Back in November 2012 we sponsored one of Spoonflower’s weekly competitions. Roz Robinson of Catching Stars won the contest, and her prize is this month’s cover star: the vintage-style purse featured in Mollie Makes, issue 27. You can buy the winning print on Spoonflower!

Find the tutorial for these bags in issue 27

As a mother of two and inspired by “all things bright and jolly”, Roz decided to create her own funky and fun designs that appeal to kids as well as look great in the living room.

Roz (right) and business partner, Sarah Campbell.

She began printing her fabrics through her membership at spoonflower.com and soon after started a business with an old university friend. Now Roz Robinson and Sarah Campbell sell their makes on Catching Stars.

Fancy designing your own fabric? Check out this pattern tutorial

Make your own screenprint

Enter Spoonflower fabric design contests

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Simply click the image below to watch the Vine vid of our pretty pink fabrics

More Fabric Friday goodies

Design your own fabric

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There’s nothing quite like slipping in between fresh, cool sheets – right? With the new season well under way, thick winter sheets have cheerfully been ripped off and now we’ve set our hearts on some lovely linens! Here’s a few of our favourites.

DIY bedding tutorials

[Clockwise from top-left] 1. Learn how to turn your vintage fabrics into wonderful bedding. 2. Decorate your pillowcase with clouds (rain not included) – find the tute in the latest issue of Mollie Makes. 3. Ombre, ombre! We love the idea of dip-dying bedding. 4. Sleep well with neon polka dots.

Affordable bedding: under £100

[Clockwise from top-left] We’ve found some lovely, affordable bedding from Firm Living, an eiderdown at Rowen & Wren, pretty, patterned IKEA bed covers and Orla Kiely bedding in John Lewis. Each one’s a great purchase if you’re on a budget.

Treat yourself bedding: over £100

[Clockwise from top-left] Sometimes a really nice quilt finds its way into your basket. Quilt sets like Anthropologie‘s pilar bedding; or Cloud Hunter‘s ivory dream with rosettes and macrame; or Beci Orpin’s colourful quilt for Urban Outfitters - and why not, you deserve it! 

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Kirsty Hartley is emerging as the children’s wear designer of the moment. Her exclusive play-time dress pattern found in issue 25 is perfect for children’s parties with a theme. From summer frocks to play-time dresses, Kirsty shares her 5 top sewing tips for adapting the pattern.

1. Simply adapt the face pattern. Try different faces or creatures to create a costume that suit the theme.

2. The play-time dress pattern is quite generic, so it could be used for lots of different projects. To make a summer dress: simply use the pattern for the main dress and cut a half lining so that the fastenings are finished. If you extend the button edges by 10cm you can create ties at the shoulders for a lovely sundress pattern. Why not use a lovely spring print?

3. Have fun and experiment. Remember, you don’t have to be too precious, little ones grow so quickly. Plus, they’ll just love that it’s been made just for them.

4. Using an iron on adhesive gives an excellent finish for fixing the features.

5. Accessorise with a plain top and cool stripy tights, or use as an outfit for a themed party such as cat and mouse.

More sewing tips

Choose some prints from Fabric Friday 

Get Mollie Makes, issue 25

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Leanne Garrity, from Chi Chi Dee Handmade, shows us how to tie a pretty headscarf. Perfect for springtime up-dos!

Find out how to make a headscarf from your own fabric in issue 22 of Gathered by Mollie Makes, available to download now from the iTunes Store.

Learn how to crochet

Free craft projects

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Don’t forget, issue 25 of Mollie Makes is packed full of festive projects, including Liberty fabric bunnies, adorable egg cosies and more! Have a little look at the latest issue.

[Clockwise from top-left] 1. Not a fan of the sweet stuff? Ditch chocolate and favour pretty jewels in the form of this silver bumblebee necklace. Available from Liberty. 2. Say it with letterpress. Handmade Easter greeting cards from InkPrintLetterpress.

3. Celebrate Spring with a crochet garland. Made to order by Emma Lamb, or made by you with issue 24 of Mollie Makes. 4. Enjoy a folksy-style fabric that’s good all year round – available from Fabric Rehab.

5. Biscuits shaped like Easter eggs? A-mazing! Get ’em from the Biscuiteers. 6. Paper just got even cuter! Easter model kit from Mibo Ltd.

The post Moodboard: Easter treats appeared first on Mollie Makes.

Yay, it’s spring! And we’re celebrating with a few of our favourite pastel prints, perfect for making rucksacks, rabbits and pretty, play-time dresses.

[Clockwise from top-left] 1. Ravynaka’s Loves Me, Loves Me Not design has us falling head over heels. Loves you! 2. Urban Mod’s Triangularity Topaz reminds us of picnic bunting and constellations. 3. Flea Market Fancy in pastel pink is simply gorgeous! Combine with a lemon yellow print for a spring quilt design. 4. If Julia Rothman designed a range of perfume bottles, this is what they’d look like… bet they’d smell of spring too!

See some more of our favourite fabric selection

Free projects

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It’s an egg-cellent issue this week! Crochet a batch of delicious eggs, whip up confetti and make a baby’s bib out of jersey fabric with Gathered by Mollie Makes.

We also reveal our five favourite egg cups, interview talented textile artist Sarah Waterhouse, review our book of the week, plus lots more.

Gathered by Mollie Makes is available to download to your iPad now. Single issues cost just £1.49/$1.99, or get 5 FREE issues when you sign up to a risk-free one-month or one-year subscription.

Get Gathered by Mollie Makes

More Gathered by Mollie Makes goodness

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Happy Friday, crafty pals! Can you believe we’re on issue 22 already? In this week’s issue we show you how to make a sun-summoning wreath, crochet a colourful fish brooch and whip up a turban headscarf for updo hairdos.

Plus we review our book of the week, present our top 5 bouquets (because a girl can dream), watch an Auckland-based designer experiment with thread and lots more!

Don’t forget, Gathered by Mollie Makes is available to download to your iPad now. Single issues cost just £1.49/$1.99, or get 5 FREE issues when you sign up to a risk-free one-month or one-year subscription.

Get Gathered by Mollie Makes

More Gathered by Mollie Makes goodness

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Woohoo, it’s Quilting Day tomorrow! So to make sure we’re all prepared for quilt-making, here’s a roundup of the most useful supplies you’ll need close to hand.

[Clockwise from top-left] 1. You can’t do anything without a selection of fabrics for your quilt. Tip: don’t forget to trust your instincts (read here for more top tips for quilt-making). 2. Grab a few contrasting or matching threads, some for hand and machine stitching. 3. The trusty thimble: the best way to keep your small digits from big ouches. 4. One of the most important gadgets you’ll need is a rotary cutter – we swear by it! 5. Keep it together with these gem-like quilting pins. Aren’t they just amazing? Want!

Tips for making your first quilt

Quilting project roundup

Choose some fabrics from our Fabric Friday collection

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