Innehållsförteckning för April 2021 från Mollie Magazine

01 Is it weird to wish you lived in a painting? Asking for a friend. This Rainbow Sweater embodies our home and wardrobe goals, while capturing the jungalow vibe in one fell swoop. Frame it, or pin it centre stage on your vision board. www.aljahorvat.com 02 Filled with touchable textures, rich hues and affordable art galore, a trip to Jungalow’s website feels like stumbling upon the best flea market ever. With new finds from across the globe on the reg, it’s a genuine online treasure trove. www.jungalow.com 03 These aren’t just any towels, these are lightweight cotton muslin towels, traditionally woven on wooden looms in Turkey. Because even these overlooked heroes of the bathroom should be bringing you everyday joy. www. bohemiadesign.co.uk 04 Making a space feel bright and light…

HOW TO MAKE A CROCHET BAG MATERIALS KingColeCottonsoftDKyarn, 100% cotton, 100g/210m per ball, one ball each in Lavender (1849) (Yarn A), Ecru (711) (Yarn B) and Coral (1574) (Yarn C) 3.25mm (UK 10, US D/3) crochet hook Yarn needle Two stitch markers TENSION Approx. 21 sts and 19 rounds to 10cm (4") over dc using the yarn under technique ABBREVIATIONS (UK) st(s) stitch(es) ch chain ss slip stitch dc double crochet rep repeat FINISHED SIZE Approx. 28 x 31cm (11 x 12¼") Treat yourself to a new accessory for the new season. This retro design brings spring vibes in abundance using tapestry crochet – a fresh way with yarn that allows you to switch between colours, creating a woven-style fabric. Instructions The bag is worked in a continuous spiral.…

HOW TO MAKE A CARDBOARD PLAY KITCHEN MATERIALS All-purposesprayprimer Emulsion paint (we used turquoise, yellow, pink, blue, and grey and white) Paint brushes Paper plate Erasable fabric marker Four rolls of washi tape in pink, 1cm ( /8") wide Two pipe cleaners Glue gun Craft knife Two sheets of photo paper 50cm (19¾") gingham fabric Sewing thread in orange, green and yellow Yellow ribbon 22 x 22cm (8¾ x 8¾") felt in orange, pale green, green, yellow, brown and black 50g (2oz) soft toy stuffing Felt ball Double-sided sticky tape Saucer Toilet roll holder Egg carton Two similar-sized cardboard boxes Plastic container Sweetie tub Five jam jar lids Kids love playing with cardboard boxes – sometimes more than with what’s inside. So, why not go one step further…

Nina Chang Designer and sewist Nina takes inspiration from the heritage and diversity of her hometown of London. She especially loves making extravagant dresses, browsing bookshops and indulging in as many crafts as she possibly can. Sew Nina’s statement collar and cuffs hack on page 26. www.ninalee.co.uk Sampada Gurung Born in Nepal, Sampada moved to London at a young age. She still happily resides there, sharing her illustration and ceramics skills at The Slightly Curious Studio, her North London biz inspiring others to get creative through beginners’ pottery classes and life drawing sessions. Find out how Sampada combines her craft loves on page 90. www.sampadagurung.com Justina Blakeney Jungalow founder Justina is the proud owner of Cous Cous, the best name for a kitten we’ve ever heard. As well as an…

HOW TO MAKE A NEEDLE-FELTED BUNNY MATERIALS 7gnaturalwhitecorewool Ashford Corriedale wool roving, 6g in Lavender, 2g in Lemon, and 1g each in Cupcake, Tangerine and Liquorice 38-gauge star felting needle Foam felting mat Fabric glue This adorable bunny and tiny chick friend aren’t just for Easter, they’re for life. And they’re definitely giving us life right now with their next level cuteness. If you’ve ever fancied trying needle felting, Linda’s project is a fab place to start. Using simple shapes on a tiny scale, it’s a great way to get those techniques down. Start small and add layers if needed, as it’s easier to add more roving than take it away. Plus, everything’s cuter in miniature. 01 Pinch off a thumb-sized piece of the white core wool and set…

