Christine Haynes’ studio.
Photos courtesy of Christine Haynes.
Just over two years ago, independent sewing pattern designer Christine Haynes moved from Los Angeles to New York City to work a full-time job, leaving the future of her business in limbo.
In the fall of 2019, she relaunched her sewing pattern business. Now, she’s running the business in a totally different way—a way that maintains a healthy work-life balance.
The Breaking Point
Burnout is the number one reason Haynes temporarily closed her business. The breaking point, she says, is when she filmed a Creative Live class.
While the film crew was wonderful, Haynes says it was clear to her after viewing the class that something needed to change. “I know, looking at myself, that I look unhealthy like I wasn’t taking care of myself. . . just getting by,” Haynes says. “I could see that in me in the video and I was like, I cannot keep doing this.”
The Emery dress.
The Lottie dress.
Haynes thinks part of the problem was that her business was more of an evolution than an intentional plan. Her business started as a ready-to-wear line but shifted to pattern design and teaching after Random House approached her about writing her first book Chic & Simple Sewing. “It was naturally evolving, but when I finally got to a point where it was a full-time job of me designing patterns, I hadn’t come at it as a business in mind with a game plan for the year and goals,” Haynes says.
The lack of goals caused Haynes to feel pressured.
“Before I knew it, I felt like I had to say yes to everything in order to make ends meet and keep things going.”
Because of that pressure, Haynes was working nonstop. “Before I knew it, most days if I wasn’t doing something with friends or with my boyfriend, I was basically working from the minute I got up to the minute I went to bed.”
Haynes began to question whether she wanted to continue with her business, and she was also considering a move to New York.
Pattern designer Christine Haynes is relaunching her sewing pattern line with an eye towards creating a more balanced life.
Around that time, Haynes applied for a full-time manager position at Purl Soho in New York. One week later she had the job. Two weeks after applying, she moved to New York.
She worked at Purl Soho for two years, then decided it was time to move on. Her boyfriend offered his support and told her that if she wanted to focus on her business, he would float them financially while she got settled.
In September of 2019, she published a blog post letting customers know that she was back in business.
The relaunch
To celebrate the relaunch, Haynes will rerelease all of her old patterns while mixing in new patterns. So far she has rereleased two patterns: Emery and Lottie.
Customers may notice a few changes. First, Haynes is expanding her pattern sizes from 0-18 to 0-30. In addition, there are also small changes to the old designs. Her Emery dress, for example, no longer has a collar option. For Lottie, Haynes played with length, added sleeve options, and changed the bias lining to facings.
Haynes will also self-publish her online classes—a process she says will give her more creative control. “What [bigger companies] are looking for and what I’m looking for is never going to be the same,” she says.
Haynes has returned to teaching sewing classes in person, including an option for private lessons.
Preventing Burnout
To prevent burnout, Haynes restructured her studio and her schedule. “I definitely clock out in the evening, and my studio is in our apartment building but it’s not in my apartment like it was in Los Angeles,” she says. “So when I’m in my apartment, I can’t physically see it, which is really helpful.”
Haynes is also launching patterns without announcing release dates. “I don’t mind being a one-person team. . .But it means being really honest about what you can and can’t do,” she says.
Despite the challenges, Haynes loves what she does.
“I couldn’t leave it because in the end I love it. It all stems from the love of sewing and the love of making things,” she says.
The Emery dress.
Ashley Little
contributor
Ashley Little is a craft writer and editor living in Asheville, North Carolina. She has given up on reducing her yarn stash and refuses to feel guilty about it. You can see more of her work at thefeistyredhead.com.
I’m so happy that Christine is back and creating a balance for herself. It takes a brave person to realize that something is wrong, and to fix it.
I totally agree, Sara.
Congratulations to Christine on relaunching her patterns and finding her own authentic path for her business – I always love seeing what she’s up to (as well as admiring her impeccable taste in footwear – I love her style in the yellow cardigan photo).
I enjoyed this article so much and understand exactly what Christine was struggling with. During the recession I started taking in sewing and gave sewing lessons to two 9 year olds. It was a way to supplement my our family income and I could work around my children’s schedule. I have fibromyalgia and I told people I couldn’t promise speed but that I would work around how I felt. I did this for 10 years and I got a reputation of being able to do the impossible and my business grew. I too felt the need to say yes to everything because I’m a people pleaser and I needed the income. But 3 years ago I was beginning to hate sewing, people were becoming more demanding, my health was deteriorating, my house and sewing room we’re out of control, and I never had time to sew for myself or my family. Last March when a woman I didn’t know showed up at my front door, shoved an article of clothing at me and demanded I have it ready for her in two days and she wouldn’t pay anything more than $10 for it I was Done!!! I closed my business right then and there. I kept my sewing students, started attending Quilt in a Day open sewing sessions with my mom, reconnected with my Junior High sewing teacher, and started sewing for the joy of it. At the same time my sister launched a business selling items made from fabrics destined for the landfills from the clothing and upholstery industries and she approached me about designing for her. I also did my first craft fair in 10 years and I now schedule time to sew for the love of it as well as for profit. Friends know I sell some of my creations and they can schedule a time to come shopping. I wish Christine all the best and that others learn her style of balance in their own lives. I’m looking forward to trying her patterns!
This article can be so helpful to anyone who is running a sole proprietorship, whether in the craft world or otherwise. I’m an artist and sewster for my own enjoyment, and I earn my living with a full-time dog sitting business. How I can relate to the “being everything to everybody” mentality that Christine and others are writing about here! My job is seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day; The dogs all stay right here with me in my home, day and night, and like many others I have trouble saying “no.” I frequently experience frustration and wonder how things got so out of control!
It is really hard to balance work and life when you work where you live, and whether its a studio full of unfinished projects customers are waiting for, or six dogs waiting to be fed, walked, played with, and picked up after, the feeling is the same: something’s got to give!
Christine, I applaud you for setting limits and creating some balance between your business and your life. It’s hard to do, and I think all of us struggle with it. Thank you for the honesty in your article. It gives me hope that I too can continue doing something I love–in my case caring for dogs–but also working towards having a life of my own as well.
Christine, you are so inspiring! I’m so excited you’re back, baby!