Innehållsförteckning för Issue 78 från Mollie Magazine

The clocks have gone forward, we’re walking home in the light, and we have a sudden urge to pick up projects with a spring feel. With that in mind, we’ve filled this issue with sunny makes. Teri Muncey’s greenery-inspired wall art will brighten up your home (page 91), while Steel & Stitch’s fresh geo cushion on page 55 is a colour-pop beauty. Take a look, plus save 20% on Paintbox Yarns at Lovecrochet.com to make your own! We’re also super-excited to be launching the 2017 Mollie Makes Handmade Awards in this issue. We’re so passionate about our annual celebration of all things handmade, and your amazing entries never fail to inspire us. Turn to page 36 to discover the categories, star judging panel and incredible prizes...…

Floral prints and summer go hand in hand, just like these well-dressed pals. They’re rocking Coco & Wolf ’s new Bonnie dress – one in blush pink linen and the other in Betsy Liberty Tana Lawn. With a full flared skirt, button back fastening and a cute curved hem, it’s the perfect twirling partner. www.cocoandwolf.com There’s always room in our wardrobe for a few new-season updates, and the vibrant Summer 2017 collection from Gudrun Sjödén is catching our eye. Our favourite? This floaty foliage-print kimono. www.gudrunsjoden.com Behold London-based fashion brand Shrimps’ first embroidered bag. Straight from the new Resort17 collection, this edgy blush purse features hand-stitched doodles from owner Hannah Weiland’s sketchbook. www.shrimps.co.uk If Liberty London did patches... Oh wait, they do! This bold bloom is from the runway-inspired #PatchIt…

Donna Wilson Donna’s iconic designs have made her a household name, and all her products are made in the UK. www.donnawilson.com Jennie Smith Community Programmes Manager at Etsy, Jennie spends her days working with creative businesses. www.etsy.com/uk Jane Foster Jane’s a renowned screenprinter and illustrator. Her products have appeared in Habitat and Ikea. www.janefoster.co.uk Fiona Humberstone Author of How to Style your Brand, Fiona’s an expert at developing creative brands. www.the brand-stylist.com Kate Allchin Kate’s UK Content and Community Manager at Pinterest, and oversees the brand’s social media. www.pinterest.com Kat Molesworth Photographer, trainer and founder of Blogtacular, Kat’s a pro at helping creatives find their niche. www.blogtacular.com Jessica Sims UK Marketing Manager at West Elm, Jessica works to develop brand collaborations and partnerships. www.westelm.co.uk Patricia van den Akker Director of The…

It’s every crafter’s biggest problem: how to actually fit in the million projects on your ‘must make’ list. No matter how good our intentions are, work, family and life always seem to get in the way of the truly important things, such as crochet and sewing. Enter the rise of the crafting commuters. Around the country, more and more of us are finding new ways to fit craft into our daily routines.Whether it’s on the bus in the morning, over coffee during lunchbreaks, or a sneaky late-night craft binge once the kids are in bed, there are plenty of ways to squeeze it into your day. EMBRACE THE JOURNEY Charlie Moorby, editor of Simply Sewing magazine and blogger at www.theluckybluebird.com, has turned her 40 minute train commute into a super-productive…

HOW TO MAKE… A CROCHET CUSHION MATERIALS • Paintbox Simply Aran, 100% acrylic, 100g/184m per ball, one ball each in Paper White (200) (Yarn A), Grass Green (229) (Yarn B), Bubblegum Pink (250) (Yarn C), Ballet Pink (252) (Yarn D), Neon Pink (256) (Yarn E) • Berroco Captiva, 60% cotton/23%polyester/17% acrylic, 50g/90m per ball, one ball in Honey (5520) (Yarn F) • Twilley’s Goldfingering, 80% viscose/20% polyester, 25g/100m per ball, one ball in Gold (002) (Yarn F) • 5mm (UK 6, US H/8) crochet hook • Two pieces of white cotton fabric, 52 x 42cm (20½ x 16½") • Cushion pad, 50 x 50cm (19¾ x 19¾") • White sewing thread • Sewing needle • Yarn needle TENSION Each hexagon is approx. 13cm (5¼") wide ABBREVIATIONS (UK)  st(s) stitch(es) sp(s)…

01 ARTCUTS Create your own personalised cloud bunting with Artcuts’ wooden shapes and embellishments, applying colour with their fantastic range of inks and paints. Save 15% at the checkout using the code MM15, valid until 30th April 2017. www.artcuts.co.uk 03 HANDMADE BY HOLCHESTER Combining hand-painted detailing and pretty patchwork with remnant fabrics, Rachel from Handmade by Holchester creates colourful and unique pieces for your home, including these cheery Cloudy Sunshine cushions. www.holchester.com 05 THE FOX IN THE ATTIC Brighten up a child’s bedroom or nursery with this smiley Happy Cloud cushion, the perfect accessory for a bed, sofa or chair. Use code HappyCloud25 for 25% off this cushion, or anything else from The Fox in the Attic’s online shop. www.thefoxintheattic.com 02 OH SEW BOOTIFUL This Clouds Sampler Embroidery Kit uses…

