There is a strong tradition of women crafting on the canals, specifically crochet. These intricate designs adorned the interior of boat cabins. Spaces inside the cabins were cramped therefore there were limitations of what interior décor could be used so an easy and affordable way for women to personalise spaces and create their own individual sense of style would be to create crochet curtains, porthole covers, table cloths, event bonnets and clothing – anything! The action of crochet is that of a stark contrast in comparison to the hard, laborious work that the women had to endure working on the canals so perhaps this was a welcome therapeutic antidote.

Sally created an original motif by making gelatin prints from actual crochet lace pieces. These original prints were then transformed into digital print designs by Cheryl O’Meara.

Cheryl O’Meara Cheryl is an established surface print designer who works with select designers, brands and couture houses, creating exciting & inspiring collections. Highly successful as a commercial print designer, her ambition is to push the paradigms and boundaries of what fashion and print are and reinvent a new future for fashion, print and selfexpression. Cheryl is also the owner of The Archive, which is an extensive archive of over 50,000 antique wallpapers and fabrics dating from 1700-1980 based at Islington Mill.
For this commission, Cheryl has created the range of bespoke print designs using original hand printed motifs and samples which have been digitally printed onto the range of fabrics.
printpatternarchive.com / @vintage_print_design