Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2020 i Mollie Magazine

Christmas is so close I can almost smell the pine needles – in the world of craft, at least! It might not be time to crack open the mince pies just yet, but we’re ramping up our festive makes here at Mollie . After all the stress and uncertainty this year has brought, 25th December is like a shining light to look forward to. And, this issue we’re serving you seasonal joy with the colour amped up. There’s definitely a time and place for calming neutrals, but right now we’re feeling the need for a creative boost. So as well as Hayley Victory’s sparkly felt wreath on the cover, you’ll find a rainbow patchwork quilt to cosy up with, a statement geo cushion for your sofa, jazzy cross stitch and…

HOW TO MAKE A CROPPED JACKET MATERIALS ■ Jacket (preferably collarless) • Heavy-weight cotton fabric • Pattern paper • Tailors’ chalk • Buttons • Iron-on interfacing Fancy trying something new? We got you. Even if the thought of sewing anything other than cushions seems scary, we guarantee you’ll be converted by the end of this project. All you need is designer Sylvia’s expertise and a little help from your favourite jacket, and you’ll be updating your coat rack in no time. As you’ll be using an existing garment to create this, ideally it’ll be collarless, but the length doesn’t matter – you can easily crop the pattern yourself. Simply pick a fabric you like the look of, grab some sheets of pattern paper and jump right in, just in time…

HOW TO MAKE A KNITTED BAG MATERIALS ■ King Cole Tinsel Chunky yarn, 75% polyester/25% metallic, 50g/70m per ball, three balls in Plum (3136) (we got ours from www.lovecrafts.com ) ■ 4mm (UK 8, US 6) knitting needles ■ 5mm (UK 6, US 8) knitting needles ■ 26 pearl beads, 1cm ( 3/8") diameter ■ Four lockable stitch markers ■ Yarn needle TENSION Approx 10 sts and 10 rows to 5cm (2") square ABBREVIATIONS (UK)  st(s) stitch(es) k knit FINISHED SIZE Approx 18 x 18 x 10cm (7 1/8 x 7 1/8 x 4"), not including handles We all know the less practical a bag looks, the higher it rates on the fashion-forward scale, so this one is definitely up there. Elevating tinsel yarn from quirky novelty item to fluffy…

Pip Wilcox held many roles before finding her way to clay. She’s worked in finance, as a therapist, a corporate fundraiser for charities, and a secular funeral celebrant. All these career choices left her searching for something more. In her mid 40s, Pip started making pottery, and the impact the change has had on her life has been huge. One of the most inspiring off-shoots started with two beautiful images posted on Pip’s Instagram feed: one of her face and one of her hands working on a pot. Part of her caption read: “No lighting, no hiding of lines, pores, facial hair. When my husband and I first saw this photo my husband absolutely loved it – but I recoiled in horror. The second photo of my ageing hands also…

HOW TO MAKE CROSS STITCH TAGS AND GIFT BAGS MATERIALS ■ Cotton drawstring bags ■ Pre-punched cross stitch gift tags ■ Bakers’ twine ■ Coloured card ■ Soluble canvas ■ Embroidery needle, size 10 ■ Embroidery needle, size 7 ■ Embroidery threads (we used DMC Stranded Cotton in B5200, 209, 307, 310, 445, 552, 606, 718, 893, 907, 959, 970, 3716, 3801, 3846 There’s nothing more exciting than a beautifully wrapped present, its thoughtful exterior giving you a little nod to the care taken in choosing the gift inside. And, as most of us don’t have time to craft for everyone at Christmas, these cross stitch motifs are the loveliest way to personalise shop-bought goodies. Fall back in love with this easy peasy craft by whipping up gift tags and…

HOW TO MAKE A FLOWER GLOBE MATERIALS ■ Glass dome, 25cm (9 7/8"), 17cm (6¾") diameter ■ 20 ammobiums ■ 20 white strawflowers ■ 15 Agrostis grass stems ■ Three white flax stems ■ 10 oat stems ■ 10 hare’s tails ■ Two stems of statice ■ Five sprigs of lavender ■ Dry floral foam ■ Craft knife This project was taken from Dried Flowers by Morgane Illes (David & Charles Ltd., £12.99), filled with ideas and how-tos for modern floral displays. www.davidandcharles.com Getting out into nature is such a joyful experience, whether you’re strolling through the countryside, exploring on a day trip, or just popping to the local park. It’s a way to take time out of a busy day and connect with your surroundings, and we can never…

SWEATER WEATHER IS BETTER WEATHER,  but it can always be improved by new threads of the slow fashion variety. Limpet’s embroidered Stay Fruity sweatshirt not only ticks that box, but it also hits the cosy-but-chic late autumn sweet spot. And honestly, we’ve never relied on our comfy clothes more, so we reckon you’re due a treat yo’self moment. www.limpetstore.com JUST LANDED DIY PUSHEEN is yours for the making. Stitch & Story have launched four adorable beginner-friendly kits so you can knit or crochet the internet’s favourite tabby and her Sloth bestie. Each of the kits uses Stitch & Story’s velvety new Roly Poly Plush yarn, resulting in extra squishable handmade kitties. Bookmark this one for the Christmas list. www.stitchandstory.com YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN IT, but this window box necklace…

TEXTURE & COLOUR Combining cosiness with bold, bright hues, this trend is what we need this winter. Be it woven, needle punched or knitted, embrace any tactile goodness that gives you a warm glow.…