FRIDAY “ I’m thrilled to be bringing The Handmade Fair to Warwickshire this spring, and can’t wait to meet all you craft lovers!” Friday’s show is hosted by the founder of The Handmade Fair, Kirstie Allsopp. Join her on stage in the Super Theatre, where she’ll be chatting to knitting star Erica Knight, skincare guru Liz Earle and Ministry of Upholstery’s Anthony Devine, before discovering the amazing Shopping Village. If you’re heading to Friday’s show, join a Grand Make with over 250 other crafters, explore the Artisan Food Market, and watch our celebs take to the stage for the Mollie Makes Mash Ups. Book Full Experience tickets for just £24 using code MOLLIE3. SATURDAY “ I had a wonderful time at the Hampton Court Palace event, and am delighted to…

Sara Tasker Sara is a photographer and writer living in the wild Yorkshire hills, which helps feed her Instagram obsession. She can usually be found looking dreamy-eyed at pictures of 1980s Mark Hamill on Twitter, or having a nap. Look around Sara’s home on page 8 . www.meandorla.co.uk Katie Leamon Katie’s luxury paper goods brand grew from a lifetime love of stationery – shopping back-to-school essentials was the highlight of a new term. She loves to listening to music while she works, and has a knack for hula hooping. Read about Katie’s business on page 26 . www.katieleamon.com Gretel Parker Gretel loves repairing old things, from mid-century clocks to her small cottage in Shropshire. A professional needlefelt artist, Gretel has a wide range of…

MAKE IT! TURN THE PAGE TO DIY THE ORIGAMI TREND…

‘There’s a certain magic someone feels when they receive a handwritten letter.’ There’s a real thrill to picking out beautiful stationery to write a letter or a card, and it’s that special feeling that Katie Leamon’s luxury paper goods label is dedicated to preserving. After studying Woven Textiles at university, Katie worked for a small Fairtrade fashion label. It wasn’t the industry for her, but Katie took the skills working for a small company gave her – managing wholesale, admin, and design – and launched her own card range. Katie landed Liberty as her first supplier after attending their open call day in 2011. A huge achievement for a new brand, her business grew from there. From making cards herself on a shoestring, she began drafting in family members to…

BEST START-UP BUSINESS AWARD This is the category to enter if your small handmade business has been trading for fewer than three years. BEST ESTABLISHED BUSINESS AWARD In association with The Handmade Fair Enter this category if your small but established handmade business has been trading for longer than three years. HANDMADE CHAMPION AWARD This award recognises the people promoting and supporting handmade businesses, whether that’s a bricks and mortar shop, an online boutique, or the team behind a great campaign, website or Instagram hashtag. BEST WORKSHOP AWARD NEW! In association withWest Elm Crafting is all about community, and this new award celebrates the designer-makers passing on their skills and passion to a new audience with innovative and popular workshops. BEST ILLUSTRATOR AWARD NEW! Championing talented new illustrators is hugely…

1 Make sure you have a killer business account with a great profile image and description of your business (what makes your products so wonderful and unique), including your website. 2 Your board should have a professional and eyecatching cover image that really showcases your brand. 3 Give your board a title and description that makes people want to click on it to discover more. 4 Check your pins click through to their source, be it your website, an inspiring blog, or aYouTube tutorial. 5 Give all your pins a rich description to let the judging panel know why you’re sharing this particular content.…

You may not have a rustic farmhouse to fill with artisanal finds, but you can introduce a natural, hand-crafted look into even the most contemporary space with Dassie Artisan’s spring collection.The entire range is handmade and Fairtrade certified too. www.dassieartisan.com This Fla Fla Design eucalyptus print lets you add this season’s hottest foliage to your walls. Alternatively, this Rifle Paper Co. egg print might help to stave off those Mini Eggs cravings until next Easter. www.flafladesign.etsy.com; www.riflepaperco.com Whether piled with freshly-cut logs or fresh-from-the-machine washing, Bohemia Designs’ woven oversized Moroccan baskets are super handy. www.bohemiadesign.co.uk If you’ve run out of space for your plants, suspend them from the ceiling with Botany Shop’s porcelain planter, hand-thrown by Danish designer Anne Black. www.botanyshop.co.uk Update a pennant light fixture with this wicker wonder…

