Emma Davies' appreciation of the outside world is threaded through her work.
Seeking something to do with her children during lockdown that wasn't associated with a screen at a time when life went online, the West Yorkshire mum stumbled on knotting and macrame.
"When I started lockdown what kept me sane was knotting and making things. I taught myself macrame skills - it was so methodical and so relaxing," she explains.
"I love repetitive patterns so for me it did come quite naturally. I love the tactile nature of it, the feeling of string in my fingers and the texture. It's all about tension - you have to have the right pull, you have to fight with it a bit to get it to do what you want it to do.
"It's definitely having a revival now as far as fashion goes. It is so therapeutic, it's methodical and I love it."
The graphic design graduate has always been inspired by the vibrancy of Seventies craft patterns, and the tone and glazes of the Hornsea Pottery she collects: "Also, all the plant hanging stuff was massive in the Seventies and I've been collecting vintage macrame magazines and it was just fabulous. I am inspired visually by the Seventies and I just thought, Throwback Threads" - which became the name of her business.
IN THE BEGINNING
The seed for the enterprise was planted before Christmas 2021. Preparing DIY kits for people to make their own simple macrame plant hangings proved so popular it gave the former teacher and events manager the idea to pursue her pleasurable pastime as a part-time profession.
"I couldn't make them fast enough for how quickly they were selling. It was just a hobby and I thought there's something in this - it makes me happy and I really enjoy it."
This story is from the February 2024 edition of Kitchen Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2024 edition of Kitchen Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EASY DOES IT!
As the growing season gathers pace there's one thing often in short supply: time! Ever feel like you're chasing your tail? Benedict Vanheems offers some tips to save valuable time and effort
A NEW Kitchen garden!
It's time for sowing and planting in the new garden and while Martin is busy with that, Jill is making a tasty asparagus soup
OUR PLOTTER OF THE MONTH
Kitchen Garden readers rose to the challenge when we asked for pictures of their plots to appear in the magazine this year. It's time to meet another of our talented competition winners
MANAGING WEEDS, NATURALLY
Weeds are never far away but you can keep them at bay without recourse to weedkillers
Meet the apple doctor
KG editor Steve Ott chats to Glyn Smith, head gardener for the National Trust's Erddig estate in Wrexham, about his career and love of the garden he has tended for 38 years
A CORNUCOPIA OF COURGETTES
It's time to sow a first batch of tender crops such as courgettes for picking through the summer months. KG editor Steve Ott has some tips for a super harvest
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT CURRANTS
you If I want to plant some soft fruit that is easy to grow and will give you plenty of flavour, how about trying currants?
TRY AMARANTH! The dual-purpose veg
Garden Organic's research manager Anton Rosenfeld extols the virtues of amaranth and how to grow it
A SPACE APART
Instagrammer James Martin shares his love of gardening and how much it has helped him and his family both mentally and physically under very difficult circumstances
HITTING THE SWEET SPOT
Welcome to the wonderful world of sweetcorn as Rob Smith takes a look at both old and newer varieties, with some growing advice too
