Meet Cherry Our Woven Witch Model

The Official Model of Woven Witch

Every little fashion house needs a model.

Mine is extraordinarily patient, never complains about long fittings, doesn't mind being photographed at ridiculous hours and is perfectly happy to wear the same thing for as long as I need her to.

Her name is Cherry.

Cherry originally came to Woven Witch for a very practical reason. As I began making more pieces, I needed somewhere to display them properly. Photographing something lying flat can only tell you so much. Crochet changes when it's worn — lace opens, fabric drapes, necklaces find their natural position and bags suddenly begin to look like bags rather than interesting piles of yarn.

I needed a model.

And so Cherry joined me.

I don't think I realised at the time quite how much she would become part of the Woven Witch story.

She's been there as I've experimented with new ideas, learned what works and occasionally discovered what very definitely doesn't. She's modelled my first Woven Witch cardigan, carried my handmade raffia bag and patiently displayed chokers, crosses, leaves and other creations while I stood behind the camera trying to get just the right photograph.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking of her simply as the mannequin.

She became Cherry.

Now, whenever I finish something, one of my favourite moments is putting it onto her for the first time. It's often the point when I finally get to stand back from the hours of close-up crochet work and actually see what I've made.

There is something rather lovely about that.

A piece might begin as a ball of yarn on my desk. Then come the hours of counting, stitching, undoing, trying again, adding beads, changing details and wondering whether the idea in my head is actually going to work.

Eventually, it makes its way to Cherry.

And suddenly it looks real.

She has also quietly witnessed Woven Witch grow around her. What began with me returning to crochet has become a growing collection of handmade garments, jewellery and accessories, along with my website, shop, gallery and this Journal. Cherry has been standing in the middle of that creative chaos for much of it.

She has never once asked for a modelling fee.

Which is fortunate, because Woven Witch isn't exactly rolling in money yet.

Although I suspect she's building a case for back pay. 😂

I love that Woven Witch is gradually developing these little characters and stories of its own. There are the pieces I make, the collections they eventually belong to and the names they acquire along the way. Even my mannequin has somehow ended up with her own identity.

Perhaps that is inevitable when you spend enough time creating something.

You begin by making objects.

Then, little by little, you create a world around them.

So this Journal entry is for Cherry — the official house model of Woven Witch, wearer of unfinished experiments, keeper of countless crochet pieces and remarkably tolerant companion to one woman with far too many ideas and never quite enough yarn.

She may not say very much.

But she has had a front-row seat to the Woven Witch story from almost the beginning.

And I have a feeling her modelling career is only just getting started.

Gani
Woven Witch

Handmade with magic, patience… and one exceptionally cooperative mannequin.

Foxglove Takes Shape

The First Cardigan of the WildWood Collection

There is a lovely moment in any handmade project when a collection of yarn and individual stitches suddenly begins to feel like the thing you imagined at the beginning.

I think Foxglove has reached that moment.

The body of my Foxglove Cardigan is now complete.

When I began making her, I knew I wanted something quite different from my first Woven Witch cardigan. I wanted to keep the warmth and texture I had fallen in love with, but create something lighter and softer — a cardigan filled with the colours of wildflowers, woodland walks and those unexpected little flashes of colour you find growing amongst the green.

And somewhere along the way, Foxglove became more than one cardigan.

She became the beginning of the Woven Witch WildWood Collection.

Foxglove will eventually be joined by Dryad, Bluebell, Heatherbell and Clear Sky — five cardigans, each with its own palette and personality, but all belonging to the same enchanted little woodland.

For now, though, Foxglove is the one slowly coming to life beneath my hands.

Finishing the body feels like a milestone because this is the point where I can finally see how all those individual colours work together across a complete garment. There are soft greens and pinks, little bursts of warmth and cooler shades appearing unexpectedly from one row to the next. I didn't want the colours to feel too planned or perfect. Part of Foxglove's character comes from allowing them to wander naturally through the crochet.

