Little Beacon is one of our favourite brands for printed wool throw blankets, newborn swaddle wraps and ethically made in the UK homewares. Created using fabrics such as linen, merino wool, organic cotton and recycled card, small, limited run collections make each Little Beacon design that bit more special - not to mention their high quality finishes and timeless appeal! Lovingly designed in West Yorkshire, we are really chuffed to bring the Little Beacon touch to the South West here at SMALL-FOLK.
Founded by Rachel Walker - a Sydney, Australia native who has been living in the UK for just over 10 years - in 2019 Little Beacon was launched following unsuccessful searches to find interesting printed textile clothing for her newly born son. Using wooden blocks borrowed from a friend’s kindling stash, Rachel developed her first print run and hasn’t stopped since! Having begun with muslin blankets with little ones in mind, collections have expanded to quilts and matching accessories for living spaces. In celebration of her home away from home, the name Little Beacon is inspired by the local surroundings of Yorkshire; beacons of rock formations set across the nearby landscape. Each printed design is brought to life between the Little Beacon Ilkley, UK studio and by traditional artists in India who apply some of the prints seen individually by hand.
Focused on offering items for the whole family, gender-neutral colours are used for the hand prints and knitted patterns - the circular and half moon shapes of the Sunset and Earth Luna designs have become much loved signatures - presented across eco-friendly blankets, linen throws and recycled greeting cards.
Little Beacon: The Knitted Luna Blanket - Mustard/Oat
Whether you would like to spruce up your sleeping space or are on the hunt for a go-to movie night blanket, Little Beacon eco friendly knitted throws and linen quilts are ethically made and can be used year round thanks to their weight and use of natural fibres. The Linen Quilt - Earth Luna comes in two sizes - 60x80cm and 80x120cm - with a white printed stonewashed top layer cut from OEKO-TEX® linen with a 100% unbleached organic cotton filling, and a new Terra stonewashed OEKO-TEX® linen underside.
Also available in two sizes (the larger being perfect for a sofa throw) The Knitted Luna Blanket - Mustard/Oat has been made in the UK using 100% Woolmark certified Merino wool and has a charming double-layered reversible design achieved modern technology with a two-colour jacquard knit. We particularly like this one for cosying up during winter or during the warmer months as a big throw over shoulders whilst sitting in the garden.
Little Beacon: Extra Large Muslin Swaddle - Shadow
A really beautiful gift for newborns that can be used as a picnic throw, pram cover, swaddle blanket or beach throw, the Extra Large Muslin Swaddle has been decorated with three different prints for you to choose from; Sunbloom, Sunset and Shadow. White GOTs certified organic cotton provides a crisp base for a print applied by hand by a traditional artist in India which means that each is completely unique.
Showing the characteristic effects of block printing - a nice reminder of Little Beacon’s beginning - when it comes to seasonal greetings and sending well wishes around Christmas time, we love the simplicity and signs of individual hand printed on the Ho Ho Ho Christmas Card and Merry + Bright Christmas Card. Both are blank inside so you can add your own personal message and use recycled card, complete with their own recycled kraft envelopes.
We hope you enjoy each of Little Beacon’s designs as much as we do - they are sure to bring a lift to your living space. We would also like to wish Little Beacon a very happy 3rd birthday for this March!
You can browse our Little Beacon collection here or shop in-store at the SMALL-FOLK shop in Totnes, Devon.