Innehållsförteckning för Issue 89 från Mollie Magazine

Spring has officially sprung in the Mollie Makes office, so this issue is all about the new. We’re taking style cues from Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2018, Ultra Violet – intended to evoke creative inspiration – showing off our crafting in different ways (woven clutch bag, anyone?) and bringing next-level cuteness to your felt-based makes with the adorable BFFs on page 18. There are also original takes on favourite techniques, like Katie Jones’ amazing crochet cushion on page 81, and easy ways to update your home, such as the painterly clay pots on page 63. Use them to display your spring blooms, then show off your newly-acquired skills using #molliemakers. Turn the page for more on your free gift! Then Turn to page 67 for your papers…

Rainy days just got a whole lot better thanks to Gudrun Sjoden’s monochrome mac. Its statement print fully overthrows any geek chic vibes your standard anorak might have, and as the UK tends to see more showers than sunshine, this fashion-forward jacket will definitely earn its keep. www.gudrunsjoden.com TOP READ Il-loom-inati In their new book, Weave This, The London Loom dream team Francesca Keltz and Brooke Dennis showcase weaving as you’ve never seen it before. From giant looms to fluorescent soumaks, we’re in love. www.hardiegrant.com Gray by Southwood Stores have brought back their apparel line for women. Soft organic cotton in feminine shapes deserves a spot in your wardrobe, so bag yourself a treat while stocks last. www.southwood-stores.myshopify.com When Lee Foster-Wilson decided to turn her design skills to terrazzo, only…

We all dream of that lightbulb moment when we identify the need for a niche product we can develop into a business. In the case of Tom Gyr, it came when his wife – calligrapher Gemma Milly (www.gemmamilly.com) – inspired him to start making calligraphy pens. Since then, Tom has turned pen design into a career, selling his creations around the world via his online shop as well as in Harrods and Quill London. Growing up, Tom spent summer holidays visiting his father, who worked as a designer at an arts university in Switzerland. Watching the students at work gave Tom a glimpse into the world of design and the impetus to pursue a similar career path. After studying in Newcastle, he worked as a graphic designer in London before…

HOW TO MAKE… A WOVEN CLUTCH BAG MATERIALS Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed, 20% wool/6%viscose/74% acrylic, 840m/920yd per 400g, one ball in Glencoe (929) (Yarn A) Women’s Institute Soft and Chunky, 70% acrylic/30% merino, 110m/120yd per 100g, one ball in Cream (Yarn B) WI Soft and Smooth Aran, 100% acrylic, 1000m/1094yd per 400g, one ball in Mustard (Yarn C) Tjockt Fat and Sassy Merino, 100% merino, 10m/11yd per 100g, one ball in Cloud (03) (Yarn D) KatiaConceptAllSeasonsCotton, 100% cotton, 130m/142yd per 50g, one ball in Off White (03) (Yarn E) Katia Peru, 40% wool/40%acrylic/20% alpaca, 106m/116yd per 100g, one ball in Black (02) (Yarn F) Loom, 100 x 40cm (39 /8 x 15¾") Tapestry needle 1m (39 /8") gold lining fabric 40 x 40cm (15¾ x 15¾") mustard velvet fabric…

HOW TO MAKE… A CROCHET BLANKET MATERIALS Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, 100% cotton, 85m/93yd per 50g, 19 balls in Paper White (246) (Yarn A) and one ball each in Peach Orange (655), Bubblegum Pink (651), Spearmint Green (626), Buttercup Yellow (623), Daffodil Yellow (622), Blush Pink (654) and Tea Rose (643) (all Yarn B) 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) crochet hook Tapestry needle Pom pom maker TENSION Each granny square is approx. 16 x16cm (6½ x 6½") ABBREVIATIONS  st(s) stitch(es) sp space (es) ch chain ch-sp chain space ss slip stitch dc double crochet tr treble yrh yarn round hook BLO work stitch through back loop only rep repeat pc popcorn st – work 5tr into the st or sp indicated, pull up the working yarn from last tr made…

