Creative Sewing Day at Janome

Hello, hello!

I love how the weather has warmed up a little this week. I even left the house without a cardigan! I did feel a bit naked without one though. 😂

It’s also made me realise I don’t have clothes that fit me for warm weather.

I need to work on this, especially since I am going away in August to Portugal. My sweaters and socks aren’t exactly the type of thing that I’m going to need.

I need to make a few dresses, shorts and blouses, but in reality, am I going to have time?

I am filing in a few days at Leon’s for staff that are away so this is also chipping in to my time.

Anyway, let’s see what happens over the next few weeks.

You may have already seen that I have announced a sewing retreat is happening this year! 😀

The lady finally got back to me with all my queries so we went ahead and confirmed the date.

It is going to be a fantastic weekend away filled with sewing and good company!

Now that it is confirmed, I need to work on some fine details for which I need your help.

If you’re interested in coming, click here to join the waitlist!

I’ve also decided on the next workshop on the 17th of July.

We are going to be making trousers!

This will be in collaboration with Tilly and the Buttons and the pattern we are going to use is the Thea Trousers. 

But to give you an overview:

I am in the process of creating the website listing, but to give you an overview.

I am going to send out the pattern to you ahead of the workshop so that you can prepare your paper pattern pieces because this takes up a lot of time.

During the workshop we will cut and sew a wearable toile of the trousers and identify where the fit can be improved (if needed) and how.

I am counting on 1.5 hours to cut out fabric and 4.5 hours to sew the trousers. But this will look different for each person as each naturally works at their own pace.

This coming week I am going to do a test run to see if this time frame is realistic for these trousers so I have a better idea of the timings.

I am always open to suggestions for workshops, so please feel free to let me know if there is anything in particular that you would like to see me running.

PS: The burnt orange cardigan has been blocked, it’s drying but still needs buttons. And I haven’t started alterations on my friends' sequin wedding guest outfit. 

 

Stitches of the Week

 

BeeSilva - Creative Sewing Workshop

We had such a nice relaxing day sewing up the Roma Necessaire at Janome this week.

It took me weeks of cutting hundreds, if not a couple thousand pieces of fabric to size in all different prints and colours, only for most of the group to use the same colours and exterior design. 😂

The green, purple and black version I made was the one everyone was drawn to and wanted to have a go at. And it surprised me that the purple and green were present in most of the designs.

Everyone initially had a hard time making decisions, from fabric choice to zip colour to zipper pull and webbing.

But this is the beauty of handmade. Being able to make these decisions and turn our projects into unique pieces of work.

There were a couple of people missing in our final group photo for various reasons but we had a lovely day!

Thank you so much for coming and allowing your creative juices to flow.🥰

 

Alteration to a store bought item

We all have a mending pile and although mine isn’t roof high, I have about 15 projects in it.

There is a mix between shop-bought items and handmade.

This week I looked at it (it sits behind my sewing room door) and a pair of trousers was calling to me.

My mom gave me the trousers because she didn’t want them, and because I posted it on my stories, my sister saw it and said she had bought it for my mom.

So we gathered that she didn’t like them, didn’t say anything to my sister about them and just passed them on. 😂

They are wide legged trousers which I never wear, but I’ve been curious about giving them a go.

They had a striped panel going down the side of both outer seams that I liked, but felt would limit me in terms of what I would wear with it.

So I unpicked the side seams and some of the waistband, removed the panels, sewed them back together and shortened them.

It was an easy enough job, except for the hem.

I just cut off the hem that was there and you would think that they would hang straight so all you would need to do is press and sew a new hem in.

But no.

The inseam lay about an inch lower that the outer seam for some reason.

With the fabric being a light-weight floaty fabric, it wasn’t easy pinning a hem on myself, but I managed.

I wore them twice already this week, so I may just have discovered a style of trousers I like wearing. 😀

 

Maker Spotlight

 

This week’s spotlight goes to @dinigooseandbird! 😍

This dress makes me smile. Yellow reminds me of summer, and the beaded flowers and bows are just pretty!

Megan used the PatternCos Anabelle Bodice.

Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make and a little about it, I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍

 

-

 

'My Sewing Journal' - Order Yours!

 

Events:

Sew&Bond™ - 27th of June 2026 (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 11th of July 2026 (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 25th of July 2026 (1 spot left!)
Sew&Bond™ - 29th of Aug 2026 (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 12th of Sept 2026 (6 spots left!)
Sew&Bond™ - 26th of Sept 2026 (SOLD OUT)

 

Workshops:

Trousers Workshop in collab with Tilly and the Buttons - COMING

 

My Sewing Patterns:

Lisbon Organiser
Roma Necessaire
Paphos Pouch

 

Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx