As a pattern designer and maker, much of my inspiration comes from nature—and perhaps nowhere more personally than from our own garden. Nestled behind our late Edwardian home in a quiet Rutland market town, this long, narrow green space is more than just a garden; it’s a peaceful retreat and a living sketchbook of ideas.
A Garden Reimagined
When we first moved into our Edwardian home back in 2020, the garden was a typical town plot: a central lawn framed by narrow flower beds around the edges. It had charm, certainly, but it didn’t yet feel like us. Over time, and with careful intention, we’ve carved out a completely new layout. The lawn gave way to wide, abundant beds, winding paths of pea shingle, and pockets of stillness. With no children to accommodate, we embraced a wilder, more natural structure—creating space for both creativity and calm.
A Space Rooted in Calm
Our North-Westerly facing garden may be a little slower to bloom in spring, but it hums with life and quiet rhythm. There’s a zinc tub pond where our little rescue dog likes to sip, a lean-to greenhouse where seedlings slowly stretch upward, and every border is brimming with plants chosen to suit our soil and survive the slug brigade. It’s a small sanctuary, full of movement and stillness at once.
Garden Practices that Reflect My Making Ethos
Just like my approach to designing patterns, our garden is guided by gentle, sustainable practices. We follow the no-dig method, use no pesticides or chemicals, and let nature lead. Birds visit regularly, helped by seed heads and ornamental grasses we leave uncut through the winter for nesting materials. We build slowly, repurpose often (like our self-built shed adorned with hanging deck chairs), and let the space evolve at its own pace—much like the way a pattern grows through its testing stages.
From Greenery to Crochet
In the latest pattern soon to launch, the Astaria Crochet Basket Bag, you might notice subtle garden influences. The rounded structure, th petal shapes, and the natural fibre feel all grew from afternoons spent outdoors, stitch by stitch, as the garden changed around me. In fact, you can catch a glimpse of the bag in progress in my latest YouTube video: A Secret Garden Tour.
Watch the Garden in Motion
If you’d like to slow down for a few moments and visit our garden yourself, the video captures Whe space as it is this May: mostly green with the first brave pops of white blooms and California poppies. There’s no tutorial this time—just a calm invitation to see what inspires me most.
Would You Like to See More?
If you’d enjoy future garden updates—perhaps when the roses bloom or the hydrangeas unfurl their petals—I’d love to hear from you in the video comments. And if the garden inspires you too, let me know how it shapes your own making or creative practice.
Stay tuned for the launch of the Astaria Basket Bag soon—both on Etsy and right here at Sewillow.