HOW TO MAKE… A CLAY VASE AND POT MATERIALS Two packs of air-dry clay Clay tool Rolling pin Craft knife Masking tape Chopping board Greaseproof paper Glass jar, 7.5cm (3") diameter Glass jar, 9cm (3 /8") diameter Sandpaper Plain paper Dust mask Acrylic craft paint Metallic craft paint Paint brushes Varnish Hand-built ceramics are hot property right now, and the good news is you don’t have to be a master potter to get the look. Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in with air-dry clay, then embrace your inner artist and decorate your vessels with splashy, painterly patterns. We’ll be filling ours with pens, knitting needles or dried blooms, arranging them just so to show off our handiwork. Bear in mind air-dry clay isn’t watertight, so pop any live…

HOW TO MAKE… A BEADED NECKLACE MATERIALS White nylon beading thread Size 12 beading needles Cement glue (we used G-S Hypo Cement glue from Bead loom 19 strand flexible beading wire in gold Size 8 round seed beads in coral, pink, white and gold Sevenwhitestonebeads 1.5cm ( /8") Long-nose pliers Gold chain Four gold plated brass ribbon ends, 19mm (¾") Gold-plated jump rings Gold-plated clasp Two gold-plated crimps, 1.3mm ( /8") Playful graphic patterns and shiny gold hardware give this necklace the power to glam up everything from everyday denim and stripes to your LBD. The neat chevron sections (we’re living for that gold and peach colour combo) are woven on a bead loom with tiny seed beads – think of it as pixel art for jewellery. 01…

YOUR FREE GIFT BY CHLOE HARDISTY 01 Cut a length of pink thread roughly 30cm (11/8") long and tie a knot in the end. Thread the needle, then bring the needle up through the second hole down at the top left of the board, and start stitching the crosses, using the image as a guide. Make sure you consistently stitch the first diagonal arm of the cross in one direction, and the second diagonal arm over the top in the opposite direction, as it will look much neater this way. 02 At the end of a length of thread, knot the end at the back of the board and start again with another 30cm (11/8") length of pink thread. 03 Once both the words have been cross stitched, cut 18…

Tom Gyr Pen craftsman Tom used to work as a photographer for food start-ups and would often commute to work by kayaking along the Thames. He’s a big fan of Wes Anderson films – The Life Aquatic is one of his favourites. Read about Tom’s Studio on page 26. www.tomsstudio.co.uk Manuela Trani As a little girl, Manuela thought clouds were made of whipped cream. She wanted to be a mermaid when she grew up, but instead turned to crafting, naming her business Nuvolina, which means ‘little cloud’ in Italian. Find Manuela’s cute felt softies on page 18. www.nuvolinahandmade.etsy.com Lucy Tiffney Lucy grew up in Essex, making things with her friends and going on treasure hunts with her sisters. She’s now based in Colchester, and pours her passions for colour and…

MAKE IT! ULTRA VIOLET HOOP MATERIALS Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky, 100% acrylic, 136m/149yd per 100g, one ball in Pansy Purple (Yarn A) Stylecraft Special DK, 100% acrylic, 294m/322yd per 100g, one ball in Violet (Yarn B) Small amount of cream DK yarn Wooden embroidery hoop, 23cm (9 /8") diameter Wooden embroidery hoop, 16cm (6 /8") diameter Copper acrylic paint Wooden beads Paint brush 01 Separate the inner and outer parts of both embroidery hoops. Put aside the outer parts of the hoops as they won’t be used. Paint both inner hoop parts with copper paint and leave to dry. 02 Next, cut lengths of yarn for the tassels. Cut 75 80cm (31½") lengths from Yarn A, and cut 120 60cm (23 /8") lengths from Yarn B. 03 To make the…

