Sustainability & Ethics at Wild Flower Crochet

Crochet with Kindness

If you've spent any time getting to know me, you'll probably know that kindness sits at the heart of everything I do.

I've been vegetarian all my life and now mostly follow a vegan lifestyle because I care deeply about animals and the world we share with them. Those values naturally find their way into Wild Flower Crochet too.

For me, sustainability isn't about being perfect. It's about making thoughtful choices, asking questions, learning as I go and always trying to tread a little more lightly on the planet.

Crochet is already a wonderfully slow craft. Every stitch takes time, every project teaches patience, and every handmade piece has a story. In a world of fast fashion and disposable products, I love creating things that are made to be treasured rather than replaced.

If I can encourage even one person to repair something instead of throwing it away, use the yarn already sitting in their cupboard, or simply slow down for an hour with a crochet hook, then I feel I'm helping make a small positive difference.

A Slow Fashion Mindset

Crochet is about the complete opposite of fast fashion.

Every design I create is intended to be enjoyed for years rather than a season. Whether it's a wearable, home decoration or pattern, I hope it becomes something that is loved, repaired when needed and perhaps even passed on one day.

Making something yourself changes how you value it. You understand the time, care and creativity behind every stitch, and that naturally encourages us to buy less, waste less and appreciate more.

Choosing Yarn Thoughtfully

Every yarn has its own story, and I spend a lot of time researching the brands I use before they become part of my business.

No manufacturer is perfect, but I try to support companies that are transparent about where their fibres come from, how they're produced and the steps they're taking to improve animal welfare and reduce environmental impact.

Whenever possible, I look for yarns and collections that carry recognised certifications such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which tests for harmful substances, and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), which supports responsible organic textile production. I also favour brands that publicly commit to practices such as mulesing-free wool and, where silk is used, cruelty-free production that allows silkworms to complete their natural life cycle.

Malabrigo

Malabrigo Yarn works with small farms and artisan dyers to produce beautifully hand-dyed natural fibre yarns while supporting local communities in Uruguay and Peru. Their focus on craftsmanship and long-lasting quality reflects the values of slow making.

Scheepjes

Scheepjes continues to expand its range of responsibly produced yarns, including collections carrying GOTS and OEKO-TEX® certifications. They also offer mulesing-free wool ranges and are committed to increasing transparency throughout their supply chain.

Yarnsmiths

Yarnsmiths creates high-quality yarns that are designed to be durable and accessible. I appreciate their emphasis on quality materials that encourage makers to create projects intended to last rather than be replaced.

Knitting for Olive

Knitting for Olive is one of the brands whose values closely align with my own. Their merino wool is mulesing-free, their silk is cruelty-free, allowing the moths to emerge naturally before the fibres are collected, and many of their yarns are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified. They place animal welfare, transparency and environmental responsibility at the heart of their business.

DROPS Paris

DROPS Design produces DROPS Paris using 100% cotton and works with suppliers that meet recognised environmental and animal welfare standards. I particularly enjoy using their natural cotton fibres for projects that are made to be enjoyed for many years.

Every Scrap Has Potential

One thing you'll rarely find in my house is yarn being thrown away.

Even the tiniest scraps usually end up becoming stuffing, embellishments, colourwork, tiny flowers, amigurumi details or experimental swatches. If there's enough to make something useful, I'll find a purpose for it.

Crochet has taught me that a little bit of creativity can often save something from the bin.

The same goes for sewing and mending. Rather than replacing clothing or homewares, I love repairing, altering and giving them a second life. A decorative crochet patch, a repaired seam or a new border can completely transform something that might otherwise have been discarded.

Kindness to Animals

My love of animals has always shaped the way I live.

Being vegetarian all my life, and now mostly vegan, isn't a trend for me. It's simply how I've chosen to live with kindness towards animals and respect for nature.

While different fibres have different benefits, I will never knowingly support practices that involve animal cruelty or unnecessary suffering. Whenever I'm choosing materials, I consider not only how they perform, but also where they come from and whether they align with my values.

