Wilderstitch grew out of a longing for slower days and quieter making, the kind where you can sit down, take a breath, and let your hands do something gentle and meaningful. It’s a place for unhurried crafting, seasonal living, and projects that feel steeped in story, memory, and care.

I’m Erica-Jane Waters, the founder of Wilderstitch. I’m an author and illustrator of children’s books, and I’ve always been drawn to old stories, folklore, and the small magic of handmade things. That love naturally found its way here, where every kit, workshop, and downloadable project is shaped like a little story, something to step into slowly, rather than rush through.

The name Wilderstitch comes from my cottage, a 400-year-old, slightly tumbledown place called The Wilderness. It’s full of cracks in the walls, draughts in unexpected corners, and an old inglenook where it’s easy to imagine tiny mice, half-forgotten princesses, and other quiet lives tucked just out of sight. That sense of hidden stories and lived-in magic sits at the heart of everything I make.

Wilderstitch isn’t about perfection or productivity. It’s about making with intention, finding comfort in repetition, and allowing creativity to feel nourishing rather than demanding. Each piece is an invitation, to sit with a cup of tea, stitch at your own pace, and make something that feels as though it might one day be kept, gifted, or passed on.

I work with a small, kind team who help me now and then behind the scenes, but at heart Wilderstitch remains a quiet, personal offering, a soft place to land for anyone who finds joy in story, handwork, and the gentle turning of the seasons.