Innehållsförteckning för December 2020 från Mollie Magazine

Sunlight streams through the window at Maryanne’s industrial-style studio, falling softly onto the chunky threads of mustard-coloured yarn that she’s weaving on a large statement loom. With music playing softly in the background and a cup of tea in hand, she recounts fondly the childhood memories that sparked her magpie-like obsession with colourful fabrics and tactile yarns. The youngest of six children, with “little money for luxuries”, she’d spend many an hour playing in the dress-up sections of charity shops, trying on treasures and marvelling over the array of textiles, each with a story to be told. Now, after a spell living in New York, she’s back in her home town of Melbourne bringing up her two children, Murray, eight, and Rudi, five. Covid has kept them home for many…

BOOKMARK KRYSTLE COLLINS Brooklyn-based Krystle is the designer-maker behind Create The Culture, a contemporary brand producing embroidered home décor and wall art that celebrates Black women in all their glory. You can also shop her DIY craft kits to stitch your own versions of her work, aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of Black culture within this mindful art form. www.krystlecollinsart.com 01 If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love anyone else? Championing confidence and female friendship in one standout design, Anu’s feel-good print also comes as a download, giving you an instant art fix. www.speaking artshop.etsy.com 02 Abstract line drawings are where it’s at right now, but if your walls are already heaving, try this cosy version. Certified sustainable by Goodweave, this super soft organic cotton…

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but for makers and small business owners it can be exhausting. As you pour your creativity and time into making, promoting and selling you get a real buzz of excitement and adrenaline. But, once the festive period passes and the creative hangover sets in, it’s important to allow yourself space to rest and recover. “As the saying goes, nothing in nature blooms all year round, and we shouldn’t expect ourselves to either. You’ve been putting a lot of energy into being visible online, creating content, keeping an eye on stock levels, making up new stock, and packing and sending orders, so you’re going to need a break,” points out creative business coach Josephine Brooks (www.josephinebrooks.co.uk). NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS You are your…

Maryanne Moodie Once a 60s go-go dancer for a comedy troupe, Melbourne-based weaver Maryanne Moodie has a love of dance as well as an obsession with yarn. She takes inspiration from the fibres she finds, and lets them dictate the flow of the artworks she creates. Look around Maryanne’s colourful studio on page 40. www.maryannemoodie.com Chloe Redfern Chloe loves animals and spending time outdoors in nature, often taking photographs to gather inspiration for her embroidery designs. She loves listening to tunes while working, particularly instrumental folk music, and would love to learn to play the accordion one day. Embroider Chloe’s beaded decorations on page 45. www.chloeredfern.co.uk Nerrisa Pratt Nerrisa wanted to be a fashion designer when she was a child, making clothes for her dolls, and still lives that fantasy…

HOW TO MAKE A KNITTED CARDIGAN MATERIALS CascadeLanaGrande100% wool, 100g/80m per ball, 10 (11, 12, 13) balls in Sienna (6029) (we got ours from 10mm (UK 000, US 15) knitting needles 8mm (UK 0, US 11) knitting needles 8mm (UK 0, US 11) circular needle, 120cm (47") long Cable needle Yarn needle Stitch markers Safety pins TENSION Approx 9 sts and 16 rows over 10 x 10cm (4 x 4") in moss st on 10mm needles ABBREVIATIONS  st(s) stitch(es) k knit p purl k2tog knit two sts together inc increase – work into the front and back of a st pm place st marker RS right side WS wrong side c8f cable 8 front – slip next 8 sts from left needle onto cable needle and hold to…

HOW TO MAKE A BARGELLO PLANT HANGER MATERIALS DMCTapestryWoolin7790 (lilac), 7255 (purple), 7214 (coral), 7439 (orange) and 7500 (cream) Tapestry needle, size 18 10-count plastic canvas Macramé cord Four D-rings Plant pot Ruler We’re always on the lookout for the latest craft trends, and love it when a forgotten fave gets attention. This season, it’s all about bargello – its retro colour-clash patterns have been cropping up all over the shop. A simple, mindful craft, bargello is a type of embroidery that uses flat stitches to create geometric impact. Once you’ve got the first row down, just echo that shape in repeating rows – preferably with a contrasting palette. Inspired by Missoni’s statement prints, Nerissa’s 70s-style make is also an update on another retro fave – macramé. Using both…

