Wild Irish Flora Collection

I've had the privilege of living in Ireland my whole life. We grew up on the outskirts of Belfast. It was a busy and challenging urban life during the troubles. But the mundane of concrete and routines of unrest were dotted with moments of light, when we would escape to nature. As children we spent a lot of time on long walks in the mountains and forests (trying to keep up with the long legged adults!). But those long walks on little legs were always filled with moments of magic...sipping from a stream, climbing a stone wall, spotting deer, rabbits (and their scat of course), the flush of heather, unfurling ferns or hearing your soft hollow footsteps on the forest floor. There was also the browsing of Irish crafts and stew and a wee cuppa in the tea room. It was no surprise that I dreamed of living in the trees and the beauty of the surroundings set my imagination ablaze. 

It was this love of immersion in nature that led to the creation of Heather & Co. and what feels like the very heart of our work in the Wild Irish Flora Collection. The beautiful truth about nature is that time spent among it opens our imagination to capture it. And our connection to nature is an endless cycle of immersion and imagination, nurturing not only our creativity but our stillness. Unlike a tended garden...wild flowers ask nothing in return. They require no toil but instead grace us with rest and inspiration. 

My hope is that as you stitch these patterns, or simply read their stories, you too might find a little of that stillness.

The Collection 

The Wild Irish Flora Collection is a growing series of botanical embroidery patterns inspired by Ireland’s native flora and the beauty of slow stitching. As the seasons change and wild flowers emerge across forests, hedgerows and hillsides, the collection will follow their bloom through thread. 

Each pattern explores shape, movement and thoughtful placement through calming, rhythmical stitching.

Beginner Friendly Botanical Embroidery

These embroidery patterns are designed to feel approachable and restful to stitch. Using a small selection of stitches and thoughtfully balanced designs, the collection is suitable for both beginners and experienced embroiderers alike.

Rather than highly complicated techniques, the focus is on rhythm, texture and the gentle process of painting nature in thread.

Patterns in The Wild Irish Flora Collection 

Bluebells 

The first pattern in the Wild Irish Flora Collection is Bluebells, a simple botanical embroidery pattern inspired by the immersive beauty of native Irish bluebells. Designed to capture the feeling of sitting among vast waves of blue flowers, the pattern explores movement, rhythm and the stillness of spring woodlands.

 

Read the Bluebells story

View the Bluebells pattern

 

Hawthorn

The second pattern in the Wild Irish Flora Collection is Hawthorn, inspired by the ancient blossom-covered trees of Slemish Mountain. Often known as Ireland's "Mayflower", hawthorn arrives with a gentle reminder that nature does not hurry. Designed to capture the delicate beauty of white blossom amass across the branches, the pattern explores artistic impression and the reassurance that we each bloom in our own time.

 

Read the Hawthorn story

View the Hawthorn pattern

 

More patterns will gradually be added to the Wild Irish Flora Collection as the seasons bloom.

Thoughtful Placement

One of the beautiful things about embroidery is how easily it can transform practical objects into something deeply personal. The patterns in the Wild Irish Flora Collection are designed not only for hoop art, but for intentional placement on sewn projects too.

The designs work beautifully on project bags, drawstring bags, linens, gift bags and other small sewing projects, allowing embroidery and sewing to sit beautifully alongside one another.

Companion Sewing Projects

Each embroidery design in the Wild Irish Flora Collection pairs beautifully with a sewing pattern from The Maker’s Collection. Together they create practical projects that bring calm to your creative space and a home for your beautiful stitching.

 

I hope these patterns encourage you to step outdoors, breathe deeply and find inspiration in the beauty of nature around you. And perhaps, as you stitch, you may find a little stillness there too.

Much love & gratitude 

Lisa xx