I wanted this print to have a delicacy that would make it as suited to a napkin as a tablecloth. I reduced the scale of the pomegranates, knowing their juicy ripeness could still be conveyed through colour.

Snowdrops, anemones and berries twist through the pomegranates, while little birds perch throughout, bringing the print to life. All that movement made Pomegranate Dance feel like a natural name - and it also harks back to the activity I love most at Christmas.

A drawing on paper is only the beginning. Every line then has to become something that can be printed by hand. I typically scan my sketch several times and trial different colour combinations with watercolours, saving both time and dye in the studio later.

This also helps us establish how many blocks need to be carved. A two-colour print needs just two blocks, while a five-colour design like Pomegranate Dance requires six, including the outline. Once the design is finalised, each element is traced and carved into wood to create the individual printing blocks.

With the festive repeat at the centre of the tablecloth, we chose our signature rose design for the border. A similar contrast in scale and pattern appears on the placemats, which are finished with candy-stripe piping.

Then comes the most important step: printing. Long tables are laid with cotton stretched taut, followed by the melodic tap, tap of each wooden block as the pattern gradually appears across the cloth.

We always design our collections to work harmoniously together, mixing and matching across seasons. Last winter’s Rose Orchard in berry sold out in just ten days, so we’ve brought it back this year with Pomegranate Dance in mind.

Pictured here, the deep berry placemat and napkin brings richness and drama to Pomegranate Dance tablecloth. Its magenta, scarlet and green add joy and delicacy to Rose Orchard’s monochromatic palette.