Mollie Magazine April 2020

Makers, you have the power. Every time you fix a hole, shop secondhand or from an independent brand, or choose to make your own clothes, you’re part of the fashion revolution. Fashion Revolution week, taking place from 20-26th April, strives for greater transparency in the fashion industry. Every year it asks us “who made your clothes?”, and how amazing would it be if we knew? So, this issue is all about empowering makers worldwide, whether that’s factory workers or you! We’ve joined forces with Tilly and the Buttons to bring you two amazing gifts – a dress pattern from their new book that’s aimed at beginners, and a handy guide to those dressmaking basics. Plus, we’ve got the easiest knitted jumper, a rag rug clutch made from old T-shirts, and a copper…

Esther Curtis When she’s not drawing iconic fashion figures, Bristol-based illustrator and designer Esther loves wild swimming, seeking out tasty street-food trucks and discovering colourful kawaii packaging. Find Esther’s fashion illustrations on page 59. www.esthercurtis design.com Anika Gandhi Anika is the amazing DIY creative behind the blog Anika’s DIY Life. She’s always loved dance and music, and you can usually find her swaying to her favourite tunes while she builds in her workshop or works on a home-improvement project. Make Anika’s copper clothes rail on page 39. www.anikasdiylife.com Katie Jones Before she became obsessed with crafting, the love of Katie’s life was pop group Busted – she even saw them perform 26 times in one year. She’s also a self-confessed tea addict and drinks around 15 cups a day. Take a tour of Katie’s home on page 42.…

BEING A PART OF THE FASHION REVOLUTION is as easy as making and mending your own clothes. And, thanks to legendary dressmaker Tilly Walnes, we’ve got a pattern you can whip up in just two hours! Tilly’s brand, Tilly and the Buttons, are famed for their easy-to-follow patterns, so even if you’ve never touched a sewing machine before, this one’s for you. Taken from their latest book, Tilly and the Buttons: Make it Simple, your Suki dress pattern has a basic shape and minimal seams, so it’s a breeze to sew. Make a plain shift dress, go all out with statement patterned fabric, or switch it up with a short-sleeved version. The instructions come with your gift, and once you’ve mastered the basics, you can easily adapt it. There’s lots more ways to…

NEED SOME FRESH INSPIRATION FOR YOUR ME-MADE WARDROBE? You’re looking at it. The Adrianna Dress pattern has a couple of fashion’s favourite features du jour – a relaxed fit, statement sleeve, and that dress-up-or-down-ability, the rarest of gems. Modern, minimal and easy to sew gets our vote, but Friday Pattern Company also donates 5% of their proceeds to a handful of brilliant charities too. www.fridaypatterncompany.com DREAMING OF A FOREVER QUILT is one way to spend an afternoon. But if you’re finally ready to invest, Projektityyny ought to be your first port of call. The British brand’s commitment to eco and ethical practices is every bit as beautiful as their handmade instant classics, like this Pohjola design made with Liberty Tana Lawn fabric. www.projektityyny.com THREE CHEERS for paper, one of craft’s unsung heroes.…

HOW TO MAKE AMIGURUMI GIRAFFES MATERIALS Drops Cotton Light yarn, 50% cotton/50% polyester, 50g/105m per ball; one ball in Mustard (36) (Yarn A) Drops Safran yarn, 100% cotton, 50g/160m per ball; one ball each in Yellow (10) (Yarn B), White (17) (Yarn C), Cerise (55) (Yarn D) and Peach (12) (Yarn E) 3.5mm (UK 9, US E/4) crochet hook 2.5mm (UK 12, US C/2) crochet hook Two pairs of safety eyes, 0.6cm (¼") Embroidery thread in brown, light brown and pink Yarn needle Stitch markers Soft toy stuffing TENSION Tension isn’t important, just make sure the stitches are dense enough so the stuffing doesn’t show through ABBREVIATIONS (UK) st(s) stitch(es) ch chain ss slip stitch dc double crochet htr half treble tr treble yrh yarn round hook dc2tog double crochet 2 together – (insert hook…

1 Dare to choose colour Do you want to bring a fresh spring look to your walls? 2020’s on-trend colours, including strong shades of blue, yellow and mint, are exactly what you’re looking for. Blue accents? Of course, the Pantone colour of the year ‘Classic Blue’ is suitable for every season and can be combined very effectively. Delicate pastel tones will add the finishing touch to your high-contrast gallery wall. 2 Let nature in When plants of all kinds sprout outside and songbirds herald the new season, natural designs – be they lush or minimalist – shouldn’t be missing from your home. After all, what better represents the magic of spring than flowers, leaves and the reawakening animal world? 3 It’s in the balance A mix of portrait and landscape formats in different sizes and on…