HOW TO MAKE… A MACRAMÉ LAMPSHADE MATERIALS • Wool and the Gang’s Jersey Be Good, 98% cotton/2% elastane, 110m/500g per ball, one ball in Hot Pink • Lampshade, 20cm (7 7/8") diameter (we used Hemsta from www.ikea.com ) • Lamp base (we used Strala from www.ikea.com ) • Fire retardant spray Spruce up your bedside table with Wool and the Gang’s contemporary-meets-retro take on a macramé make. Designed to fit a standard lampshade frame, they’ve used bright pink Jersey Be Good yarn to create a statement piece that’ll instantly liven up your décor, day or night. You’ll tie square knots, double half hitch knots and cow hitch knots to make it, so be sure to familiarise yourself with these techniques before starting, using the step-by-step guides on page 98. If…

Friday 12th May, 4.45pm Mr X Stitch Through his website, Jamie Chalmers has showcased new talent and curated exhibitions. An internationally exhibited artist, he’s also the author of the Mr X Stitch Guide to Cross Stitch, available now! www.mrxstitch.com Christine Leech Christine Leech has sold almost 25,000 craft books. Her latest, Pompomania, is full of cute and clever pom pom projects. Follow her creative inspiration and crafty projects on her blog and Instagram. www.sewyeah.co.uk Saturday 13th May, 5.45pm Chinelo Bally A dressmaker, author and blogger, Chinelo Bally appeared on Series 2 of The Great British Sewing Bee. She creates bespoke garments for celebrity clientele, and has published a book, Freehand Fashion. www.chinelobally.net Lauren Guthrie An avid dressmaker and finalist on Series 1 of The Great British Sewing Bee, Lauren Guthrie…

HOW TO MAKE… A PARROT BROOCH MATERIALS • Pink vinyl, 5 x 13cm (2 x 5¼") • Yellow vinyl, 10 x 13cm (4 x 5¼") • Gold vinyl, 5 x 6cm (2 x 2 3/8") • Black seed bead • Brooch back • Black sewing thread • Pink sewing thread • Sewing needle • PVA glue • Soft toy stuffing This bold, colourful brooch conjures up visions of elaborate cocktails, flamingo pool floats and summer sun, and we love it. It doesn’t matter that you’ll probably end up pinning it onto a mac – at least it’ll make those April showers bearable. And, when the sun does come out, you’ll already be rocking a tropical look. A quick sew you can finish in an evening, it’ll also look good as…

HOW TO MAKE… A KIDS’ APRON MATERIALS • Yellow cotton canvas fabric, 50cm (19¾") • Cotton webbing tape, 150cm (59 1/8"), 3cm (1¼") wide • Fusible interfacing • Orange cotton fabric, 1 fat quarter • Scrap fabrics in red, blue, green and black • Yellow sewing thread Kids love getting messy, and in this bright, smiley apron they can express their creative side as much as they like, without you having to wash paint/glue/cake mix out of their clothes after. Not only will this cheery sew keep them clean, they’ll look like a little ray of sunshine wearing it. It’s a one-size-fits-all pattern designed for one- to four-year olds, but you can adjust the sizing by adapting the templates if your child is older or taller. And, for a…

PROVIDING A POSITIVE MESSAGE TO SHARE HELPS PEOPLE ARTICULATE THEIR FEELINGS I’ve always been drawn to art with an underlying message, from European pop art and the Young British Artists’ work to newspaper cartoons. I always knew I wanted to create something I felt strongly about. I’ve been sharing my illustrations online for five years, mixing humour with current affairs. As I’ve become more political, I’ve had a few negative comments, but overall it’s been positive; sometimes surreal. Hearing people at marches chant my slogans is crazy! Events over the last few years have created a huge audience of politically-engaged people, and an endless source of inspiration. Gone are the days where people kept their political opinions confidential, and I find providing a positive message to share helps them articulate…

Treat yourself to a French fancy... “I love typography, so it was a natural progression for me to echo the style of my stationery brand, Old English Company, in my clothing brand, Letter Clothing Company. My aim is to create simple, uncomplicated, hand-lettered designs, with messages that make people smile. And, I think the three designs I came up with for this purse – Bonjour,Très Cool and Ooh La La – do just that! I draw all the designs by hand, so the lettering style doesn’t follow any particular calligraphy rules, which is how I love to work – I just go with it and see what I come up with.” Ben takes inspiration from daily life for the hand-lettered designs he uses on prints, stationery, homewares and clothing.…

