Innehållsförteckning för May 2021 från Mollie Magazine

Happy spring, makers! I hope the sun’s shining down on you, wherever you are, and the lighter evenings and lockdown freedom are giving you a new lease of life. We’re definitely feeling cheery and inspired here at Mollie HQ, but that could also be because we’ve worked with some truly amazing designers and contributors this issue. There are crafters who’re a dab hand with yarn, like those behind our adorable cat cover star, funky crochet bucket hat and super-cute baby jumper. Plus, we’ve got some impressive names gracing our pages, like quilting icon Kaffe Fassett – an artist extraordinaire that’s inspired generations of sewists and colour lovers. Talking of colour, there’s lots of gorgeous artwork inside the mag too, ready for you to pull out and frame. Our most honourable…

Softies – simple cloth characters sewn using basic tools – are popular worldwide for good reason. They’re easy, fun designs that give successful results, inspiring a new generation of kids to sew. The ZenkiWay, from Trixi Symonds, the founder of Sew a Softie, helps parents, teachers, community organisations and kids make a good thing even better. Everyone can create huggable softies using the zenki method, and more importantly, learn to design their own. The zenki secret? Two squares of felt, just four straight lines to sew, and wide seam allowances allowing arms, legs, wings, hair, and more to be cut from the border with no inserting or pinning. Master the zenki way with this creative new book to become an unstoppable softie designer, and a lifelong sewing lover.…

When it comes to colour, the craft world looks to Kaffe Fassett. A master of flamboyant shades, the fine art graduate still works in the traditional way, hand-painting his fabric designs in gouache, keeping track of every colour used in an adjacent grid for each project. He’s dedicated the past 50 years to knitting, needlepoint and patchwork, currently designing for Free Spirit Fabrics, Rowan and Ehrman Tapestries of London, alongside commissions for companies and design houses from Marks and Spencer to Missoni. Now in his early 80s, Kaffe is releasing a new book, Kaffe Fassett In The Studio – a tour of the home he shares with partner and studio manager, Brandon Mably. In it, he gives us a closer look at his work processes and his home life, as…

FLOWER POWER Fun, uplifting and playful, everything about this 60s inspired trend is a vibe. Think natural motifs like blooms and mushrooms, psychedelic shades of pink and orange, and groovy, feel-good prints and patterns. 02 When the urge to do something crazy hits, go with the flow. Décor should never be taken too seriously, and if it boosts your mood, we’re all for it. Case in point? This dreamy vintage-style wallpaper, guaranteed to give you life. www.celinadigby.co.uk 01 Jade Purple Brown’s signature curvy shapes and bold contrasting hues are the breath of fresh air our walls need. And, as next season is set to be the summer of love 2.0, Centered embodies the zen life we’ll be welcoming with open arms. www. jadepurplebrown.com 03 Taking retro to the next level,…

Creating an authentic small business and working on your own terms is the dream, right? With so many people reassessing what they want life to look like after an unsettling year, independent brands are booming. “It’s proof of limitless possibility,” points out Simple & Season’s Kayte Ferris (www.simpleandseason.com). “The creative community is full of people creating a way of working that suits them.” Even though a lot of makers and founders fly solo, that shouldn’t stop us finding ways to come together and share a wealth of knowledge with each other. Learning from peers and more experienced peeps might feel easier when you work for a big company, but in this digital age, the help and support of the handmade world is just a click away. FIND YOUR FOCUS For…

Yanii Putrii Illustrator Yanii lives in Karlsruhe, Germany, and loves drawing women in different characters and skin tones, representing the diversity of womankind. Yanii also has a passion for plants and the calm they bring her. See Yanii’s Good read illustration on page 72. www.byyillustrations.etsy.com Taome Tucker Taome is the owner of Hooked Apparel, a sustainable crochet clothing brand run from the bedroom of her Manchester home. She started crocheting again during lockdown 2020, not expecting her Instagram to take off so massively, and now runs her colourful biz full time. Hook up Taome’s crochet bucket hat on page 30. www.hookedmcr.com Kaffe Fassett Textile designer, painter and artist Kaffe is a creative legend. In 1988, he became the first living textile artist to have a one-man show at the Victoria…

