Table of contents for Christmas 2021 in Mollie Magazine

This is the time of year for rediscovering all those treasures that represent happy memories, and for finding new things to be keepsakes going forward. Think nostalgic pieces to hand down to kids, or extra-special decorations to get everyone talking on Christmas Day. 01 If you’ve never thought to switch up your wall art with the change of seasons, now’s the time to try it. Annie Dornan Smith’s prints are based off her own drawings and hand-lettering with lots of glitzy gold foil. www.anniedornan smith.co.uk 02 We’ve found something that’s made to be passed down as an heirloom – House O’Fellows’ incredible hand-embroidered giant advent calendar. The pockets let you add whatever treats you like. www. notonthehighstreet.com/houseofellows 03 Have you ever seen such beautiful writing? These gorgeous phrases are based…

HOW TO MAKE A CROCHET CAT WREATH MATERIALS ■ Scheepjes Cahlista, 100% cotton, 50g/85m per ball; one ball each in Hot Red (115) (Yarn A), Snow White (106) (Yarn B) and Deep Ocean Green (391) (Yarn C) ■ Scheepjes Catona, 100% mercerised cotton, 25g/62m per ball; one ball each in Powder Pink (238) (Yarn D), Baby Blue (509) (Yarn E), Primrose (522) (Yarn F), Antique Mauve (257) (Yarn H) and Hazelnut (503) (Yarn I), and two balls in Old Lace (130) (Yarn G) ■ 3.5mm (UK 9, US E/4) crochet hook ■ 2.5mm (UK 12, US C/2) crochet hook ■ Soft toy stuffing ■ 8mm (/3") blue safety eyes ■ 8mm (/3") black triangle safety nose ■ Pink felt ■ Pink and black thread ■ 20cm (7/8") diameter polystyrene wreath…

HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON STAR COOKIES INGREDIENTS For the cinnamon dough ■ 3 egg whites ■ 225g (8 oz) icing sugar, sifted (plus extra for dusting) ■ 150g (5½ oz) ground almonds ■ 225g (8 oz) ground hazelnuts ■ 1½ tbsp ground cinnamon ■ Salt ■ Zest of 2 oranges ■ 290g (10¼ oz) marzipan, diced into small pieces For the meringue topping ■ 6 egg whites ■ 450g (15¾ oz) icing sugar, sifted ■ Pink and blue food colouring pastes ■ Pearl edible lustre spray EQUIPMENT ■ Stepped palette knife ■ Foldable cinnamon star cutter ■ Electric mixer or whisk MAKES 60 COOKIES It‘s time to get back on the festive baking traditions, and this recipe is an amazing one to make for friends. It‘s a nice easy dough…

“Suddenly, a whole new world opened up in front of me.” Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved to make things. It’s a trait that runs strong in the women of my family – my father’s mother was a sculptor, my mother is a painter and my mother’s mother was the person who introduced me to my love of yarn. It started with ornaments. Each Christmas, my grandma would needle hook an ornament for her three children. One year, a perfectly rendered miniature cable car, an homage to the city my mother’s family were from in Japan, another year a candle. My grandma saw my curiosity around how they were made, and she did the seemingly impossible – she taught an active and misbehaved little girl how to sit for…

Charlotte Jacklin Charlotte’s the former editor of Betty, a beautiful fashion, home and lifestyle magazine. Since having her daughter, she’s focused on curating an amazing feed of inspiration through her social media. Have a nose around Charlotte’s house on page 40 www.charlottejacklin.co.uk Eleanor Hardiman Eleanor is happiest curled up with a blanket, a tea and a good book. Her work aims to bring some calm to everyday life. Inspired by the outdoors Eleanor, has grown up with a love of gardening, although, has yet to perfect the art of growing tomatoes. See Eleanor’s gorgeous illustrated prints on page 59 www.eleanorhardiman.co.uk Orsi Farkasvolgyi Orsi is a professional amigurumi designer from Budapest, Hungary. She designs crochet dolls and tapestry decorations, and has released her first book Crochet Little Heroes. Make Orsi’s quirky…