That unpredictability is one of the things I love about making by hand.

There is always an idea at the beginning, but the finished piece develops its own personality as you work.

And Foxglove certainly has one.

She feels playful and romantic, a little whimsical and perhaps slightly unruly — rather like the woodland flower she was named after.

Of course, she isn't finished yet.

There are sleeves to complete, pieces to join, edges to finish and eventually a Woven Witch label to sew inside. There are still many stitches between the cardigan lying in pieces in front of me and the day I finally put Foxglove on the mannequin “Cherry”.

But I'm in no hurry.

One of the things Woven Witch has taught me is that handmade work doesn't need to race towards completion. There is value in the hours between the beginning and the end: choosing colours, watching the fabric grow, changing your mind, putting the hook down when you've had enough and returning when you want to make again.

Foxglove will be finished when she is finished.

And when that day comes, I'll have something that didn't exist before — something made slowly, row by row, with my own hands.

For now, I'm simply enjoying seeing the first inhabitant of my little WildWood beginning to emerge.

The body is finished. The woodland is growing.

And Foxglove's story is only just beginning.

Gani
Woven Witch

Five colours. Five cardigans. One little enchanted woodland, made by hand

The WildWood Collection

The WildWood Collection

There is something rather exciting about seeing an idea that once existed only in my imagination slowly beginning to take shape.

The WildWood Collection is my first planned collection of handmade crochet cardigans for Woven Witch. Five cardigans, each made in the same light and comfortable style, but each with its own colour palette, personality and name inspired by the natural world.

The collection will consist of Foxglove, Dryad, Bluebell, Heatherbell and Clear Sky.

I wanted the names to feel as though they belonged together without being identical. Some are inspired by wildflowers, some by the woodland, and one by the open sky above it. Together, they create the little world that became WildWood.

Foxglove is where the collection begins. Filled with beautiful warm pinks, oranges, purples and softer natural shades, it has a wonderful wildflower quality to it. At the time of writing this, Foxglove is already well underway, with the body completed and the cardigan gradually coming to life.

Dryad will bring the greens of the woodland into the collection, with shades that remind me of leaves, moss and the changing colours found beneath a forest canopy.

Bluebell introduces beautiful blue, turquoise and green tones—a brighter woodland colourway inspired by those flashes of colour that appear amongst the greenery.

Heatherbell will be the softer and more romantic member of the collection, with delicate shades of pink, blush and mauve.

Finally, Clear Sky will bring together blue and white, providing a fresh, airy contrast to the more floral and woodland shades of the other cardigans.

Although they will share the same basic design, the changing yarn means that no two cardigans will ever feel quite the same. One of my favourite things about working with colour-changing yarn is that I don't have complete control over exactly where every colour will appear. I can follow the same stitches and the same pattern, but the yarn has a little say in the finished piece too.

That unpredictability is part of their charm.

Making five cardigans by hand is going to take time. Crochet cannot be rushed, and I don't want it to be. Every cardigan will be created one stitch and one row at a time until eventually all five are hanging together.

I'm particularly looking forward to that moment.

I already have plans to photograph each finished cardigan individually, showing its shape, stitches and colours, but I also want one photograph of the entire WildWood Collection hanging side by side. I think seeing all five together will make the amount of work behind the collection suddenly feel very real.

For now, however, there are many stitches still ahead of me.

The WildWood Collection is still a work in progress, and I rather like documenting it at this stage. This journal isn't only intended to show finished products. I want it to record the ideas, experiments and many hours of making that happen before something ever reaches the Woven Witch shop.

One day I hope to return to this entry with all five cardigans completed and remember when WildWood was still simply a plan, a collection of beautiful yarns and a great many rows waiting to be crocheted.

And when that day arrives, there will be another chapter to write:

The WildWood Collection is complete.

But first, I have some crocheting to do.

Five colours. Five cardigans. One little enchanted woodland, made by hand.

