jamieson & Smith to create a truly special finish – ideal for gift making. Bramble stitch is easier to work than you think: you just work two knit stitches and a yarn forward into one stitch. Keep scrolling to find our free sheep knitting pattern.
40+ Granny Square ideas to try today!

Mar 17, 2025 | gathered.how | Matt Spiers

40+ Granny Square ideas to try today!So you've whipped up a beautiful batch of granny squares, and now you're not sure what to do with them? Well we're here to help with tons of granny square ideas!If you're only just starting out on your crochet journey, catch up with the basics with our guide to How to make a granny square. And if you're looking for individual square patterns, you can find loads of them in our Free Granny Squares Patterns post! What to make with granny squares?
Impress your guests with these DIY Easter table decorations

Mar 4, 2025 | gathered.how | Matt Spiers

If you’re looking to get crafty and create your own Easter table decorations, then you’ve come to the right place!We’ve rounded up our favourite Easter table decorations ideas to help you celebrate the season. You’ll find a range of different projects to try, from unique place settings, simple table runners and show-off centrepieces. There’s something for everybody in this range of Easter table decorations, from simple papercraft place settings to epic floral arrangements.
Easter wreath ideas – 15 ways to celebrate spring with craft

Feb 22, 2025 | gathered.how | Matt Spiers

Easter wreath ideas – 15 ways to celebrate spring with craftWe love getting creative with our door decorations here at Gathered, so we’ve got loads of Easter wreath ideas for you to try. In this article, you’ll find a range of DIY Easter wreaths that suit all crafting abilities. From colouring-in wreaths to keep the kids entertained to more complicated makes for adults to try, we have plenty of Easter wreath ideas to keep you busy!15 Easter wreath ideas to try this spring1.
Make a unique spring gift for your loved ones with these 30 DIY Easter basket ideas

Feb 20, 2025 | gathered.how | Matt Spiers

Make a unique spring gift for your loved ones with these 30 DIY Easter basket ideasWhen I started thinking about Easter basket ideas, it took me straight back to my childhood – the Easter egg hunts around the garden, the cute little Easter bonnets me and my sister made and wore to school, and of course the all-important chocolate!Regardless of whether you follow the religious element of the holiday or not, Easter is the perfect time to celebrate the end of winter and the return of spring.
Capture nature with the latest craft trend – crochet flower granny squares!

Feb 1, 2025 | gathered.how | Matt Spiers

Capture nature with the latest craft trend – crochet flower granny squares!Crochet granny squares have been popular with crafters for decades, but there’s a new trend taking over – flower granny squares!These floral variants provide all the satisfaction of traditional granny squares, being quick to make, perfect for practising new stitches, easily customised with colour and simple to join together. Crochet is also a brilliant craft for capturing the natural beauty of flowers.
Banish that brain rot by discovering a world of creative crafts to do when bored

Jan 29, 2025 | gathered.how | Matt Spiers

You have the whole of the internet at your fingertips, unlimited entertainment available 24/7… and yet, somehow we still have the capacity to be bored!While technology and AI only get more evolved, as humans we’re becoming less satisfied… and more impatient. The Oxford word of the year for 2024 was in fact ‘brain rot’ - perfectly summing up our overconsumption of trivial and unchallenging information and media.