On the days when Rosie Sowerby rolls up her sleeves and puts on her apron and mob cap to bake her award-winning Lakeland gingerbread, the air surrounding her little cottage is filled with a deliciously warm and spicy aroma. Gather the ingredients from your yarn cupboard and follow the knitting recipe, adding a touch of stuffing here and a little bit of embroidery there, and soon you will have your own piggy baker, or a perfectly sweet gift for someone you know who just loves to bake.

With sugar and spice in every slice,
Rosie’s gingerbread’s bound to entice

You will need: Of Hayfield Bonus DK, 100g balls: 22g in White 961, 16g each in Pink 992 and Flesh Tone 963, 14g in Aran 993, 12g in Powder Blue 960, 4g each in Peaches 888 and Wheat 816, 2g in Bluebell 969; 1g oddments of beige and golden brown DK yarn; 18in (50cm) lengths of black and dusky pink DK yarn; pair of 3mm (no.11) knitting needles; 90g of washable toy stuffing; long tweezers; pink pencil; a plastic drinking straw; clear adhesive; hair spray.