The Bridal Choker.

The Bridal Choker Collection

Jewellery has the power to complete an outfit, and for me, a bridal choker is more than an accessory—it is the finishing touch that brings elegance, individuality and handcrafted beauty together.

The Woven Witch Bridal Choker Collection was created with the idea that every bride deserves something as unique as her wedding day. Each choker is carefully crocheted by hand, combining delicate stitches with thoughtful details to create timeless pieces that can be treasured long after the celebrations have ended.

Inspired by vintage lace, romantic silhouettes and the beauty of handmade craftsmanship, every bridal choker is designed to complement rather than overpower. The beauty lies in the texture of the crochet itself, enhanced with carefully chosen embellishments such as opal or pearls, sparkling details that catch the light with every movement.

Like every handmade collection, the journey began with a single prototype. The purple bridal choker featured in my gallery was created as a personal design study rather than a piece for sale. It allowed me to experiment with construction, fit and finishing techniques while exploring the style I wanted the collection to represent. That first choker will remain my own, marking the beginning of the Bridal Choker Collection and reminding me where the idea first came to life.

Future bridal chokers will continue to evolve while staying true to the values of Woven Witch: slow craftsmanship, careful attention to detail and creating pieces that feel both elegant and personal. No two handmade creations are ever completely identical, making every choker as individual as the person who wears it.

My hope is that each bridal choker becomes part of a cherished memory, worn on one of life's most meaningful days and treasured for many years afterwards.

Every stitch is made with patience, every detail chosen with care, and every piece carries a little of the magic that inspired Woven Witch from the very beginning.

Woven with magic. Made to be treasured. 🌿🤍

Enchanted Bee Brooch

Sometimes the smallest creations leave the biggest impression.

The Enchanted Bee Brooch began as a little project to work on between the larger cardigans I was making. Crocheting garments is a wonderful process, but it also takes time, so I wanted something smaller that I could enjoy creating whenever I needed a change of pace.

What started as a simple idea quickly became one of my favourite creations.

Using shimmering black, copper and silver threads, I carefully crocheted each section of the bee by hand. The wings were designed to catch the light, while the metallic body gave the little bee its own magical character. During the process I discovered that black eyes disappeared into the dark yarn, so I changed them to silver, allowing the bee's cheerful little face to come to life.

Like many handmade pieces, it evolved as I worked. Every small decision helped shape the finished design, reminding me that creativity often comes from adapting and improving along the way.

Although originally intended as jewellery for sale, I knew as soon as it was finished that the very first bee belonged with me. It will become my own brooch, a personal reminder of another milestone in the Woven Witch journey. Future bees will be lovingly recreated for customers, but this first one will always hold a special place in my collection.

Bees have long been symbols of patience, dedication and the beauty that comes from many small acts of work. Those qualities feel perfectly at home within Woven Witch. Every cardigan, every flower, every accessory and every stitch is created slowly, with care and intention, just as bees patiently build their hives one piece at a time.

The Enchanted Bee Brooch represents more than a new design. It reminds me that inspiration can appear in the smallest of projects, and that taking time away from a larger piece can often spark fresh creativity.

As Woven Witch continues to grow, I hope this little bee becomes one of its woodland companions, carrying a little magic wherever it goes.

After all, every enchanted woodland needs a few busy bees.

Woven with magic. Made to be treasured. 🌿🐝✨

My First Woven Witch Cardigan.

There are some creations that become more than the sum of their stitches. My first cardigan will always be one of them.

This was the first garment I completed under the name Woven Witch, and with every row it became a symbol of the journey I had begun. What started as yarn and a crochet hook slowly transformed into something I could wear with pride, reminding me that patience and perseverance can create something truly beautiful.

As with every handmade piece, there were moments of uncertainty. I made mistakes, unravelled sections and started again when things weren't quite right. Those moments taught me that craftsmanship isn't about perfection the first time; it's about taking the time to create something worthy of being finished.