HOW TO MAKE… PEARL EMBELLISHED JEANS MATERIALS Selection of small, medium and large pearl beads Selection of craft gems Jeans White sewing thread Sewing needle Fine sandpaper Fabric glue Unleash your inner pearly queen and adorn the heck out of your tired denim. Pearl-studded jeans are a trend we’ve seen all over the high street, just begging to be recreated with DIY couture. Nod to the craze with a demure polka dot sprinkling of tiny pearl beads, or go all-out and fade a cascade of them down the entire length of your jeans. And, who knew a string of pearls was what your knees had been missing this whole time? Wear your pearls, girls, and wear them on your legs. Pocket burst 01 Lay the jeans out on a clean,…

Go all David Attenborough and brush up on your butterfly identification skills with this old-school chart. Or, opt for Andy Warhol vibes instead with The Printed Peanut’s retro tin selection. www.theboyfrost.bigcartel.com; www.theprintedpeanut.co.uk Shopping vintage style doesn’t have to be expensive. Archivist’s letterpress printed matchboxes are mini works of art, and come with an equally small scale price tag. www.howkapow.com Working twice as hard as standard cushions, these novelty pillows are both squish-worthy – knitted in 100% alpaca yarn – and add character to your sofa. www.oeufnyc.com If this lamp’s ability to tilt at just the right jaunty angle isn’t enough to win you over, its condiment-inspired shade, English Mustard, will. www.amara.com Yes, we know you’ve already got a cupboard full of cups, but can you ever have too many? Make…

HOW TO MAKE… A PLAYMAT MATERIALS 1m (39 /8") each of two complementary printed cotton fabrics 0.5m (19¾") contrasting cotton fabric 1m (39 /8") lightweight wadding 3.5m cord, 0.5cm (¼") thick Two sets of press fasteners Press fastener tool 42 x 42cm (16½ x 16½") piece of paper 50cm (19¾") string Safety pin Tailor’s chalk Toys strewn as far as the eye can see may be a little one’s idea of heaven, but we’d be happier minimising those stepping-on-Lego moments. This playmat is an amazing solution and, frankly, we can’t shout loud enough about it. Lay it out flat and it’s a cushiony padded base for kids to play away on, then with a simple snap of a popper and a pull of the drawstring, the day’s playtime debris is…

HOW TO MAKE… A BABY BONNET MATERIALS Cascade 220 Superwash, 100% wool, 200m/220yd per 100g; one ball in Lemon (820) 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) circular knitting needle at least 40cm (15¾") long 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) crochet hook Stitch markers Tapestry needle 4.5cm (1¾") pom pom maker One 1.5cm (½") diameter button TENSION Approx. 18 sts and 25 rows to 10cm (4") over stocking stitch ABBREVIATIONS  st(s) stitch(es) k knit k2tog knit two sts together p purl ssk slip one st, slip one st, knit slipped sts together st st stocking st – knit one row, purl one row repeated yo yarn over psso pass slipped st over sl 1 slip one st knitwise RS right side WS wrong side FINISHED SIZE The bonnet is made in three…

I’ve always enjoyed cartoons and children’s books. Even as an adult, I consume kids’ content every day, with the excuse of having children! In fact, I usually buy children’s books for myself and ‘lend’ them to my kids. When thinking about my latest crochet book, Animal Friends of Pica Pau, I used that inspiration to make lists of animals, noting character details like clothing, shapes, and their way of speaking, then drew them in a thousand different notebooks. I tried to imagine how they’d look in crochet, and when I decided to include accessories, I tried not to add too many elements, keeping only the essential features that identify each character. For their back stories, I imagined a world where the characters could live together and interact. Sometimes the story…

Positive vibes only... “I love designing kits that are so simple they can be made in an evening – there’s nothing like the satisfaction of a finished project. I also love positive phrases or words all around my house, and ‘be kind’ is a favourite one of mine. I’m often asking my two young boys to be kind, so a little reminder hung up on the wall is no bad thing. Anything pink always gets my vote, but you could stitch the board with your own thread, or even paint the board a different colour first if you really wanted to personalise it!” Chloe Hardisty is mum to two little boys, and lives in Loughborough where she runs Cotton Clara, designing modern embroidery kits using laser cutting techniques. She loves…

