I usually look forward to the coming year with excitement and a crazy amount of optimism. Despite the chaos coming with the next administration, I’m not letting that knock me off my game or rob me of hope. There’s so much uncertainty on the horizon but I’m going to lean into it by taking another leap of faith.

 Business has been doing well ever since I reopened the web shop after graduation in May. Online sales have been steady and I did well at the events I vended at in person. I got a lot of joy of out of finding new wax print fabric combinations for project bags and loved every moment at the sewing machine making sure each bag was perfect for you.

But my spirit is telling me I need to move a little differently in 2025. I left my full-time job in 2021 to get a degree in textile and surface design and I have used my new skills to produce a collection of project bags and silk scarves with designs from my thesis collection (pictured above). I did a few brand collabs, too and it’s been amazing seeing my designs come to life on dresses and my own products. But I’ve had no time to develop new designs. I must face the fact that I can’t do it all and I have to let something go if I want to progress as a designer. To that end, I will be closing my web shop to orders on December 26th so that I can focus on the next phase of my surface design journey… showing my work at a textile trade show. In order to do that, I must first create hundreds of high quality designs so that I can exhibit them to potential buyers in the fashion and home products industry. Since I am not part of a design studio nor do I have agency representation — I don’t have those kinds of connections — I’ll be going it alone. This work won’t leave much time for production, sourcing, and sewing web orders, unfortunately. These trade shows are highly selective and I have to commit to doing the hard work to make sure I get in and get noticed — especially as a freelancer without a studio or agency representation. It’s a high hill to climb as a newbie designer and as I type these words, it seems impossible, actually, but I’m determined. I went back to school to be a textile designer. It’s time for me to be a textile designer.

Don’t worry, yarn&whiskey isn’t closing its doors. The highlight of my year has been meeting you all in person and I am planning to pop up at my favorite local yarn shops in New York and Chicago in 2025 and I will not be missing Kings County Fiber Fest or Rhinebeck weekend. There may even be bags to be had overseas. ? I’m planning to keep online sales open from May - September 2025, because not everyone can get to a fiber festival and you all have shopped with me from all across the 50 states and beyond. And though I am not participating in any holiday markets this year, I plan to participate in one or two next year.

2025 will be the start of my Designer Era. I’m claiming it and embracing it. I may not be able to show the entire journey — this business is competitive and copying other designers is like breathing to some people (ask me how I know ?) but I hope I can share some of what’s inspiring me, at least. There is also a lot of gatekeeping in this business, but I will share what I learn along the way in case it helps other budding designers. Full disclosure, I have no idea what I'm doing — they don't teach you how to freelance in design school, so I'll be doing a lot of learning. I hope you’ll continue to follow along on my blog and on the Textiles By Tammi Instagram account. And if you have a brand and you’re looking for a unique design, please contact me. I am a designer for hire with a point of view, but I can follow a brief. Tell your friends!

And now I ask you. What are you claiming or reclaiming as yours in 2025? How would you like to evolve at the end of this season of change, uncertainty, and transformation and what steps are you going to take to get there? What, if anything, will you need to let go of in order to make progress?