I’m Back!!

August 30, 2026 Bianca Silva

Hello, hello!

Holidays are over!

And as soon as we landed, we were greeted with heavy rains. Classic Manchester!

It’s good to be back though, in our own space.

We arrived late in the evening but the next morning, the washing machine was on overdrive. I did 5 loads!

It was good to be back in my sewing room, but I’m feeling a little cramped in it.

I already left with this feeling and I still have it now.

There is just too much in the room and I don’t think it’s organised to the best it can be.

It’s an organised chaos which is clouding my brain a bit.

Before I left I asked a friend if she would help me organise my mess because she actually really enjoys doing things like this.

It probably won’t be done this week or next, but I hope that sometime soon, or even one area at a time, it gets done.

Also, now that I’m back I can get back into planning workshops and the retreat.

For the workshops, I am waiting for confirmation for a few dates up until the end of the year.

For the retreat, I have a few more things to plan, but I don’t want to give the information away just yet. 🤭

But tell me what you got up to over the summer? Did you go anywhere? Did you get any sewing or other crafty bits in?

Stitches of the Week

BeeSilva - Sew&Bond™

It was good to be back and dive straight into a Sew&Bond™!

It felt like forever since I last saw everyone, and I felt like everyone looked different too! 😂

Catching up with everyone's latest news and projects was exactly what I needed to get back to.

And there was lots of gorgeousness to see!

Beautiful colours and printed fabric were being worked into tops, dresses, trousers, skirts and pinafores.

Zips were being inserted, elastic threaded through channels, french seams and dealing with temperamental machines were all part of the day. 😂

We also had someone join us for the first time who was doubting her skills, but ended up making a beautiful corduroy tote bag that had external pockets!

It was meant to be a gift for her granddaughter but she was having doubts as to whether she wanted to give it away because she liked it so much!

The food, as usual, was made by my partner as it was delicious.

This time we had a variety of sandwiches with homemade bread, sausage rolls, curry potato and onion pastries, orange cake and carrot cake with icing. It was all delicious!

Thank you so much for coming and sharing your projects, your knowledge with each other. Thank you for being kind and egging each other on with their projects!

It makes it such a lovely and warm group to be a part of. ♥️

Tilly and The Buttons - Leah Top x Matchy Matchy - Ballet Bow Skirt

This was the last of my projects that I finished in Portugal!

And it’s my 4th Leah! 😲

I love how simple the shape is. And it doesn’t take that long to sew. The longest part of the process is doing the binding (and the side ties if you choose this option).

I cut a straight size 2 based on the finished garment measurements and that is one size down from body measurements. I always prefer less ease in my clothes.

But I have been thinking about some winter versions, maybe out of corduroy fabric. For this I would definitely make my actual size so I could have the space to put something underneath.

I actually have a piece of hot pink cord that I got for my daughters, but I’m wondering if I should make a winter Leah out of it instead. 😂

Back to this outfit, I knew I wanted it to be a 2-piece set.

A while back I was searching for inspiration to make a skirt. The Ballet Bow Skirt popped up and I couldn’t stop thinking about making it.

I just loved the bows!

It was a nice easy sew and there was no need to finish raw edges because they were all enclosed.

One thing I changed was how far down the side seam I sewed. Per pattern instructions I felt the slit was too high and there would be a chance of bum cheeks on show.

So I added 3 inches to the measurements, lowering the opening and I added the first bow a ¼ inch away from the top of the slit.

If I did make this skirt again, I would like to experiment with making smaller bows, but add more of them.

Materials: Cotton from Leon’s Fabrics
Size: Top - Size 2, one down from my measurements. Skirt - XS.
The Drama: Unlike last time, I missed the binding on the top in one spot only. I normally topstitch from the right side, not the binding side, so it gets missed sometimes.
The Win: I completed all 3 projects I had cut for my holidays!! 🏆

Summer Lee - Colourblocked Ribbed Socks from The Sock Project book

As soon as I hit send last week telling you I had not made a single mistake on this pair… a mistake was made! 🤦🏼♀️

So I finished knitting the foot. Then when it came to decreasing the toes, instead of checking that I had an even amount of stitches on each side so the decreases would be on the side of my foot, no.

I had something like 34 stitches on one side and 20 on the other!

So my decreases were happening on top of my foot instead of on the side.

I caught it early though! I had only done a couple rows of decreases when I noticed, but I didn’t go back. 😂

It was left as is, but I shifted the stitches over to make them even.

They have since been completed and worn in Portugal! 🎉

I’m happy with the sock design I chose because the yarn is quite busy making it the star of the show.

This is officially the 8th pair of socks I have knit!

I would have never said last year this time I would have made any socks at all!

Yarn: Hobbii Silly Socks - Exciting Acrobatics 05
Size: Started with an L and decreased to an M for the foot.
Needle Size: Cast on with 2.5mm, knit one row and transferred to 2.25mm for the rest.
The Win: 8th pair finito!
The Drama: But not without mistakes. 😂