From Etsy shops to blogs, one in five of us now have a sideline that fulfils something in us our day job doesn’t. For some, the ultimate dream is to jack in the job in favour of becoming your own boss, but that isn’t necessarily right for everyone. It’s perfectly possible to balance both, but how? First things first, figure out why you want a sideline. Think really carefully about this one. Just because you can do both, doesn’t mean you should. To succeed, you’ll need to set some gentle objectives and limitations, especially around what to do if it grows and demands more of your time. What’s your end goal? Eleanor Willock writes popular parenting blog The Bristol Parent (www.thebristolparent.com). “Having a ‘side hustle’ is absolutely possible, and you…

From the tropics of Borneo to Japan via Western signage, the detached 1910s home Lucy Tiffney shares with husband Tiff, teenage sons Leo and Frank, and Zed the cat, unites her experiences in a riot of joyful styling. Known for her murals and love of salvaged pieces, Lucy’s work merges seamlessly with her home in Colchester, Essex as “an amalgamation of creative life”. Lucy and her family have lived here for four years, moving in and updating, knocking through, rewiring, replastering and redecorating to create the modern space they needed for a growing brood. The interior has evolved over the years through Lucy “collecting stuff,” such as a ‘42’ plaque that a friend found by a railway and gave to her aged 18, and the kitchen’s oversized ‘Gas/Oil’ sign that…

HOW TO MAKE… A FLORAL PAPERCUT MATERIALS Craft knife Replacement craft knife blades Cutting mat One sheet of white A4 paper, 120gms Colour printer Mint, pink and orange paper Pale pink A4 paper Craft glue Take the simple pleasure of cutting and sticking, and add Scandi-inspired florals into the mix. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you rustle up Mother’s Day-worthy wall art that’s sure to impress pattern-loving mamas. We especially like how you can play around with the coloured papers you layer your design with, creating a one-of-a-kind palette. Swap in monochrome, pastels or brights to find your colour pop sweet spot. 01 Print or photocopy the papercut template on page 98 onto the sheet of white A4 paper. 02 Lay the printed or copied template sheet onto the…

HOW TO MAKE… A CROCHET CUSHION MATERIALS Knitcraft Cotton Blend Plain DK, 50% cotton/50% acrylic, 215m/235yd per 100g, one ball each in Yellow (Yarn A), Red (Yarn B), Light Blue (Yarn C), Green (Yarn D), Light Pink (Yarn E), Black (Yarn F), and White (Yarn G) Tapestry needle 43 x 43cm (17 x 17") cushion pad TENSION A four round granny square should measure approx. 10 x 10cm (4 x 4") ABBREVIATIONS (UK) st(s) stitch(es) sp(s) space(s) ch chain ch-sp(s) chain space(s) ss slip stitch dc double crochet htr half treble tr treble dtr double treble beg beginning gap gap between sts or group of sts FINISHED SIZE Approx. 43 x 43cm (17 x 17") Ready to take your granny squares to the next level and crank up the retro…

HOW TO MAKE… SCREEN PRINTED CUSHIONS MATERIALS 100% pure silk scarf Wooden embroidery hoop, 12.5cm (5") diameter Clear Mod Podge Fabric printing paint, 100ml in each Wheat and Midnight (ours were from Foam paint dabbers, 3.5cm (1 /8") Fine paint brush Medium-weight cartridge paper Plain linen cushion covers Always fancied yourself as a printmaker? Us too. And now we’ll be cheating our way to surface pattern glory, armed with our own simple hoop screen. The beauty of this project is there’s no fancy, super-specialist kit required, so you can get cracking right away; printing single statement motifs or all-over pattern repeats. Ready-made cushion covers are a great starting point for your new print obsession, and these bold, entomology-inspired designs will instantly update your bed or sofa for spring. 01…