Workshops That Celebrate Reuse

When I teach crochet, I'm not just teaching stitches.

I'm encouraging people to see materials differently.

You're always welcome to bring yarn you've had tucked away for years. We often talk about adapting patterns to suit what you already own, making thoughtful substitutions and using leftovers creatively instead of buying more.

I also love chatting about different yarn fibres, where they come from and how to choose materials that are kinder to the planet wherever possible.

Learning to crochet is also learning to repair, adapt and make things last longer. That's a skill I think is becoming more valuable than ever.

Building a Community

Wild Flower Crochet has never just been about patterns or finished products.

It's about building a close-knit community (yes, I couldn't resist the knitting joke).

I want my workshops and online spaces to feel welcoming, supportive and full of people who enjoy sharing ideas, encouraging one another and celebrating handmade creativity.

Craft has always brought people together, and I believe that's just as important today as it has ever been.

Packaging with Purpose

I have to admit, I do love beautiful packaging... but I love the planet a little bit more.

Rather than following every packaging trend on social media, I choose materials that are kinder to the environment wherever I can. Every order is packed using recyclable or biodegradable packaging, with no unnecessary plastic.

If I have clean packaging that can be safely reused, I'll happily give it a second life rather than buying something new. You might receive a parcel in a reused box or with recycled packing materials, and I hope you'll see that as part of the story rather than a flaw.

For me, the excitement should come from opening your handmade order, not from creating extra waste.

Digital First

Whenever I can, I choose digital over paper.

All of my crochet patterns are available as downloadable PDF files rather than printed booklets. This means there's no paper, no printing, no extra packaging and no transport emissions involved in getting your pattern to you. You can download it instantly and keep it safely on your device, or print it at home only if you prefer to work from a physical copy.

The same approach runs through my business wherever possible. I keep printing to a minimum, use digital resources in my workshops where practical, and only print materials when they genuinely add value.

It's a small change, but lots of small changes can make a meaningful difference over time.

Of course, I completely understand that some crocheters love working from a printed pattern (myself included sometimes!), so if you do choose to print one, I'd always encourage printing double-sided or using recycled paper where possible.

Supporting Local

One of the things I love most about crochet is the way it brings people together.

For generations, skills like crochet, knitting and sewing were passed from one person to another. Somewhere along the way, many of those traditional skills became less common as replacing things became easier than repairing them. I'd love to play a small part in changing that.

Through my workshops, I hope to create a welcoming space where people can slow down, learn something new and connect with others who enjoy making. Whether someone is picking up a crochet hook for the very first time or returning to a hobby they loved years ago, everyone is welcome.

Whenever possible, I also like to support independent businesses, local yarn shops and fellow makers. Small businesses thrive when we support one another, share knowledge and celebrate creativity together.

One of my long-term dreams is for Wild Flower Crochet to become more than just a place to buy patterns or attend a class. I want it to be a creative community where people can share ideas, inspire one another, swap skills, celebrate handmade work and build genuine friendships.

Because while beautiful crochet is lovely, I think a community built on kindness, creativity and a shared love of making is even better.

Inspired by Nature

If you've noticed there are rather a lot of flowers, leaves and woodland colours around here... that's entirely intentional.

Nature is where I feel happiest, whether that's wandering through wildflower meadows, watching bees disappear into foxgloves, or stopping to admire a particularly impressive mushroom on a woodland walk.

My designs are inspired by the seasons, the countryside and the little details we often rush past.

I'd much rather spend time appreciating nature than taking from it unnecessarily.

Besides, if I spent any longer looking at flowers, I'd probably end up designing another mandala.

Always Learning

I don't claim that Wild Flower Crochet is perfectly sustainable.

The reality is that no small creative business gets every decision right all the time.

What I can promise is that I'm always asking questions, researching suppliers, looking for better alternatives and trying to make choices that are more ethical and environmentally conscious than the ones I made yesterday.

Sustainability isn't a finish line. It's an ongoing journey of learning, improving and making more thoughtful decisions.

Thank you for supporting a small business that believes creativity, community and kindness can go hand in hand.

Together, every stitch really can make a difference.