HOW TO MAKE A RAINBOW QUILT MATERIALS ■ Patterned cotton quilting fabric, 1¼yds (1.25m) each in red and orange and 1yrd (1m) each in yellow, green, blue, purple and pink ■ Low volume cotton quilting fabric, ¾yrd (75cm) each in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink ■ ¾yrd (75cm) cotton quilting fabric in red ■ 5yds (4.75m) backing fabric ■ 90 x 90" (2.3 x 2.3m) wadding ■ Rotary cutter ■ Cutting board ■ Quilting ruler ■ Tailor’s chalk ■ Basting spray ■ Walking foot FINISHED SIZE 84 x 84" (2.13 x 2.13m) Making a quilt is ultimate crafter goals. It might seem epic, but it’s worth it to create an heirloom piece that’ll be around forever. Plus, the beauty of patchwork is that it’s simpler than you…

HOW TO MAKE A CROCHET CUSHION MATERIALS ■ Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, 100% cotton, 50g/85m per ball, two balls each in Sailor Blue (640) (Yarn A), Blood Orange (620) (Yarn B), Marine Blue (634) (Yarn C), Rose Red (614) (Yarn D), Bubblegum Pink (651) (Yarn E), Lipstick Pink (652) (Yarn F), Dusty Lilac (647) (Yarn G) and Buttercup Yellow (623) (Yarn H) ■ 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) crochet hook ■ 40 × 40cm (15¾ x 15¾") cushion pad ■ Yarn needle TENSION 16 sts and 20 rows to 10cm (4") square over dc ABBREVIATIONS (UK)  st(s) stitch(es) ch chain dc double crochet ss slip stitch htr half treble RS right side WS wrong side crb st crab stitch – double crochet worked ‘backwards’. Instead of working from right to…

HOW TO MAKE A MACRAMÉ BELT MATERIALS ■ 51m (55½ yrds) macrame cord in natural, 1.5mm (1/16") thick (we got ours from www.bobbiny.com) ■ 35 wooden beads, 1.2cm (½") diameter ■ Masking tape Floaty, carefree boho looks aren’t just for summer – it’s a lifestyle we’re here for whatever the weather. And this gorgeous macramé belt, intertwined with wooden beads, makes it easy to get the look all year round. Wear it with maxi dresses and denim outfits to add retro vibes, then for chillier days, layer on a chunky knit cardi and belt it over the top. If you’ve never tried macramé, this quick make is a great place to start. Turn to page 82 to familiarise yourself with the various knots, then whip up some wearable art. 01…

CHRISTMAS BANNER BY ALICE GABB PHOTOCOPY AT 200% PEACE & JOY FELT WREATH BY HAYLEY VICTORY CROSS STITCH TAGS BY KAYLEY MACLEAN NEEDLE PUNCH WALL ART BY KIM LAWRENCE PHOTOCOPY AT 125% CROCHET CUSHION BY NATALIE BEARD HALF HITCH KNOT 01 Choose the static cord you wish to tie the half hitch knot to. 02 Using your right hand, take two hanging cords to the right of the static cord creating a D shape. Ensure the static cords are resting over the top of the tail of the D. 03 Cross the ends of the D cords at the point where the cords meet, then place through the loop of the D. 04 Pull the cords to secure them in the desired position. DOUBLE HALF HITCH KNOT 01 Choose a…

MATERIALS 40 x 40cm (15¾ x 15¾") backing fabric (we used hessian) 30 x 30cm (11 7/8 x 11 7/8") wooden picture frame Oxford punch needle, size 10 Chunky-weight yarn in light pink Chenille yarn in dark pink Aran-weight yarn in turquoise DK-weight yarn in bright pink, aqua and light blue Yarn needle Staple gun Marker pen 01 Stretch the fabric over the frame and staple in place at the back, pulling the fabric taut and working one side at a time. Turn the frame right side (RS) up and trace the design on page 82 onto the front of the fabric. Flip the frame, then trace the marked design onto the fabric’s wrong side (WS). 02 Thread the end of the turquoise yarn through the eye of the punch…

WORKING FROM HOME Embrace the WFH lifestyle wholeheartedly with slick, functional accessories that look good but don’t take up too much space. Your desk might now be a dining table, but you can still switch it up for the 9-5. 01 No office is complete without a motivational poster, and Amy Shamblen’s version inspires the exact amount of cute we want to feel. It might just be you and the cats at home, but there’s no excuse not to bring your best self. www.society6.com 02 If you can create your own dedicated workspace, it makes such a difference. Bloomingville’s Oak Cozy Desk is super narrow to save on space, but still wide enough to fit your computer, notebook and a lil plant pal. www.cuckooland.com 03 Treating your desk to one…

We humans are inherently social creatures. It’s in our nature to thrive alongside a close-knit group and we love to find like-minded souls. Charles Darwin would tell you this helped us survive when we were nomadic tribes, living in distant caves or primitive huts. But surrounding ourselves with people that find joy in similar things also gives us a sense of belonging and helps us form strong bonds. In 2020 – when many of these physical connections have been restricted – finding ways to reach out to others is more important than ever. CRAFTERS UNITE Whether you’re a newbie or a dab hand, crafting is a wonderful tonic in times like these. Mindful moments lost in creativity offer respite from the stress and worry the pandemic has bought and a…