HOW TO MAKE KNITTED FAIR ISLE SLIPPER SOCKS MATERIALS ■ Stylecraft Special Aran, 100% acrylic,100g/196m per ball; one (1, 2) ball in Black (1002) (Yarn A), one ball in Cream (1005) (Yarn B) ■ 5mm (UK 6, US 8) straight knitting needles ■ 5mm (UK 6, US 8) circular knitting needle 60cm long ■ 10 stitch markers ■ Stitch holder ■ 3.5cm ( /8") pom pom maker ■ Yarn needle ■ 5mm (UK 6, US 8) circular knitting needle (any length) TENSION Approx. 18 sts and 24 rows in st st to measure 10cm (4") ABBREVIATIONS (UK) K knit P purl St st stocking stitch – 1 row knit, 1 row purl K2tog knit the next 2 sts together K2togtbl knit the next 2 sts together through the back loops…

HOW TO MAKE A DRIED FLOWER CENTREPIECE MATERIALS ■ Pampas grass ■ White bleached bunny tails ■ Extra dried grasses and flowers such as honesty, gypsophila and ruscus leaves ■ 1.5m (59 /8") 2mm (/16")-thick aluminium wire ■ Thin floristry wire This is the best time of year to amp up your tablescaping and really create a spread to remember. If you’ve got your napkins and crackers down, a centrepiece to impress is the final touch that will really bring everything together. We’ve kept this one natural with beige-toned dried flowers, meaning you can use it over and over again for other occasions, plus it’s a little more sustainable. Becki guides you through making a solid base and then gives you loads of room to change up the flowers depending…

This is the surface pattern design company of our dreams. Created by friends Alicia Perry and Rebecca Intavarant, they stock a range of dreamy, maximalist homeware with intricate prints inspired by nature. Think ditsy florals, delicate leaves and filigree detailing. www. tuppencecollective.com…

HOW TO MAKE AN EMBROIDERED SWEATSHIRT AND PET BANDANA MATERIALS ■ White sweatshirt ■ 35.5 x 35.5cm (14 x 14") white fabric ■ DMC stranded cotton in Blanc (white), 225 (light pink), 310 (black), 321 (red), 470 (light avocado green), 597 (Iceland blue), 605 (very light cranberry), 612 (string brown), 718 (magenta), 962 (dusty rose), 3812 (very dark sea green), 3818 (very dark emerald), E3821 (light gold), 3862 (dark mocha beige) ■ 15.25cm (6") embroidery hoop ■ 10.25cm (4") embroidery hoop ■ Embroidery needle size 6 ■ Iron-on interfacing ■ Water-soluble fabric pen ■ Sewing machine ■ White machine thread We’re celebrating being together again this year, and that means pulling out all the stops and having lots of extra special touches to make some memories. Sally’s matching jumper and…

HOW TO MAKE REUSABLE BEESWAX WRAPS MATERIALS ■ Fabric (we used printed cotton from www. clothandcandy.co.uk) ■ Beeswax pellets ■ Jojoba oil ■ Iron ■ Greaseproof paper ■ Scissors and pinking shears ■ Tape measure ■ Old tea towel ■ Tablespoon If your fridge is sure to be filled with leftovers at this time of year, then these alternatives to single-use plastic cling film are going to be for you. You can use up any smaller fabric scraps you've got lying around from other projects too so it ticks all the sustainability boxes. We love bright patterns to make the fridge look more exciting but these will work for on-the-go snacks, too. Each piece of fabric is coated in beeswax pellets, which are really easy to get hold of, but…

After the disappointment of Christmas 2020, the Mollie team’s going all out to spread love and cheer from our homes to yours this year. And Christmas doesn’t get much bolder and brighter than this issue’s 15 crafts to make for your home. Whatever your colour scheme, we have something you’ll love. From neon punch needle decorations to traditional crochet baubles, and stylish hand-dyed linen to a muted feather garland that could be used all year round. It’s easy to feel the overwhelm at Christmas but crafting can always a safe space, so take a deep breath and unwind with these festive craft projects.…