HOW TO MAKE BEADED DECORATIONS MATERIALS Wool-blendfeltindarkblue, very dark blue, yellow, rust and orange (ours was from Sewing thread in yellow and orange Yellow embroidery thread Gold metallic thread Gold Miyuki bugle beads, 6mm (¼") (ours were from Bronze Miyuki bugle beads, 3mm ( 1/8") Miyuki seed beads, size 10, in gold and rose gold Soft toy stuffing Invisible thread Embroidery needle, size 10 An ode to the iconic star and moon motifs of the 90s, these gorgeous ornaments make for a festive project that can be done in a day. But, don’t think they’re just for Christmas – display them all year round, or turn yours into keyrings, pincushions and more. These miniature makes are a great way to get into beading, letting you play…

HOW TO MAKE TIE DYE LOUNGEWEAR MATERIALS RITDyeMoreSyntheticFibreDye in Super RIT Liquid All Purpose Dye in Aquamarine RIT Liquid All Purpose Dye in Fuschia Elastic bands Protective gloves Joggers (ours were a cotton blend) T-shirt (ours was 100% cotton) Table salt Two squeezy plastic bottles Large stainless steel pan Disposable grill rack Baking tray Measuring jug Plastic bag If anything’s certain in this world, it’s that loungewear’s here to stay. But, that doesn’t mean you should settle for an old pair of PJs and a tired tee. The latest looks are all about throwing it back to tie dye, levelling up sweats with abstract rainbow patterns and psychedelic colour bursts. Perk up clothes from the back of your wardrobe using these simple techniques, or raid the local charity shops…

HOW TO MAKE KNITTED BOTTLE COVERS MATERIALS Thickknittedjumper Chunky yarn in different colours Yarn needle Fork Giving a gift sans wrapping paper is the most eco way of doing it this Christmas, but you still want pressies to be a surprise. Cue your old, unwanted woollies and a bit of scrap yarn. These bottle cosies are ingenious as not only will they make friends and family smile, they can be reused and regifted in the future. And you won’t have to feel so guilty about accidentally shrinking that sweater in the wash. Take inspiration from Christine’s designs and techniques, then get creative with your own versions. Personally we’re fans of the more-is-more look, but you could easily go for subtle styling with coordinating yarns. To make the bottle cosy…

STRAIGHT STITCH The simplest of stitches, straight stitch can be grouped together or used alone. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2. Repeat. FRENCH KNOT This is a stitch that everyone should learn, because it’s so useful. The secret is to hold the working thread taut while you pull it through. Come up at point 1, then wrap the thread around the needle twice. Holding the working thread with your non-dominant hand, bring the needle down at point 2 (close to point 1, but not the same hole) and pull slowly until the knot is formed. SATIN STITCH When you want to fill an area with a smooth finish, this stitch is the ideal choice. It’s best worked in small areas, because if the stitches are…

PURL TO MAKE PURL STITCHES, JUST REVERSE THE ACTION OF KNIT STITCHES 01 Hold the needle with the stitches on it in your left hand. Keeping the working yarn at the front of your work, insert the point of the right-hand needle up into the loop of the first stitch, from back to front, as shown. 02 Next, wind the working yarn anticlockwise around the tip of the right-hand needle using your index finger. Keep the yarn in your right hand relatively taut, maintaining a similar tension throughout as you knit. 03 Pull the right-hand needle back through the stitch, taking it through the loop from front to back, catching the yarn you wound around the needle – this creates the stitch. Try not to pull the working yarn too…

“It gives you the same serotonin hit that a shopping trip does.” There are already enough clothes in the world for everybody many times over – fact. And while I love clothes, I really don’t love what the fast fashion industry is doing to people and the planet. I also wanted to find a way to share my upcycling journey with people, and being known as a crochet designer, it made sense to see if I could use the art of crochet to start that conversation and see where the journey would take us. Crochet hacking became a way to showcase the incredibly transformative power of not only crochet, but any craft for sustainability. I’m not just talking about repairing and mending though. That definitely has its place, but I’m…