Trixi Symonds is the founder of the worldwide sew-together phenomenon Sew a Softie. A designer and teacher with over 25 years of experience,Trixi has held workshops in Kyoto, Amsterdam, and Melbourne, and in venues all over her home city of Sydney, including the Art Gallery of NSW, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian Museum. She’s also the author of Sew Together Grow Together, which shares 20 hand-sewing projects to bring parents and children together through sewing. www.sewasoftie.com…

10% OFF THE VILLAGE HABERDASHERY Want to add colour to your wardrobe? Then head to The Village Haberdashery and pick up your Mint Cloud Paint fabric by Lilian Farag for Nerida Hansen at an amazing 10% off. And, they’re offering 10% off their full range of fabrics too. Use code MOLLIE10 from 22 April-31 May 2021 (sewing machines excluded). www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk 10% OFF EMPRESS MILLS To shop your Double Gauze Fabric in Plain Light Lilac at 10% off, visit the friendly folk at Empress Mills. While you’re there, check out the rest of their fabrics and haberdashery, as code MOLLIE will get you 10% off everything (excluding shipping). Hurry though – your discount code is only valid from 22 April-16th May 2021. www.empressmills.co.uk…

HOW TO MAKE A CROCHET BUCKET HAT MATERIALS ■ Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, 100% cotton, 50g/85m per ball, two balls in Blood Orange (620) (Yarn A) and one ball each in Pure Black (602) (Yarn B), Lime Green (629) (Yarn C), Champagne White (603) (Yarn D and Bubblegum Pink (651) (Yarn E) (we got ours from www. lovecrafts.com ) ■ 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) crochet hook ■ Stitch marker ■ Yarn needle ■ Sewing needle ■ Clear sewing thread TENSION 5 rounds of half treble crochet (48 stitches) makes a 10cm (4") diameter circle using a 4.5mm hook ABBREVIATIONS (UK)  st(s) stitches ch chain ss slip stitch dc double crochet htr half treble crochet tr treble crochet dtr double treble crochet rep repeat BLO work stitch through back loop…

HOW TO MAKE A WALL PLANNER MATERIALS ■ Solid spruce board, 85 x 50cm (33½ x 19¾") (ours was pre-cut from Homebase) ■ Stripwood, 240 x 7 x 1.2cm (94½ x 2¾ x /8") (we got ours from Homebase) ■ Masking tape ■ String ■ Drawing pin ■ Wood glue ■ Wood filler ■ Handsaw ■ Mitre box ■ Sandpaper, 120 grit ■ Paint in dark pink, dark blue, mustard, green and light pink ■ Hammer ■ Nails ■ A4 Perspex sheet with pre-drilled holes (ours was from www. perspexsheet.uk) ■ Screws ■ Screw covers (ours were from www. perspexsheet.uk) ■ Adhesive vinyl in black and white (ours was from www.happy fabric.co.uk) ■ Wooden clothes peg This DIY wall planner won’t just brighten up your space, it’s the secret to…

Creating pure delight with a wheel, clay and glazes, everything Earthern Forge throws is golden. From planters to mugs, each piece is emblazoned with Mayra’s recognisable retro artwork, and made in small batches at her studio in Austin, Texas. Follow her on Insta to get to the front of the queue. www.instagram. com/earthen_forge 01 Each piece within Earthen Forge’s colourful collections is made slightly differently. 02 A psychedelic daisy planter from Mayra’s last drop, glazed in warm, rich hues. 03 Mayra’s ceramics draw on 60s & 70s designs, including swirls, toadstools and plants.…

HOW TO MAKE A KNITTED BABY JUMPER MATERIALS ■ Berroco Vintage Chunky yarn, 52% acrylic/40%wool/8% nylon, 100g/ 124m per hank, one (two, two, three, three) hanks in Oats (6105) ■ 5mm (UK 6, US 8) circular knitting needles, 40cm (15¾") long ■ 5mm (UK 6, US 8) set of double-pointed needles ■ 6mm (UK 4, US 10) circular knitting needles, 60cm (23 5/8") long ■ 6mm (UK 4, US 10) set of double-pointed needles ■ Four stitch markers ■ Scrap yarn ■ Yarn needle TENSION 14 sts and 21 rows to 10cm (4") square in garter stitch using 5mm needles ABBREVIATIONS (UK)  st(s) stitch(es) k knit p purl k2tog knit 2 sts together kfb knit into front and back of st (to increase 1 st) ssk slip one st, slip…