HOW TO MAKE A KNITTED CUSHION MATERIALS Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn, 80% acrylic/20% wool, 170g/ 97m per ball, three balls in Fisherman (640-099) 10mm (UK 000, US 15) knitting needles Cushion pad, 40 x 40cm (15¾ x 15¾") Yarn needle TENSION 11 stitches and 10 rows in diagonal basketweave stitch to measure 10 x 10cm (4 x 4") 8 stitches and 12 rows in stocking stitch to measure 10 x 10cm (4 x 4") ABBREVIATIONS (UK) st(s) stitch(es) k knit p purl RS right side FINISHED SIZE Approx. 41 x 41cm (16 x 16") We’ve finally cracked the formula for optimum mindfulness in a make – repetition, simplicity, and the softest of textures. This gorgeous cushion ticks all those boxes, with its basketweave patterned front hitting that…

HOW TO MAKE PUNCH NEEDLE WALL ART MATERIALS 51 x 51cm (20 x 20") carpet tack frame Foam insulation tubing, 2.5cm (1") diameter 61 x 61cm (24 x 24") primitive linen 1oz (34yds) each of chunky wool roving yarn in mustard (Yarn A) and purple (Yarn D) 1.5oz (51yds) each of chunky wool roving yarn in light pink (Yarn B), blue (Yarn C) and green (Yarn E) 5oz (188yds) chunky wool roving yarn in cream (Yarn F) 2yds cotton warp thread Adjustable punch needle (we used the SKC Adjustable Punch Needle) Tapestry needle Dowel, 0.5cm (¼") diameter Cardboard, 25cm (9 /8") A huge part of creating a happy home involves surrounding yourself with things that make you smile. That might be trinkets, family photos, your own craft creations, or all…

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CREAM EGGS INGREDIENTS For the filling ■ 150g (5½oz) raw cashew nuts ■ ½ tsp vanilla extract ■ 65ml (2¼ fl oz) maple syrup ■ 30g (1oz) coconut butter, melted ■ /8 teaspoon sea salt ■ 1 tsp hulled tahini ■ /8 tsp ground turmeric ■ 2 soft medjool dates, pitted For the chocolate ■ 200g (7oz) cacao butter buttons 85ml (2¾ fl oz) pure maple syrup EQUIPMENT ■ Two baking trays, 38 x 25cm (15 x 9 /8") ■ Baking paper MAKES 10 We’re getting ready to celebrate Easter the best way we know how – with all the chocolate. Nothing lifts spirits quite like the good stuff, and we’re convinced everything tastes better when it’s handmade. This fun recipe lets you recreate one of…

HOLDING THE HOOK PENCIL METHOD Hold the hook in your dominant hand like a pencil, roughly 3-5cm (1¼-2") from the hooked end. If the hook has a flat area, hold it here between your index finger and your thumb. KNIFE METHOD Hold the hook between your thumb and your index finger, about 3-5cm (1¼-2") from the hooked end, resting the other end against your palm. This will give you plenty of control. HOLDING THE YARN METHOD ONE Pass the ball end of the yarn between the little finger and third fingers of your non-dominant hand, then behind the third and middle fingers, over your index finger. METHOD TWO Loop the ball end of the yarn around the little finger of your non-dominant hand, then take it over the third finger,…

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.…

THOSE ‘JUST BECAUSE’ PROJECTS CAN BE THE MOST FULFILLING ONES. You know, making for making’s sake, the slow satisfaction of stitch after stitch, row after row. Take as much quiet time as you need to create Julie Robinson’s pretty Daisy Pillow Pattern, using Knit Collage’s beautiful artisan yarns. In our eyes, a shaped cushion with a strong retro flavour can do no wrong. www.knitcollage.com BRAND FOCUS HANSEL Denim is Mikaela Clark’s canvas. She’s the New York artist behind apparel brand Hansel and we can’t take our eyes off her bold jeans and jackets. They’re painted by hand in her Brooklyn studio, inspired by 70’s fashion and children’s books. Follow on Instagram @ hansel_clothing for a heads up on new products launching soon. www.hanselclothing.com POTTERY: THE HANDS-ON CRAFT  that’s having a…

MAKE IT! SLOANE RANGER JUMPER HACK MATERIALS Crew neck jumper Elastic, 1cm ( 3/8") wide Lace trim, 4cm (1 5/8") wide Matching sewing thread 01 Measure the neckline and cuffs of the jumper. Cut one piece of elastic measuring the length of the neckline, and two pieces of elastic the length of each cuff. Next, cut one piece of lace trim measuring three times the length of the neckline, and two pieces three times the length of each cuff. 02 Pin one end of the neckline elastic to the wrong side (WS) of the neckline lace along the bottom raw edge – the long edge without the decoration. Leave a 1cm ( /8") gap between the end of the lace and the end of the elastic, as shown. 03 Using…

