Emilie Helliwell

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Hey, I’m Emilie - the one-woman wonder behind Emilie Flora - and I’m so excited to welcome you into the colourful world I have created!Creativity has always been at the heart of who I am, but my love for fibre arts truly took off 13 years ago when I discovered crochet. I was instantly captivated - how could twisting yarn with a hook create such intricate, beautiful fabrics? It felt like magic. That spark quickly turned into a passion, leading me to study Textiles at university, where I graduated with First Class Honours. I specialised in Constructed Textiles, exploring knit, weave and of course crochet.The real turning point came when I was introduced to the knitting machine during my studies. After years of hand-knitting and crocheting, this tool opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I spent countless hours experimenting with fibres, techniques and textures, eventually developing a signature style that blends bold colour with playful pattern. I love the contrast between machine knitting and hand crochet – two distinct crafts that I joyfully combine to create expressive, one-of-a-kind fabrics.Fast forward to today, and I have been running Emilie Flora for six amazing years! My degree gave me the technical foundation to turn my passion into a business, and the best part? I get to share it all through my designs and workshops.My crochet teaching journey began in my teens, assisting at creative workshops and continued through my university internship and outreach work at homeless shelters. But it was in 2024 that my workshop hosting truly flourished, when I was invited to run crochet workshops at Camp Bestival Dorset and Shropshire. Emilie Flora has taken me on the road, running workshops and trading at some of the UK’s biggest arts and music festivals - including the legendary Glastonbury Festival. These festivals are where my passion for teaching really came alive. With up to 40 participants per session, the creative energy is electric. Each day, we welcome hundreds of attendees, from age 5 to 75, into our vibrant, joy-filled workshop space.At the beginning of 2025, I moved to Australia for six months, where I continued sharing my craft through both group workshops and one-to-one tutoring. My teaching ranged from running sessions at women’s shelters to offering personalised crochet lessons in people’s homes - a deeply rewarding time that expanded my understanding of how powerful and healing these crafts can be across different communities.Now back in the UK, I am excited to bring my teaching expertise home, offering both group workshops and one-to-one crochet tutoring. Whether it’s in a lively community hub or a quiet, cosy corner of someone’s home, I am passionate about creating welcoming, inspiring spaces where people of all ages and skill levels can discover the joy of crochet.What I love most about teaching is sharing the magic of crochet. These once-fading crafts are experiencing a beautiful revival and I am proud to be part of it. Watching students light up as they master a new skill and leave excited to keep creating, is so rewarding! Sharing what I love and helping others discover their creativity – it truly is a dream come true.