Innehållsförteckning för March 2019 från Mollie Magazine

...to our first ever sustainably themed issue! From refashioning old clothes to crafting with naturally dyed yarns, us makers have always been a dab hand at creating sustainably, whether we knew it or not. So, this month we’re showing you how to take small steps towards making a big change. We talk to ethical brands to find out how we can buy more thoughtfully, we’ve got simple ideas for living in a more eco-friendly way, and we’ve got lots of amazing projects for you, from a chunky crochet cowl to a plastic flower wreath. After all, being a sustainable maker doesn’t mean you can’t still be colourful and creative! And, as far as possible, we’ve featured sustainable products, brands and materials throughout the magazine. Together we can make a difference,…

LEADING THE WAY IN INDUSTRY STANDARDS, Lucy and Yak have been ahead of the pack from the get go. Not content with making the comfiest dungarees, boiler suits and other iconic styles, they’re also dedicated to making sure everyone involved, from production to customer, is happy and treated fairly. A living wage employer with a strong green ethos, check out the sections on their blog about fibres, packaging, and how they’re continuously improving. Can you tell they’re a firm Mollie fave? www.lucyandyak.com RE-USABLE NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD. We all know those non-recyclable coffee cups are a no-no. Meet instead the ceramic travel cup from Libby Ballard Ceramics, which is a big yes-yes. Hand-thrown by maker Libby, then glazed by pouring and dipping, each piece is unique and embraces the beauty…

Cupboards stuffed full of crafting supplies and secret stashes of yarn squirrelled away alongside half-finished projects – sound familiar? Magpie behaviour seems to be in our nature as makers. But, as we all become more aware of the amount of waste we create and the unnecessary plastics in our lives, it might be time to explore the changes we could make for our planet. From transforming a shabby thrifted sideboard with a lick of chalk paint to turning a old jumper into a new cushion cover, there are lots of creative ways you can satisfy your making urges. REUSE AND RECYCLE Embracing a make-do-and-mend attitude in your current projects can be a great way of reducing waste. Elli Beaven of Wholecloth Studio (www.wholecloth.co.uk) makes gorgeous quilts from unwanted fabrics. “A…

“This time I decided to decorate differently, buying only what we needed.” For as long as I can remember, I’ve filled our home with second-hand finds and vintage treasures. My journey into eco-friendly living started long before I read anything about sustainability; I’d spend days happily rummaging through charity shops and scouring car boot sales for brightly coloured retro printed mugs and plates. Ten years later and my styling tastes have changed, but my love for second-hand is as strong as ever. I live on the South Coast with my two children, Ben (10) and Daisy (6), in a rented mid-70s terraced house. When we moved in it was dated and tired looking – the walls were covered in chipped Artex, the bathroom floor was peeling and the carpets were…

HOW TO MAKE PLANT-DYED LINEN MATERIALS 3m (118 1/8") Irish linen fabric Onion skins Fabric scissors Matching sewing thread Tape measure Oak gall extract powder Alum Soda ash Two large pots with lids Long-handled spoon pH neutral soap Two heatproof jars Gloves Dust mask Protective eye wear Looking to get into plant dyeing? This project will put you through your paces – a runner and napkin set dyed with onion skins. The linen fabric will help you nail that boho, crumpled-just-so look, then of course you’ll need to gather some pals round for supper to show off your new natural beauties. Mordanting When working with alum and soda ash mordants, always work in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves, a dust mask and eye protection. It’s a two-step mordant, so…

HOW TO MAKE WOVEN BOOKMARKS MATERIALS Wooden picture frame, approx. 24 x 31cm (9½ x 12¼") Hammer Nails or tacks Cotton string Scraps of yarn Yarn needle Cardboard Fork Dream big, start small – that’s our motto when it comes to weaving. Think of these striped bookmarks as your gateway to the craft, as all you’ll need are yarn odds and ends from your stash and an old picture frame. They’re quick to make with simple weaving techniques and a bit of colour play. Plus, at the end of it you’ll have a DIY mini loom you can use over and over again. 01 To create a loom, start by removing the glass from the picture frame. With a ruler and pen, mark 11 notches on the picture frame, 0.5cm…

HOW TO MAKE A PLASTIC WREATH MATERIALS Plastic bags Plastic bottles, 250ml and 500ml Two wire coat hangers Small and medium pom pom makers Small candle Spray paints in pastel colours Glue gun Florist wire Pliers Single-use plastic? Not on our watch. It’s time for the contents of your recycling box, and that bag of bags you’ve stuffed under the kitchen sink, to come into their own. Empty bottles become wild and beautiful flowers and plastic bags become fluffy pom poms or carnation-style blooms. It’s the new life they deserve, and it’s a whole lot kinder than landfill. Pom poms 01 For each pom pom, use approximately three or four single-use supermarket shopping bags. If the bags are bigger or smaller, you may need a different quantity. You’ll need to…