When I finally slipped the cardigan on for the first time, I felt an overwhelming sense of achievement. The rich autumn colours, soft texture and flowing stitches came together in a way I had only imagined while it was still a collection of separate pieces. Seeing it in natural daylight was even more magical, as the sunlight revealed every shade of purple, rust, amber and warm earth tones woven throughout the yarn.

This cardigan is more than my first handmade garment. It represents the beginning of a dream. It gave me the confidence to continue creating, to design future collections, and to believe that Woven Witch could become something real.

Whenever I wear it, I am reminded of where this journey began. It has kept me warm on windy days, accompanied me on quiet walks, and reminded me that every finished piece starts with a single stitch.

No matter how many cardigans I make in the future, this one will always have a special place in my heart. It is my first Woven Witch cardigan, the foundation upon which everything else will grow.

Every journey begins with a single stitch, and this cardigan will always remind me where mine began. 🌿🧶💜

Woven Witch Postage Packaging.

A Home for Every Handmade Piece

One of the most exciting milestones in building Woven Witch has been creating the packaging that will one day carry my handmade crochet creations to their new homes.

For me, packaging has never been just about protecting an item during its journey. It is the very first impression a customer receives and the final part of the experience I have carefully crafted. I wanted it to feel thoughtful, elegant and true to the spirit of Woven Witch.

After much searching, I chose natural kraft gift boxes tied with a satin ribbon, botanical tissue paper inspired by nature, soft cotton drawstring pouches and my own Woven Witch thank-you cards. Every element reflects the woodland, handcrafted aesthetic that inspired me to create Woven Witch in the first place.

Like many parts of this journey, there has been some trial and error. I originally purchased pillow boxes before realising they were too small for many of my creations. My first batch of thank-you cards also taught me an important lesson—the text was printed a little smaller than I had hoped. While they are still beautiful, I now know exactly what I would like to improve when I order the next edition. Every step teaches me something new, and that is all part of building a handmade business from the ground up.

Seeing all of the packaging together for the first time felt incredibly rewarding. It transformed Woven Witch from an idea into something tangible. I could finally imagine a finished piece being carefully wrapped in botanical tissue paper, placed inside its gift box and sent to someone who had chosen to support independent handmade craftsmanship.

There is something rather special about knowing that every parcel leaving Woven Witch will be wrapped by my own hands. Every stitch, every fold of tissue paper, every ribbon and every thank-you card is part of the same promise: to create something with care, intention and lasting value.

This is another small milestone on the Woven Witch journey, and one I will always remember. The packaging is now ready. All that remains is to fill each box with something made by hand, one stitch at a time.

Woven with magic. Made to be treasured. 🌿

Welcome to my woven witch journal

Welcome to The Woven Journal

Welcome to The Woven Journal, a place where I share the stories behind Woven Witch, the pieces I am creating, and the inspiration that guides each collection.

My journey with crochet began when I was twelve years old, learning crochet embroidery at school. Years later, I returned to the craft and rediscovered the joy of making something slowly and carefully by hand. What began as a way to spend my time creatively soon grew into Woven Witch—an independent crochet studio inspired by nature, folklore, timeless craftsmanship and a little everyday magic.

Here, I will share the journey behind my work: from the first rows of a new cardigan to the final finishing touches, the ideas behind pieces such as Foxglove, Dryad, Bluebell and Heatherbell, and the smaller creations that appear along the way. I will also share glimpses of the learning, experimenting and decision-making that go into building Woven Witch one stitch at a time.

Every piece I make is individual. Some designs become part of the shop, while others remain personal milestones or experiments that help shape what comes next. This journal is a place to celebrate all of those stages—not only the finished creation, but the patience, care and imagination behind it.

Thank you for visiting and for taking an interest in independent handmade work. I hope The Woven Journal gives you a closer look at the heart of Woven Witch and the story still unfolding behind every piece.

Welcome to the journey.
Woven with magic. Made to be treasured.