Wrapping up 2025
Season’s Greetings Everyone, and welcome to the last post of 2025. The blog is now on holidays until late January-ish.
The Craft of Clothes Christmas staff party was on the weekend. It was only me there, as I’m the only staff. Catering was a breeze, no boring speeches, and the chickens provided the entertainment. The weather was hot and overcast, dashing my plans to wear my new jumpsuit (see below).
Before signing off, here are some of the year’s highlights.
Some new zero waste patterns got released.
And one ongoing pattern, a party skirt that’s been in the works for nearly a year. It’s nearly finished but I’m putting off the photography as I know it will take a lot of energy and recovery time.
I had the opportunity to do some collaborations. I do miss working in a team and collaborations fill the need. Making Zen, a week-long free online retreat, where I introduced the Humpty Dumpty pattern. Artist friend Meg Mader and I made a zero waste kit toy, Billy. I also did some patternmaking side quests which I’ll show you in the New Year.
Mirai Pattern @miraipattern in Japan continues to translate and license my patterns, and introduce modern zero waste patterncutting to Japan.
2025 has been another difficult year, as I’m still housebound with long covid, 3.5 years in. I’m only able to do stuff for 2-3 hours a day, although I do get a lot of thinking time. It surprises me to see how much has happened in the past year.
To finish on a happier note, coming up in February this blog will celebrate 10 years of weekly posts. Some of you have been reading from the very start, and I thank you for sticking with me!
My family and I wish you an enjoyable Christmas, holidays and New Year. Many thanks indeed for reading and following these creative adventures during the year, and your support for this little business.
Cheers! Liz x
Dear Liz, I always look forward to reading your posts and chatting with you! I wish you a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2026!
Best, Giul
Many thanks indeed for reading and your thoughtful comments. Wishing you the same.
I have a renewed enthusiasm to sew zero waste and am pleased to see it is catching on in Japan. Your blog is an inspiration and I read and reread it for technique ideas. Happy holidays!
Thank you Michelle, and wishing you a happy holidays too.
Dear Liz,
Have a lovely holiday time even if you’re housebound. I have thought many times in the last years that I am really impressed by all you manage to do with your long covid. Are the 2-3 hours a day including getting a shower and preparing a meal or is it the “time to do mor than mainly surviving”?
I wish you (and your daughter) that 2026 will see an improvement in your energy level, as well as getting your feet back to a better temperature 🙂
Humpy Dumpty is on my to-do list for Christmas but I first need to finish a medieval suit and parrot wings for my niece and nephew before getting there… I feel it’s going to be postponed to the new year! I discovered Making Zen through your blog and I do my best to take the time to look at the videos, it’s always interesting and gives me plenty of ideas, thank you so much for the sharing.
BTW, I wanted to send you an Eiffel tower snowball to compensate for the lack of snow in Australia but the 83€ shipping fee that the post office asks for made me abandon the idea O.o
I think I’ll share the link to the Matterhorn webcams instead 😀
https://www.matterhornparadise.ch/fr/information/webcams
Medieval suit and parrot wings! What interesting projects you are doing.
Thank you for you well-wishes. 2-3 hours are the “usable” hours (most people have 10) not including showering, eating etc. They get taken up surprisingly quickly.
We loved the Matterhorn footage – just watching it lowered the temperature:) Sending best Christmas and New Year wishes to you and family.
Wishing you and your family a peaceful Christmas Liz. I’m glad the chickens got to the Christmas Party in the absence of any other team members. I always appreciate a chicken photo.
Your output is impressive; you certainly make effective use of the time available to you and all the thinking time/ subconscious processing provides a solid base for action when possible.
It’s the season of the tartan Clair – so even though you are taking a break the Craft of Clothes maintains a presence.
I look forward to your reemergence in the new year.
Thank you Wendy, and thank you for your comments and kind thoughts throughout the year.
Go the tartan Clair!
Wishing you a happy Christmas.