MATERIALS • Patterned paper, 24 x 6cm (9½ x 2 3/8") • Necklace chain, 60cm (23 5/8") • Strong glue 01 Fold the paper in half along the width with patterned side up, then unfold. Fold the short edges in to the centre fold, then unfold. 02 Using the pre-creases as a guide, fold each square in half along the width, creating eight equal-sized rectangular sections. 03 With patterned side down, fold the paper in half along the length. Unfold, fold both long edges in to the centre fold, then unfold the paper again. 04 You should now have a grid of pre-creases. Each section of the grid needs a diagonal fold from corner to corner, running in the opposite direction of the fold in the section next to it.…

HOW TO MAKE… A HAND-BOUND NOTEBOOK MATERIALS • Metallic faux leather, 27 x 15cm (10 5/8 x 6") • Faux leather, 30 x 1cm (11 7/8 x 3/8") • Waxed linen thread, 1.5m (59 1/8") • 36 sheets of A4 cartridge paper, 100gsm • Bookbinding needle • Cotton thread • Cutting mat • Craft knife • Steel ruler • Sewing needle • Awl • Bone folder It is a truth universally acknowledged that you can never have too many notebooks, especially when they’re as covetable as this. Enveloped in soft rose gold faux leather, and accentuated with flashes of hot pink and teal, even writing your shopping list will feel fancy. If you’ve never attempted bookbinding, Louise’s entry-level project is the best place to start. And, once you’ve mastered the…

Best Start-Up Business Award A £500 voucher for online training with The Design Trust, including online workshops, coaching or courses. A day of learning at the Etsy UK offices in London, a stand at a Crafty Fox Market in London and a starter advertising package in Mollie Makes . Best Established Business Award In association with The Handmade Fair A stand at The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace from 15-17th September 2017 worth £545 (plus marketing support worth £300), a Mollie Makes Instagram takeover, and a pop-up at West Elm’s Tottenham Court Road store. Plus, an hour-long Skype mentoring session with The Brand Stylist, Fiona Humberstone. Handmade Champion Award A one-to-one business mentoring session with Kat Molesworth, founder of Blogtacular, plus a day of learning with the UK Pinterest…

HOW TO MAKE… RUFFLE SOCKS MATERIALS Two pieces of gingham fabric, 50 x 10cm (19¾ x 4") Pair of socks Matching thread Sewing needle Put your best foot forward and showcase two of this season’s biggest trends with these fun, 50s-feel socks. Gingham and ruffles are all over the high street, but if a big blousy statement piece isn’t your style, opt for this 10 minute fashion fix instead – we’re feeling all Sandra Dee in ours. You don’t even need a sewing machine for Lana’s hack – nimble-fingered stitchers can whip up these trims by hand in no time. Try black gingham fabric on plain white socks for a monochrome look, or layer ruffles on top of one another for an all-out footwear party. These frill-trimmed fancies are a…

That view. Those shelves. That window seat... These vignettes are all too recognisable to any of Me and Orla’s 150,000 Instagram followers. But, this is also the real life home of Sara Tasker, the blogger and photographer behind the account, her husband, Rory, and their daughter, Orla. With a style so perfectly her own, Sara’s Instagram is one of the most memorable – and popular – in the UK. Throw in a witty blog, her podcasts and Instagram courses, and you have the recipe for internet fame. So, what’s it like living in Instagram heaven? “I bought the house for its aesthetic potential,” admits Sara. “I could see how the space would work if it was lightened up, and how rooms like the kitchen – hand-built from 1950s shop fittings…

HOW TO MAKE… A PUPPET BEAR MATERIALS Old wool sweater, blanket or textured toy fabric Elasticated fabric Canvas belt Soft toy stuffing White sewing thread Sewing needle Black embroidery thread Tapestry needle Encouraging kids’ creativity is an important part of playtime, and we can see this sweet puppet sparking a whole world of stories. Lay out a tea set for a teddy bear’s picnic, take him on adventures with other toys – he’ll keep little ones entertained for hours. As Camille hand-makes her toys and dolls from re-used natural fibres, all the elements for this easy sew can be found around the home. Cut up an old woollen jumper or blanket and a canvas belt from a charity shop for a make that’s eco-friendly and adorable. 01 Using the templates…

HOW TO MAKE… COLLAGE-STYLE WALL ART MATERIALS • Four lengths of balsa wood, 30 x 2.5 x 0.5cm (11 7/8 x 1 x ¼") • Strong wood glue • Two screw hooks • Selection of green tissue papers • Faux suede cord • Pastels • White acrylic paint • PVA glue • Paint brush • A3 cartridge paper Impress pals with your freehand art stylings and contemporary framing skills, inspired by Teri’s collage-style design. Showing off prints in a fresh, modern way, these wooden poster strips are currently stocked in all our favourite lifestyle stores. And, the design itself ticks off one of this year’s hottest interior colour trends, Greenery. Think of it as a way to fill your house with plants, without having to actually keep them alive. Get…