YOUR GIFT BY BETHAN JANINE MATERIALS 10cm (4") embroidery hoop (optional) Thin paint brush or knitting needle 01 Using the stitch guides on page 92, and referring to the image, add the embroidered details. Use two strands of aqua thread and make five French knots on the bottom right flower, add straight stitches to the top flower on the neck garland and a cross stitch to the bottom flower. Using two strands of pink thread make a cross stitch on the top right flower, a French knot on the middle flower, and straight stitches to the ears and middle flower on the neck. Use two strands of yellow thread and add straight stitches and a French knot on the remaining flowers. 02 Follow the dotted lines to cut around the…

The way we shop is changing, with a growing number of people flexing their social conscience by moving away from fast-fashion and cheap as chips, mass-produced items, towards beautiful, ethical products from independent makers and brands. There’s a collective urge to want to make a positive impact when we buy, but why should we be making more informed shopping choices and what exactly does it mean to be an ethical business? THROWAWAY SOCIETY There’s no escaping the fact that as a society we shop too much, buy things we don’t need and don’t often stop to think about the effect it might have on our fellow humans, animals or the planet. But, slowly people are realising that we can’t – and shouldn’t – go on this way. Last year, in…

HOW TO MAKE A CROCHET BASKET MATERIALS ■ Bobbiny 3mm Cotton Cord, 100% recycled cotton, 100m/109yd per 250g, one hank in Natural (Yarn A) ■ Diall Jute Twisted Rope 10mm thick, 100% jute, 10m/11yd per hank, one hank (Yarn B) (ours was from www.diy.com) ■ Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, 100% cotton, 85m/93yd per 50g, one ball each in Raspberry Pink (644) (Yarn C), Vintage Pink (656) (Yarn D), Mustard Yellow (624) (Yarn E) and Slate Green (627) (Yarn F) ■ 6mm (UK 4, US J/10) crochet hook ■ Stitch marker ■ Yarn needle TENSION Tension is not important for this design, just aim for a firm fabric ABBREVIATIONS (UK)  st(s) stitch(es) ch chain ss slip stitch dc double crochet BLO work stitch through back loop only FLO work stitch through…

HOW TO MAKE A BERBER-STYLE RAG RUG MATERIALS 1m (39 3/8") hessian (ours was from Matching thread Sewing needle Marker pen Rag rug spring tool Rag rug gauge Fabric scissors 10 scrap fabrics in different colours, approx. 40 x 50cm (15¾ x 19¾") of each, or one half of a medium-sized ladies T-shirt Interpreting a classic craft in a new way is what really floats our boat, so this project is a total dream. Moroccan-inspired design, glorious texture and time-honoured techniques – it’s everything a bare floor could wish for. And the best part is, you’ll be repurposing redundant pieces from your fabric stash or wardrobe to craft your one-of-a-kind rag rug. Bear in mind that the softer and thinner a fabric is the easier it is to work…

HOW TO MAKE A GATHERED SKIRT MATERIALS Oversized dress Non-roll elastic, 2.5cm (1") wide Matching sewing threads Tape measure Fabric scissors Tailor’s chalk Raise a hand if you’ve ever bought a charity shop piece in the wrong size because you’re smitten with the fabric, vowed to ‘do something’ with it and then let it flounder in the back of the cupboard? Yep, us too. This project’s here to help you work fairy godmother magic on those overlooked garments at long last. With the simplest of sewing techniques, an oversized dress can emerge anew as a swishy gathered skirt. And once you’ve got the basics down you’ll be dreaming up all kinds of ways to transform your thrifted finds, resulting in a more thoughtful wardrobe and no excuse not to rock…

“I try to be responsible with every choice.” My products are made using low impact and recycled materials and I’m passionate about combining high quality craftsmanship, contemporary design and ethical handcrafting. It’s difficult to be 100% sustainable – everyone measures it differently. I try to be responsible with every material choice. Fellow makers will understand this isn’t only time consuming, it’s usually more expensive! Plus, sometimes an ethical decision in one area can flag up a financial/design/ethical choice in another. As long as we’re all doing what we can, within the boundaries of our practice, that’s what’s important. An incredible opportunity came up for me last year – a chance to take on my own shop. Can you believe it? I’m hoping to open PRIOR at the end of February,…

HOW TO MAKE CREATIVE REPAIRS MATERIALS For the kintsugi Epoxy for ceramics Gold metallic paint Paint brush Plastic beaker or similar Wooden skewer Broken ceramics For the napkins Fabric paint Pencil Paint brush Stained napkins or textiles For the patching Scrap fabric Embroidery thread Embroidery needle Tailor’s chalk Ripped jeans or similar Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold or patchwork elements. The now-precious scars honour the story of the item and it can carry on being used and loved. And that’s not the only way that flaws can become beautiful features – painting, patching and embroidery can be called into play to fix rips, cover up stains and give worn-down pieces a new lease of life. All aboard the mending train. Kintsugi 01 Put a…

Husband and wife duo Jeska and Dean Hearne seek out items with timeless qualities, created by people with a passion for what they do. Not only does their beautifully curated shop sell homewares and clothing built to last, they also share the love by donating 1% of all sales to environmental non profit groups. www.thefuturekept.com…