Hello, lovely sewists! I'm thrilled to have so many new faces here, and I thought it was about time we got to know each other a little better. My name is Malena Hjerpe, and I'm the creative force behind Hazelhen Patterns.
From H&M to Freelance
I've spent the past five years working as a freelance pattern maker, a journey that has been both rewarding and challenging. Before freelancing, I worked almost 10 years in the fashion industry, at H&M and Arket. These years gave me so many experiences and knowledge and it gave me a deep passion for craftingthem patterns and desire to achieve the best fit possible.
When I started as a freelancer, I wanted to have a project of my own. My sisters suggested that I could make PDF patterns, something that I’d never heard about. During my years in the industry, I sadly lost sewing as a hobby, and I had no idea how much progress that had been made. Let’s just say it was a hole new world to discover for me! Today I have a line of nine patterns, one for babies, four for kids, and four for women. At the moment, you can buy them at Etsy. And you can get my latest pattern, Malva Tee for FREE when you sign up for my newsletter! My pattern line used to be called Pattern by Malena, but I’ve never been happy with that name, so I changed it this year. And why Hazelhen Patterns? Well, it’s my last name in English (just a bit of a different spelling in Swedish).
The book “Fit for knits” and podcast “Stitching tales”
For the last couple of years, I’ve been working on a big project. I co-authored a book with Johanna from the @laststitch called "Fit for Knits", diving into the intricacies of fitting and sewing knitted garments. It's been incredibly fulfilling to compile years of knowledge into one comprehensive guide. We launched the book in November 2023 and it’s been an amazing project. It has actually been so much fun working with Johanna that we decided to start a podcast! So now you can listen to us at “Stitching tales” (wherever you usually find your podcasts) or you can actually watch us as well on Johanna’s YouTube channel.
Being a business owner is a lifestyle. I’m so grateful that I can work with my passion on a daily basis. But I do enjoy being away from the drafting table as well. We all need a break sometimes, right? So, when not working I spend time with my two kids, a 3-year-old boy Linus and a 6-year-old girl Nova and my husband Pär (aka also my IT-department, thank you!!). And I am a passionate (still beginner) gardener! There's something incredibly therapeutic about tending to plants and watching them grow.
Thank you for joining me on this journey with Hazelhen Patterns. From the fashion industry to freelancing, crafting patterns has become my passion. The release of "Fit for Knits" and the "Stitching Tales" podcast have been highlights, and your support has been so valuable!
As Hazelhen Patterns continues to grow and evolve, I am eager to share more patterns, projects, and experiences with each of you. Your support fuels my creativity, and I am genuinely grateful for the community we are building together.
Love,
Malena
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