5 months in...our first Christmas.

As I sat down to write this Christmas blog I was surprised to be reminded I had actually written a blog last Christmas. Why the surprise? Myself and Nic hadn't actually put a product out there at that point. But reading back over it I was reminded why reflection is good. No, we didn't have a product but we did have:

• Intent

• passion

• determination to start

Whilst I have been the product development driver and maker Nic has been giving her time and expertise outside of her work to the website, graphics, flyers and the pamper packs we are currently selling, and working with her this year has been a blast.

We currently have a stall at https://www.thecan.co.nz/ this Christmas through to Jan 15th 2026. This is predominately to sell the makes from the offcut fabrics that the hoodie making in particular has been generating. We want to make as sustainably and ethically as we can, and hate waste. Every penny made from that will go back into the business.

Everyone knows start-ups are a bit gnarly, and I think there is a definite art to being realistic without being defeatist and optimistic without being delusional! So in today's economy, and providing for a quite specialised market whilst watching well established brands fold weekly I am needing to practice that art. Daily.

As we head to the end of this year and into celebrations and reflection. Not knowing what 2026 will hold, but with a plan of a pathway forward and still having:

• Intent

• Passion

• Determination to push on

I just want to say how grateful I am for this year of starting, huge person growth, and connection.

Hopefully we will get some good sales and I'll still be wishing you happy Christmas from Clothed next year!

So for now, I hope you have a special and relaxing time over this Christmas break.

My personal pattern company go-tos. Part 1

I am in the fortunate position to have reached that wonderful stage where most days I am wearing at least one item of clothing me-made. If this comes out in conversation I often get asked which pattern companies I use... ( Yes once a patient of mine did not only walk out at the end of the consult with a scrip but also a sewing pattern co. recommendation). So for the next few weeks I will be sharing these with you.

When I started sewing in 2019 I was first lured in by cute baby fabric designs. My youngest boy was about 6 months and one day I had an urge to sew something. Not wanting to commit to buying a sewing machine I was unconvinced I would use, I started by hand sewing a buzzy bee faux fur backed throw....,My then 3 year old eldest child was delighted...And I was hooked!

Very soon Nicola my sister-in-law and also now business partner had me exploring the world of sewing clothes. Where was my first pattern bought from? - Waves and Wild (back then it was Made by Jack's Mum).

https://www.wavesandwild.com/shop/

In late 2019 I proudly sent mister eldest to day-care in a pair of me- made Harem pants made from a jersey dress I no longer wore, and my serotonin levels were through the roof.

Fast forward to now: I do own a sewing machine (and yes maybe a couple of over lockers and a cover-stich machine etc etc) and I still love and regularly make from her patterns. Why do I love them?

• clear concise instructions

• Great selection on wardrobe basics for the whole family

• Heaps of knit patterns- definitely my go-to company for knits

• Great fit

The generosity of a lot of businesses and individuals has really struck me as I have started my business journey with Clothed. Waves and Wild allow sales from their patterns at no cost to the seller. I have used their Hot Coffee hoodie pattern to adapt for arm access hoodies and a mash of the Sundowner sweatshirt and Hot Coffee hoodie to adapt for the soon arriving port-a-cath access hoodie.

So if you sew and haven't already found them, or if you have ever wanted to sew an item of clothing, and like I was are daunted by the idea,... please check out the Waves and Wild patterns! You won't regret it - but WARNING: this may be highly addictive!

Current set up.

Confession (Rebecca's)

I'll let you into a few little secrets. I don't like the idea of blogging one bit. I am quite happy for my thoughts to stay mine! I am also very happy to be missed over in those "ice-breakers" especially when you have to share one interesting fact about yourself... (Oh no, please no).

The word "Net-working" makes me simultaneously want to throw up and run 10km- fast. Please just call it something else -although I grant you "coffee and chat with inspirational people" doesn't quite roll off the tongue! So what happens when that instinct meets the business start up phase? Serious discomfort that's what!

Now I have been doing my fair share of podcast listening, meeting attending reading and chatting about business start- ups and I have come to the conclusion that the above sentiments are now unable to go unchallenged. And so here we are and you ( hi there) have manged to stumble upon the first of my "early start-up" blogs. What will these be? Regular, weekly ish ( gulps), honest (gulps again) uplifting?

So this week: I had a genuine question about the hoodie design which was exciting. As this particular things has been mentioned a couple of times now I am doing a few different mock-ups to incorporate these requests so keep checking in on the shop and please keep the requests coming!

Lastly my orchids are blooming. I bought my first orchid after my second boy was born. I figured at that point my children had survived and so why not try an orchid. It bloomed fantastically and then everything died back. I reluctantly realised it was probably bound for the compost but then life got in the way and it never quite made it - and then it came back to life! So now every time they bloom I am thrilled; they did it. It definitely looked dicey but then they bloomed. There's a life-lesson in there somewhere...