The Poetry of Print: Madder Cutch & Co.
In a sun-dappled garden studio in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Nicola Cliffe is reviving the art of hand-printed textiles. A former chemistry teacher turned textile designer, Nicola founded Madder Cutch & Co. in 2014, inspired by her lifelong passion for fabric, form, and the natural world. What began as a bold career change soon blossomed into a thriving studio, where thoughtful design, slow processes, and deep-rooted sustainability go hand in hand.
Nicola’s journey - from the classroom to Chelsea College of Art, where she gained an MA with distinction in Sustainable Textile Design - has imbued her work with both rigour and imagination. Her background in science has proved unexpectedly fitting in the world of natural dyes. Each print begins with a simple sketch, often inspired by the garden just outside her door. Achillea, tickencote pink, and madder rose are both colours and characters in her growing body of work.
The designs are transformed into flowing repeat patterns, which Nicola hand screen-prints on upholstery-weight linen woven in Europe. Every metre is printed to order in her own studio, ensuring that quality, ethics, and environmental impact remain at the heart of production. Her preferred palette includes plant-based dyes such as madder, cutch, weld, woad, and indigo - ancient yet vibrant dyes chosen for their gentle impact on the planet. Over time, these colours soften and shift, offering a quiet kind of beauty that deepens with age.
Madder Cutch & Co. offers a collection of elegant, handmade homewares - cushions, curtains, blinds, lampshades - all created by Nicola and a small team of local artisans. Each piece is crafted with care, reflecting the landscape from which it draws its inspiration. The studio also offers bespoke printing services, and Nicola shares her expertise through mentoring, workshops, and her recently published book, Printing with Natural Dyes.
This season, Selvedge readers have a unique opportunity to bring a piece of Madder Cutch & Co. into their own homes. We are delighted to offer one lucky reader the chance to win four metres of hand-printed linen, worth £440. You’ll be able to choose your favourite design and colourway from Nicola’s website - an ideal amount for a set of cushions, a table runner, or a small upholstery project.
But don’t delay - this is your last chance to enter before a new selection of prizes is released with the next issue of Selvedge. To take part in the prize draw, simply click here.
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Further Information:
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Image Credits:
All images courtesy of Madder Cutch & Co.