Justina Blakeney’s home is all about good vibes, colour, pattern and plants – a lot of plants. As the founder of Jungalow, the vibrant design blog that’s grown into an iconic lifestyle store full of ‘want-them-all’ pieces, you’d expect nothing less. But, Justina has an instinct for interiors that only comes from someone born to do it. Her home for the past six years is a three-bedroom bungalow in Los Angeles, which she shares with her husband, daughter, kitten and 52 house plants. “What drew me to the house was the Spanish-style architecture – I love arches and little niches as well as beautiful big windows and natural light,” Justina explains. “Also, it has a nice-sized yard and outside space is really important to me. I love increasing the conversation…

HOW TO MAKE NATURALLY DYED TABLE LINEN MATERIALS Four 35 x 50cm (13¾ x 19¾") pieces of undyed linen One 45 x 45cm (17¾ x 17¾") piece of undyed linen Cotton string Stainless steel pot Stainless steel bowl Iron sulphate powder, 2g Dried chamomile flowers, 30g Tea filters Thick embroidery thread in white Rubber gloves While the last few months have been all about blankets and snacks, the arrival of spring brings with it the desire to eat fresh, colourful foods on a beautifully laid table. And, what better way to usher in a new season than with a project that involves foraging beautiful blooms? If you’ve never tried natural dyeing, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much joy transforming fabrics with flowers brings. Ania’s used chamomile for a deep…

There’s no denying the huge resurgence in craft’s popularity over the last 12 months. Granted, most of us have had a lot more time on our hands lately, but lockdown can’t be the sole reason for a whole swath of people discovering the joy of making. So, who and what are the driving forces behind the recent rise of what we’ve long celebrated – the handmade world and its passionate community? And, just what is it we’re really longing for when we turn to craft? When the mittens Bernie Sanders’ wore at President Biden’s inauguration became one of the top memes of 2021, patterns sprang up within hours. Tobey King already had a Bernie crochet character up her sleeve, but even she was surprised when the tiny mittens she added…

BACKSTITCH This stitch is ideal for outlines, and it’s the one you’ll find you use the most. Come up from the back at point 1, then go down at point 2. Come up at point 3, then go back to point 1 and bring the needle through to the back. SATIN STITCH This stitch is best for small areas, as the stitches may snag if they’re too long. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2. Come up at point 3, then go down at point 4. Repeat. Work stitches across, coming up on the opposite side to where the needle went down. LAZY DAISY Usually used for flower petals, this stitch is also ideal for embroidering tiny seeds. Come up at point 1, then go back…

SLIP STITCH (SS) This stitch has no height, and is often used to join rounds 01 Slip stitch is used to join a length of chain into the round. Insert the hook from front to back into the first chain worked. Wrap the yarn around the hook, anti-clockwise. 02 Pull the yarn through the chain stitch, then the loop already on the hook, to make a slip stitch. You can also work this into each stitch along a row to form a neat edging. WORKING IN ROWS Follow these simple rules to construct crochet fabric 01 The first row is made by working across the foundation chain from right to left. At the end of the chain or row, turn the work so the yarn coming from the ball is…

KNIT FOLLOW OUR SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT STITCH YOU’LL LEARN 01 Hold the needle with the stitches on it in your left hand. Keeping the working yarn in your right hand and at the back of the work, insert the point of the right-hand needle up into the loop of the first stitch, from front to back, as shown. 02 Next, wind the working yarn anti-clockwise around the tip of the right-hand needle using your index finger. It’s important to keep the yarn in your right hand relatively taut, and to maintain a similar tension throughout as you knit. 03 Pull the right-hand needle back and down slightly, taking it through the loop from back to front, and making sure to catch the yarn you wound around…

“I visualise images and transform them into ceramic form.” Hi, I’m Sampada, a ceramicist and illustrator based in North London, and founder of The Slightly Curious Studio. Last year I was part of The Great British PotteryThrow Down which I enjoyed so much, but my journey as a ceramicist actually started with my illustrations. I initially learnt how to throw on the wheel as a relaxing hobby, but I gradually became drawn deeper into the world of pottery. Over time I discovered there’s something magical about the process of working with clay, and the nature of the craft, that aligns perfectly with the tactile elements of my illustrations. Nowadays I see the two disciplines as one, with my creative process constantly flowing from one to the other. There are times…