Wrapping up 2024
Hi Everyone, welcome to the final post for 2024. The blog is now on annual leave until late January-ish.
The Craft of Clothes staff Christmas party was on last week – see photo above. Normally it’s just me, being a one-woman business, but Mr Haywood and the younger Haywoods came too. They have all helped me in different ways during the year. The dress code was “festive” and the official drink was orange electrolyte or water. I’m instructed to let you know the chicken’s name is Marjorie.
Before signing off, here are some of the highlights of the year:
Finally, A Year of Zero Waste Sewing got finished (Mr H said it should be called TWO Years of Zero Waste Sewing, because that’s how long it took). This book was experimentally published in instalments as zines, before coming together as a book. The individual zines are still available (here), and January is free.
Some new zero waste patterns got released:
Bottom row, L-R: Optimatium dress/coat; low-waste sunhat & bucket hat; the (free) hood update for the modular jacket.
I had the pleasure of doing some collaborations. As I work from home, I really miss working in a team and collaborations fill the need. I did a workshop for Making Zen (a free online retreat), was a guest host for #magamsewalong on Instagram (Make A Garment A Month), theme: Minimal May, and Zero and Zen, an online course sewing a modular jacket and adding sashiko stitching.
Earlier this year I licensed my patterns to be translated and sold in Japan by Mirai Pattern @miraipattern. I’ve long-wanted to sell in Japan but didn’t know how, so I’m very excited by this opportunity.
You may not know, but I write content for The Pattern Pages magazine’s Learn to Sew blog, along with other writers. Take a look! The Pattern Pages is a mother-daughter owned business in the UK, and they are lovely people to work with.
2024 has been a really difficult year, and I’m amazed at how much is on the above list. I’m only able to work for 2-3 hours a day, if that. Yesterday was my 2.5 year anniversary of long covid. I’m at home all the time. Am I recovering? It’s hard to say – some symptoms have improved and others have gotten worse, and (crazily!) new ones have appeared – but I’m managing my small envelope of energy more wisely.
To finish on a happier note, my family and I wish you an enjoyable Christmas, holidays and New Year. I thank you sincerely for reading and following these creative adventures during the year, and your support for this little business.
Cheers! Liz x
Thank you for your lovely email along with the photo of your family. The email is such a treat in this world of monetary madness. Of course Marjorie is the star of the lot of you – have a special thing about chickens.
Really enjoy your website and also your book. Thank you.
Seasons Greetings to all of you. Caroline
Many thanks Caroline. The calming cluck of a chicken is a soother when things are too busy 🙂
Merry, merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thanks Linb!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you too, Liz!
Thank you Laurinda!
Hi Liz thanks very much for a great year of sewing tips, tricks and connections to the wide world of creative textiles. Best wishes for Christmas with your lovely family and Marjorie. Hoping your health is much improved after a long January rest and 2025 is your superpower year. Best regards Isabel. PS I was in Adelaide for the 2nd test and hugely enjoyed the textiles exhibition at the SA Art Gallery.
Many thanks for reading, Isabel. Thank you for you health wishes for 2025. Given the current situation, I would happily settle for less than superpower!
The Radical Textiles exhibition? I hear it’s excellent.
Best Christmas wishes to you too. Cheers! Liz
Thanks for the resources you provide at this site! I’ve benefited from many of them, including sewing a bucket hat for my brother-in-law in the family Secret Santa this year.
I’m looking forward to whatever’s next in 2025, at whatever pace your health allows.