Mollie Magazine April 2021

Seeing as we’re all well overdue some positivity in our lives, this issue we’ve filled Mollie’s pages with joy at every turn. Our aim isn’t just to inspire creativity in you, but also to spark the much-needed joy that’s been missing from our days for a while now. The amazing thing about craft is its ability to lift spirits in so many ways. Be it the thrill of planning a new project, the sense of calm each stitch brings, or the pleasure in seeing something handmade in your home. So, we celebrate all that and more this month. Get excited about trying a new technique with sculpted candles, naturally dyed table linen, and our beautiful embroidery hoop on the cover. Relax and unwind with a chunky knit cushion, the soothing art of…

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 iconic interiors guru and author, she’s also…

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 total renaissance right now. If you…

HOW TO MAKE EMBROIDERED WALL ART MATERIALS • Embroidery needle• DMC stranded cotton in 208 (pansy lavender), 210 (light violet), 211 (pale violet), 600 (crimson pink), 602 (marshmallow pink), 604 (hyacinth pink), 955 (pale green), 913 (jade green), 562 (malachite green), 3820 (aubergine mauve), 726 (mimosa yellow), 3078 (pale yellow) and 798 (cobalt blue)• One fat quarter of Robert Kaufman Essex Linen fabric in Peach• White cotton fabric• Embroidery hoop, 18cm (7")• Heat erasable fabric marker Spring is well and truly en route, and (whisper it) we can even see lockdown freedom in sight. So, celebrate the incoming sunshine and good times with this uplifting, tactile wall art. Niamh’s sampler-style piece uses lots of different stitches to create texture and interest, so it’s ideal for beginners looking to get into embroidery. And, we’re pretty…

HOW TO MAKE A NEEDLE-FELTED BUNNY MATERIALS • 7g natural white core wool• 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 it aside…

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 zigzag stitch, sew the elastic to…