Craft Leftover Zines
Digital Editions of all my Zines -- this is a work in progress
Craft Leftovers Zines spanned 2008 - 2013 and included 47 issues + a dozen or so mini zines. I also made zine for funsies, events, commissions, and Little Woods. I’ve added some notes to each section about the progression and what was going on in my life around the time these issues came out. Here’s a fun throwback photo of me from around that time of my life. It’s from my book photoshoot in 2011. Shiny.
Many of these zines are out of print, original digital files lost to the ages, but I have paper copies of most and digital files of some. I’m really excited to share the archive of what I do have with you. I’m on the hunt for copies of Volume 1: issues 1, 3, 9, 10, 26. If you have a copy, send me images and I’ll share them here for all to enjoy.
In the meantime I’m scanning and uploading an issue or pattern a week to share here. I’ll keep an update log at the top so you can see what’s new + I’ll send a substack note/mention it in my weekly Studio Letter end notes.
6/12/25 update: Mini Zines — Bob Barker No Free Range, Calendula Officinalis, Making Simple Syrups, Cut Stitch Staple Fold
5/17/25 update: Rain or Shine Picnic Time ebook, Volume 4 issues 1 & 2
4/24/25 update: Bringing the Outdoors in with Weaving, Collage IT, and Vol 5: Issue 1 (the many deaths of backyard chickens - seems perfect for this time of year.
4/14/25 update: behind the scenes I’ve been scanning copies and working on re-laying them out. In the meantime, I’ve added How Math Ruined Summer, Cut Staple Stitch Fold, updated Mending on the Go to cleaner version w/ instructions for onesie folding.
2/22/25 update: The first Mini Zine and Misc Zine downloads added.
Craft Leftovers Volume 1: 26 Issues
Spanning 2007 - 2009 I created 26 issues. I made the very first issue as whim as a thank you to a blog reader who gifted me their sewing machine after mine broke. I decided to make a few extra copies and list it online. It sold out. My course seemed obvious to me. Make more zines!
It stared out at digital drawings, then hand drawn and scanned in, then block print. I glued and stitched and added handmade touches to many of them. I started the series while in college in DeKalb, IL, then it became my full time gig (Craft Leftovers in general) when I relocated to Ames, IA in summer of 2008. Oh and the zine also came with a bundle of leftover craft supplies. Usually a few 1/4 yards of fabric, buttons, and ribbon. I think in the later issues (15 - 26) I included a little kit of leftover supplies + minizine. So it was like a zine + kit + mini zine.