THE LARGER-THAN-LIFE COUTURE KNITS YOU’LL DREAM ABOUT all winter. Because who among us is capable of laying eyes on fashion designer Hope Macaulay’s creations and not falling headfirst in love? The Gooseberry Colossal Knit Jacket is what we all need right now – obsurdly oversized, beyond cosy and made from 100% squishy merino in a pink and green colour combo that won’t quit. We surrender. www.hopemacaulay.com JUST LANDED FRESH PRINTS have mood-changing powers. Mollie Makes fave Lysa Flower has collaborated with PBS Fabrics on her first ever collection and it’s simply joyous. Let The Good Times Roll features 12 colourful cotton prints and one panel piece, all with a playful rollergirl vibe. www.pbsfabrics.com COME FOR THE BOUJIE CANDLE, stay for the soul behind it. Selfmade’s vegan soy candles are hand-poured…

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT MATERIALS Palepinkfelt200 x 90cm (78¾ x 35½") Matching sewing thread Pom pom trim Heattransfervinylwe used HappyFlex in Pastel Pink and Pastel Mint, HappyGlitter in Pale Yellow and Fluo Orange and HappyFlock in White, available from Greaseproofpaper Decorating your tree shouldn’t stop at ornaments and tinsel – go all out this year and treat it to a fancy fashion accessory. After all, it is party season. This fun, mid-century inspired tree skirt is adorned with bright sparkly shapes, adding extra pizazz and showing off your gifts underneath to the max. Plus, it’ll also catch all those pesky falling needles if you’re a real-tree purist. 01 Using the tree skirt template on page 82, mark out four quarter circle shapes onto…

HOW TO MAKE AN EMBROIDERED BAG MATERIALS 2540cm (9 7/8 x 15¾") light blue linen 25 × 40cm (9 7/8 x 15¾") grey linen DMC stranded cotton in 310 (black), 319 (dark green), 407 (terracotta), 648 (light grey), 739 (light beige), 832 (light brown), 839 (dark brown), 920 (dark terracotta), 930 (dark grey blue), 932 (light grey blue), 936 (dark olive green) and 3790 (chocolate brown) 15 × 6cm (6 x 2 3/8") rectangular clasp Linen embroidery thread in light blue White sewing thread Purse handle with hooks Embroidery hoop, 20cm (8") Erasable fabric marker Fabric glue Awl Paper string Pliers Card, 6 x 6cm (2 3/8 x 2 3/8") This unbelievably beautiful bag sits somewhere in the intersection of art, craft, and treasured possession. We’re huge fans of…

EMBROIDERED BAG BY YUMIKO HIGUCHI PAGE 73 PHOTOCOPY AT 125% EMBROIDERED COLLAR BY ABBIE STOREY PAGE 26 PHOTOCOPY AT 125% XMAS TREE SKIRT BY HAPPY FABRIC PAGE 51 PHOTOCOPY AT 400% BEADED DECORATIONS BY CHLOE REDFERN PAGE 45 BARGELLO PLANTER BY NERISSA PRATT PAGE 27 Thank you for making this project from Mollie Makes. We have requested specific permission from designers so that you can recreate and sell selected projects from this issue on the following conditions. Just look for this icon. You can individually hand-make as many as you wish of our labelled projects, to sell either for yourself, your local event or to raise money for charity. You cannot sell in shops (online or otherwise) and you cannot go into mass production, which means you cannot manufacture in…

THUMB CAST-ON METHOD A GREAT ALL ROUNDER – USE IT TO CAST ON STITCHES QUICKLY AND EASILY 01 Make a slip knot and place it on a needle, leaving a long yarn tail – roughly three times the width of the project should be long enough. 02 Hold the long yarn tail in your left hand and stick out your thumb, then wrap the yarn anti-clockwise around your thumb, as shown. 03 Push the needle tip along the outside of your thumb, under the loop, then wrap the working yarn anti-clockwise around the top of the needle. 04 Pull the needle back down slightly and hook the loop around your thumb over the needle. Pull to tighten, then repeat from Step 2. KNIT FOLLOW OUR SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE THE…