Gardening with Copper by Tania Cohen

There’s a curious thing that happens when a piece you’ve admired on its own is finally seen in the company it was designed for.

On its own, it may be beautiful - complete, even. But when it’s placed alongside its companions, something else emerges. Relationships become visible. Decisions make sense. What once felt intuitive reveals itself as deliberate.

This is exactly what happens when Gardening with Gold, Gardening with Silver and Gardening with Copper are viewed together.

Over the past three issues of Inspirations magazine, beginning with issue #127, we’ve been featuring the progressive release of Tania Cohen’s magnificent parterre trilogy. Today, we complete the set with the final instalment, Gardening with Copper, from Inspirations magazine issue #129.

Individually, each panel is a masterful study in symmetry, metal threads and precision. Together, they tell a rich story - one where colour, symmetry and tone work in quiet conversation. Gold brings radiance, silver introduces restraint, and copper grounds the series with warmth and depth, completing the visual logic of the trio.

Only now, with all three side by side, can we fully appreciate the nuance of Tania Cohen’s choices. The symmetry remains constant, but the emotional register shifts. Repetition becomes intentional. The palette reveals its purpose.

Gardening with Copper doesn’t just complete the set - it brings the whole series into focus.

And yet, for all that shared symmetry and dialogue between the three, Gardening with Copper, like its counterparts, is more than capable of standing beautifully on its own.

Seen in isolation, the warmth of copper metal threads immediately draws the eye. Soft rose silks bring life to the tulip forms, while fresh greens trace gentle movement through the otherwise formal structure. The familiar parterre layout remains precise and disciplined, but here it feels softened - less architectural, more expressive.

Copper’s unique quality lies in its ability to bridge opposites. It carries the glow of gold without its brightness, and the restraint of silver without its coolness. In stitch, this creates a richness that feels both luxurious and approachable.

Tania’s technical mastery is evident throughout. Pearl purl, smooth passing and special twist define crisp pathways and borders, while felt and kid leather introduce subtle relief.

Tiny beads catch the light unexpectedly, rewarding close attention.

Whether Gardening with Copper completes a much-loved set you’ve been working through, or is stitched entirely on its own, it remains a deeply satisfying project - thoughtful, beautifully balanced, and quietly confident.

We know many of you have been working towards completing all three pieces in this series, and our kit team has been working behind the scenes to ensure access to kits for each design - particularly given that some of the goldwork materials used in these stunning projects can be difficult to source.

At the time of writing this newsletter, there are only a handful of Gardening with Copper and Gardening with Silver kits remaining. Gardening with Gold has sold out. If you are new to this series, or missed out on getting one of the kits, we’re looking at the possibility of releasing a new batch of kits for some or all of the titles. To help us know what you are interested in, email us HERE and just tell us which kits you would like, Gold, Silver and/or Copper.

Just a reminder that instructions for each project are sold separately and are available across the three issues of Inspirations magazine: #127, #128 and #129.