ESSENTIALS FOR A COTTAGECORE SUMMERTIME . Handmade clothing brand La Petite Alice make garments to last, and their capsule Wind in the Willows collection is full of keepers. Inspired by the book of the same name, there’s whimsy and adventure across the organic linen pinafores, jumpsuits and dresses – winsome designs for women and children dotted with delicate embroidered details. www.lapetitealice.com HOME STYLE Level up your tablescaping with a jolt of colour. Gudrun Sjödén’s bright linen tablecloths are fab for setting the scene, so prep your fancy candles and spring blooms, and get back on that hosting hype. Bougie, casual, or just a cuppa in the garden, here’s to finally getting our loved ones round the table again. www.gudrunsjoden.com It’s always a yes to pom poms where Linzi of The…

Sewing your own clothes is the ultimate creative goal, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to achieve those handmade wardrobe dreams. So, we teamed up with CocoWawa Crafts, one of our favourite indie sewing pattern brands, to bring you their gorgeous 2-in-1 Plum dress. With this month’s bonus gift you’ll get full-sized pattern pieces for both versions of the Plum dress, ready to cut to your size, along with instructions to help your work out your dress size, cut out each pattern piece, and sew your new garment from start to finish. Plus, your handy tutorial also includes step-by-step images for both the options included. Because CocoWawa Crafts are all about helping beginners smash their sewing goals, you can also find a YouTube video…

HOW TO MAKE A LAP QUILT MATERIALS ■ 23cm (9 /8") dark brown fabric (we used Hopi sunflower dye) (Fabric A) ■ 183cm (72") dark blue fabric (we used indigo dye) (Fabric B) ■ 30.5cm (12") light blue fabric (we used indigo dye) (Fabric C) ■ 91.5cm (36") each of unbleached, undyed organic cotton muslin (Fabric D) and chestnut brown fabric (we used cutch dye) (Fabric E) ■ 111.5 x 111.5cm (44 x 44") organic quilt wadding ■ Rotary cutter ■ Cutting mat ■ Long quilting ruler ■ 15cm (6") square quilting ruler ■ Hera marker ■ Three 20m (22yrd) skeins of Olympus sashiko thread in Ecru ■ Sashiko needles ■ Masking tape ■ Matching sewing thread ■ Safety pins ■ Pencil This beginner project combines the mindful art of…

HOW TO MAKE EMBROIDERED WALL ART MATERIALS ■ Embroidery hoop, 15cm (6") ■ 23 x 23cm (9 x 9") white cotton fabric ■ DMC stranded cotton in 300 (very dark mahogany), Ecru (cream), 951 (light tawny), 355 (dark terracotta), 422 (light hazelnut brown), 310 (black), 3781 (dark mocha brown), 680 (dark old gold), 841 (light beige brown), 319 (very dark pistachio green), 367 (dark pistachio green), 3363 (medium pine green), 3022 (medium brown gray), 524 (very light fern green), 927 (light gray green), 3072 (very light beaver gray), 221 (very dark shell pink), 501 (dark blue green), 371 (mustard), 936 (very dark avocado green), 3051 (dark green gray), 500 (very dark blue green), 924 (very dark gray green), 3862 (dark mocha beige), 831 (medium golden olive), 3771 (ultra very light…

“We’re constantly developing to keep up with demands online.” The visual impact of words has always appealed to me. While studying traditional calligraphy, I fell down the ‘experimental style’ rabbit hole and never fully resurfaced, starting my brand The Modern Calligraphy Company to inspire the same passion in others. Calligraphy is great for anxiety and stress relief, and if there was ever a need for mindful creativity, it’s been this past year or so. The first lockdown saw over a hundred of our events cancelled overnight, so we needed to become virtual experts fast. I transformed my daughter’s bedroom into a recording studio – she’s a good sport – and uploaded lots of free videos to YouTube for adults and children. We shifted our focus totally, delivering dynamic, inspiring online…