Hello, hello!

What a great way to end the week with a lovely Sew&Bond™! ♥️

It was so nice to catch up with everyone and see what was being sewn up.

The projects being worked on were so varied, from bags to garments to Christmas aprons!

While some were making wearable toiles, others were cutting into precious fabric, prepping for a craft fair and making a designer inspired dress!

Some of the projects I saw being worked on on Saturday have now been added to my loooong list of sewing projects I want to make. 🤭

One of those is the Nina Lee Southbank Sweater. I made the dress version last Christmas but I think it’s time I make the sweater version.

Thank you so much to everyone that comes to Sew&Bond™, it is so much appreciated! ♥️

Stitches of the Week

BeeSilva - Advent Calendar

Both are done! 🎉

I’ve sewn all the wooden numbers on to the second calendar now and they are ready for Christmas!

I am super proud of myself! 😂

After years of wanting to make them, I’ve made 2 well ahead of time!

I just need to decide what I am going to attach to the dowels to hang them - buy some cord or sew a strap or knit an i-cord? 🤔

I just hope this last step doesn’t take me forever to decide.

Then all I have to do is buy some little goodies to fill each pocket. I was thinking instead of sweet treats everyday, I could put some hair accessories, nail polishes or stickers, something along these lines.

I’ve only ever bought those chocolate advent calendars you get at ASDA (UK supermarket) for my kids and once one that had Frozen hair accessories, I’ve never even gotten myself an advent calendar. So if you make your own for your kids or grandkids, please let me know what sort of things you put in them so I can get some ideas. 

And while you hit reply to let me know, please include one Elf idea, I am so not creative and my kids seem to remember every year what the elves did the last. 😂

How do parents keep up with this!

Materials: Calico for the backing, polycottons for the pockets, wooden dowels for structure to hang up.

The Dilema: What to pick to hang them up?  Buy some cord, sew a strap, knit an i-cord?

Violette Field Threads - Audrina Skirt and Tilly and The Buttons - Lyra

I didn’t tell you about this one at all last week because it had kinda slipped my mind that I needed/wanted to make a new outfit for the Celebratory Janome event on the 5th of November. 😬

Earlier in the week I cut out both these projects and did a little hacking too.

The Audrina skirt has a flat waistband with a zip down the centre back. I kept the front flat, but changed the back waistband to be elasticated.

So many of my recent projects are too big and I don’t want to risk anything being too big or too small with this project because I don’t have the time to faff around with it.

Most of it is done, I need to sew the waistband on, put the elastic in and hem it.

I’m using an organza for the top layer and since it’s see-through, I’ve lined it. I am going to hem the lining with a double fold and probably do a rolled hem on the organza.

For the top I’ve chosen to go with the Lyra dress, but hack it into a top.

I’ve lengthened the bodice by 5 inches so I can tuck it in, plus I’ve hacked the collar a bit.

I love a statement collar so I thought I would draft a new one.

I used the original collar as a base and played around with the front point a bit. I lengthened the point of the collar by a few inches and brought the point in towards the centre a bit so they would hang down and be closer together.

I cut a sample out of polycotton to see how it would look laid around my neck and I thought it looked really good so I just went for it and cut my nice fabric out.

This fabric has been in my stash for over 3 years waiting for something special and the time arrived. 

I made a little mistake when cutting out the sleeves. When I cut pieces mirrored, I normally check if I have enough fabric at the bottom covering my whole pattern piece, but for some reason I didn’t check it this time. 😣

So I cut 2 sleeves, but the bottom one was missing fabric at the sleeve head!

All this time saving the fabric for something special only to waste it the minute I cut into it! 😂

I was able to cut one of the collar pieces out of it and put the rest in my scrap bin for a future patchwork project. 🤷🏼♀️

I have another week and a bit to finish this outfit and I think it’s very doable if I can manage to spend an hour or 2 everyday on it, so I am not going to stress about if I can finish it on time.

Fabric: Red swiss dot organza, red polycotton, red floral cotton lawn.

The Drama: ‘Wasting’ a bit of fabric cutting my sleeves out!

Sizing Details: Skirt size 6 - one size larger than measurements. Top size 2 - widened sleeves by ½ as they were too tight on a previous version.

 

 

Skill Builder of the Week

 

Sewing Machine/Overlocker Needles

I’ve thought about this before but never really looked into it properly, until this week! And I just had to share what I learnt.

Did you know that the same pack of needles you buy for your domestic sewing machine can also be used in your domestic overlocker? 🫨

Most domestic overlockers are compatible with the 130/705H needle system, which is the same system used in standard sewing machines.

I always assumed my overlocker needed specific branded needles and have been buying those for years. But it turns out the regular sewing machine needles work just as well!

That said, some overlocker models use different needle systems that aren’t interchangeable with standard ones, so it’s always best to double-check your manual before switching.

Was it just me who didn’t know this? Or have you known this all along?

 

Maker Spotlight

This week’s spotlight goes to @junolovesthread!

 

This is Shreya’s beautiful Viki Sews Imelda dress!

I love this fabric! I’m always drawn to tile prints, whether on fabric or on actual tiles.

I will never forget one of the bathrooms we had in our accommodation in Fuerteventura. Part of the wall was lined with similar prints as this fabric, just in different shades of grey. 😍

But this colourful version is just so much more fun!

The fabric is called Mexican Tiles bought from @anthea.jacklin shop on Spoonflower.

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

 

Events:

Sew&Bond™ - 31st of January 2026 (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 28th of February 2026 (5 Spots Left!)
Sew&Bond™ - 28th of March 2026 (2 Spots Left!)
Sew&Bond™ - 25th of April 2026 (4 Spots Left!)

 

Workshops:

Build Your Confidence in Sewing Workshop
From Fabric to Finished Tote Bag Workshop

 

My Sewing Patterns:

Roma Necessaire
Paphos Pouch

 

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