I’ve been writing an end-of-year post summarising what I’ve gotten up to and any reflections since at least 2014, shortly after I started blogging. I really enjoy having a little reminisce, and having the posts to look back at, so am doing the same this year despite it being February already!
A holiday normally spurs me to sew something new to wear, and I had a productive Spring, before a trip to Taiwan, sewing a Kielo Wrap Dress, two Malibu Polo shirts, and a gathered blouse (my own, still unreleased, pattern). In the Autumn, I finally made a Honeycomb Dress, a pattern I’ve been meaning to try since 2018, and in the Winter, I sewed two sweatshirts (a Drew and a Linden) using fabric from my stash and a fabric swap, and a new angel for the top of our Christmas tree. I sorted my sewing patterns, both physical and digital, and created a long list (with photos) of all of the patterns I own, as a reminder of what I already have – and a prompt for future sewing projects. I also sorted my fabric stash this year, as I was sick of looking at piles of fabric in our bedroom and determined to fit it into three tubs; I’ve kept my stash at that level since, sewing with all of the new fabric I bought this year rather than adding it to the stash.
My first two knitting projects in 2025 used yarn I received for Christmas 2024; a pair of Pine Wood Socks, with yarn gifted by Phil, and an Antanilla Cardigan, with yarn from my mom and dad. In the run up to Christmas, I knit a batch of baubles, for our tree and as gifts; I’ve knit baubles previously and not been happy with the size, but these turned our just right. After seeing the pattern release announced in November, I immediately cast on a Swan Bonnet, and over the Christmas break I finally finished a Moomin Sweater which I first started five years ago.
I tried weaving with linen yarn for the first time in 2025, enjoyed the process and used the resulting fabric to make a bread bag. I also sewed the checkboard cotton fabric, which I wove last year, into a new cushion for our living room. In August, I attended an Association of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Summer School for the fourth time, and spent a week improving my knowledge of tablet weaving, including learning how to weave text, a skill I still need to put to use.
I get really excited when I spot a new-to-me craft being taught locally, and in 2025 I took the opportunity to try risograph printing, rug tufting, and dark room film processing in Birmingham. I borrowed my late grandad’s camera for the dark room course and found a half-used film inside with photos from his last holiday to France with my nan. I also booked myself on a term-long printmaking course at the MAC during the Spring, and really enjoyed the chance to experiment with print techniques each week.
Phil and I travelled to Hamburg via ship in January, and I’ve been enjoying wearing the merchandise I bought from the club shop of anti-fascist football club St Pauli all year. In the Spring we visited Hong Kong and Taiwan, and I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Taiwanese film and literature before our first visit there. Finally, in the Summer, we visited Jersey for the second time and spent a week exploring the island via bus and petit train.
We were really lucky to get tickets to the final Black Sabbath gig here in Brum, saw Cyndi Lauper on her farewell tour, Pulp for the first time since I was in sixth-form, and our perennial favourites: Big Special, Sparks, and Tom Robinson. We also spent a weekend in London to attend a Billy-Bragg fronted solidarity gig for Palestine.
Birmingham Heritage Week is always one of my favourite local events, and this year Birmingham Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers participated for the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed researching the Guild’s 76-year history via the newspaper archive for a small exhibition and attending the Heritage Week launch event at Birmingham Oratory. I also spent time in the Library of Birmingham archives researching Birmingham’s participation in the 1926 General Strike, in order to contribute to a national centenary project during 2026.
I continued to get involved in local activism during 2025, volunteering with Birmingham Stand Up to Racism, joining a second trade union, undertaking my first union steward casework, and attending various protests and pickets, including for Palestine and the Birmingham bin strikes, and a really positive Women Against the Far Right evening march on my birthday. I’ve met loads of people through local activism and it’s good to be able to start contributing alongside many others locally.
I spent more time gaming this year, particularly on Zelda Echoes of Wisdom and Tears of the Kingdom, and Yakuza Kiwami, and restarted reading Edge gaming magazine each month. I read lots of contemporary horror in 2025, with Grady Hendrix novels and Whisper by Chang Yu-Ko particular favourites. I started reading Left Cultures magazine, and carried on enjoying Tribune. I re-read Treasure Island, a childhood favourite, for the first time in many years and still loved it. On the theme of nostalgia, I bought a couple of Tamagotchi and enjoyed trying to keep them alive, although I find they are either too hard (the re-released original), or too easy (the more recent models). In terms of locaI community, Birmingham Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and Brummie Yarn Social continued to be some of my favourite people to spend time with, and I also enjoyed attending activities organised by local feminist group Bitches for a Better World.