BRINGING SOME FESTIVE GLITZ into every aspect of our outfits is Fat Pom Poms – the brand creating the most covetable pom pom sculptures and accessories. What began as a creative outlet for maker Jess Gladwish has since turned into a passion for yarn and a full-time thriving business. And what could be more fitting than fluffy tinsel to sparkle up your day? You can wear these gold versions with everything. www.fatpompoms.etsy.com LATEST DROP WHAT’S YOUR STAR SIGN? Whether you’re a dedicated horoscope follower or not, there’s no doubt these celestial coasters are beautiful. Each one is adorned with the constellation to match the zodiac signs, with added hints of gold. They’re handmade to order from water-based eco-resin. We think they’d make lovely Secret Santa gifts with a bit of…

MATERIALS Drill Small hacksaw Children’s chunky wooden threading beads Wooden candle cups 8cm (3 /8") diameter wooden disk 1cm ( 3/8") diameter wooden dowel Strong super glue Spray paints in various colours (we used Montana and Kobra paints)…

If ever there was a perfect time of year to enjoy Charlotte Jacklin’s exuberantly feminine décor, it’s Christmas. The content creator and former editor of Betty magazine loves the festive season, and the cheerful mix of decorations that fill her house at this time of year serve to make her welcoming Lincolnshire home especially enchanting. Charlotte moved here from Margate three years ago with her husband and daughter, now four. This new base has provided a canvas for experimenting with her distinctive personal taste, and it has evolved into a cosy reflection of her nostalgic, romantic style. At Christmas, this is enhanced with a merry mixture of bought and handmade trinkets, from the Christmas trees that Charlotte crafted using Liberty fabrics to her selection of ceramic house tealight holders, while…

HOW TO MAKE SEQUIN TREE DECORATIONS MATERIALS ■ Stiff pearl purl wire ■ 3-5mm (/8-¼") sequins in red, blue, yellow, pink and orange ■ 3mm (/8") gold bugle beads ■ Seed beads in red, black and gold ■ Stranded cotton in red and black ■ Transparent nylon thread ■ Embroidery and beading needles ■ 20 x 20cm (7/8 x 7 7/8") stiff felt ■ Card ■ 15cm (6") embroidery hoop ■ Eye pins ■ Twine Now is the time of year to amp up the glitz and fun, and this project is an amazing way to add some colourful retro vibes to spice up your tree decorations. They‘re a fresh take on the usual motifs of reindeer, bells and stars that are everywhere this time of year. You can get…

One good thing has come from the distance and uncertainty of the last year: it’s brought what matters most into sharp focus. Zoom fatigue and doom scrolling have claimed too many hours, and now our hearts long for meaningful moments spent with loved ones IRL. Exactly how to make that a stress-free reality at this time of year is the real question. Craft is often where we turn for winding down. The slow, repetitive motions of fingers in clay and dough, stitch after stitch with yarn or thread, or an hour spent with paints calms the mind. But add Christmas into the mix and those pursuits can gain to-do list status. Or, worse still, there’s no time for mindful making at all. Let’s liberate our calendars and find time for…

Lana Red Illustrator and craft blogger Lana is the face behind Lana Red Studio, a name inspired by the fact she nearly always wear red lipstick. She lives in The Netherlands with her cats Olaf and Wolfgang. www.lanaredstudio.com Irina Tretakova  Irina’s craft business Fancy Knittles sells miniature crochet dolls’ house plants, flowers and teddies that make a big impact. www.etsy.com/uk/shop /fancyknittles Christine Leech There isn’t a craft that author Christine can’t turn her hand to but the self-proclaimed pom pom princess holds a special place in her heart for these colourful balls of loveliness. Follow Christine on Insta @sewyeah Laura Strutt Creative consultant, illustrator, craft designer, author, pet owner and mum, Laura, leads a busy life striving to add a handmade touch to everyday life. www.madepeachy.com Isabella Strambio Interior designer…