Nice and Easy For a Change

Hello, hello!

Lots has gone this week!

I had a Build Your Confidence in Sewing workshop this week where I had the first male attend. And I was very pleased with this!

 

 

The last time a male attended one of my sessions was when I was doing free tote bag workshops back in 2023.

So it was a lovely reminder that sewing and being creative is for everyone!😃

I also did some private sewing lessons and my usual shift at Leon’s.

The odd schedule at school is still going on for my youngest, but we just have one more week to go until she gets to stay for the whole day.

I thought this was standard across all schools, but I’ve spoken to quite a few people and it’s completely different in the schools their children are going to.

No one else’s school goes on for 3 weeks like this! It’s a few days or 2 weeks at most!

Anyhow, I can’t change this and we have to go along with it.

Those bows I made for my kids a couple of weeks ago for school… my youngest no longer has hers, one broke and the other she lost!

-

The next three Sew&Bond™ dates are now sold out! I have been asked to add another session in October, possibly on the 4th. Would you be interested in attending on that date?

 

Stitches of the Week

 

Tilly and The Buttons - Indigo Dress

It’s been on an outing already!

So pleased I finished it in time to wear to Saturday’s Sew&Bond™ and I felt really good in it!

I straightened the bottom of the bodice to make it easier to create a channel to insert elastic. And I love how neat it looks!

I cut a size 2 bodice but a 3 skirt because I wanted slightly more gathers and I’m glad I did. I thought this plus the elastic would be enough, but I would have actually liked a little more gathers.

Besides this, I really like it and it’s reset my sewing mood.

I can’t remember when was the last time I sewed something for myself with a solid colour and that was really simple to make without fit issues.

I didn’t even shorten it for my height!

After looking at the photos of me in it, I would angle the bust darts slightly up because I think with the viscose being so drapey, it’s pulled their position down a little.

I wore it with my black sprinkle tights and some pink make up and I must say I was feeling good with myself.

This is a pattern I will revisit, but I want to get through more of my other patterns before starting to repeat some again.

• Fabric: Olive viscose challis originally from Pound Fabrics.
• Size details: A size 2 bodice with a size 3 skirt for more gathers. No other adjustments made.
• The Drama: I wore it without pressing my darts! 😂

 

BeeSilva - Tote Bag

Remember a couple of weeks ago I made a colour blocked tote bag with triangular shapes on the front?

 

This week I made another but with rectangles. 

I needed to get the idea out of my head because it was the original one I wanted to make before the triangle one.

But to be really honest, when I look at it, it doesn’t satisfy me. I much prefer the triangular shapes!

I feel you don’t see these shapes as often as you see squares and rectangles.

I may need to come up with another completely different design again to satisfy my brain.

One colour combo that I can’t get out of my head now for another one of these is cobalt blue and Christmas green and I have eyed these coloured fabrics in Leon’s already! 👀😂

And like I’ve mentioned before, I am making these as samples for a workshop I’m planning to run in the near future, and I am quite excited about it! 💃🏼

• Fabric: Cotton drill
• Size: Medium sized
• The Drama: I feel the need to play around more with shapes and colour!

 

 

BeeSilva - Sew&Bond™

I was sad to see that we had so many no shows on Saturday’s event, a total of 5 people didn’t come. 😔

Even though we were a smaller group today, it was a really good day!

E. brought along her bag that she was working on at one of our events months ago and hadn’t touched it since. So she worked a little more on it on Saturday but had to do quite a bit of unpicking at one point so it’s still a work in progress. 💪

Lena started making a Paphos Pouch, which is my latest sewing pattern in case you missed it, and there was quite a bit of swearing involved. 😂

It’s sometimes hard to concentrate on reading or watching pattern instructions in a room full of chatter so there were some mistakes made here too.

Karen, Charlotte and Joelle had swearing-free projects, well at least I didn’t hear any, and they were making a shirt for husband, a dress and a bag respectively.

I managed to cut the sleeves for a Tabitha T-shirt dress I am planning to make, and everyone helped me pick out the fabric for it. It was between a light brown ribbed jersey or a mustard with white stripes ribbed jersey, and everyone picked out the mustard, so stay tuned to see this one finished.

We had new food on the menu this week with some delicious carrot cake topped with cream, caramel and walnuts, apple cake, and homemade brioche bread for the sandwiches.

There was also banana bread and homemade sausage rolls too.

 

 

Skill Builder of the Week

Invisible Thread

 

 

Someone came into the shop this week asking for invisible thread.

I’d heard of it before but didn’t really know much about it so I did a little research and this is what I found out:

• Invisible thread is usually clear nylon or polyester monofilament.
• It blends into fabric - nice for prints and hems where you don’t want the stitches to be visible.
• It can feel stretchy against the skin if you are using it for garment making.
• It can look shiny under certain light.
• Nylon in particular can turn yellow or weaken with time. Polyester monofilament holds up a bit better.

So my conclusion is that a good colour matched polyester thread is better as it’s softer and probably more reliable, and invisible thread can be used as your party trick.

 

Maker Spotlight

This week’s spotlight goes to @superbailles

 

 

Ever since I saw this more than a year ago, I have been wanting to make something similar.

Sarah used this beautiful black heart organza fabric to create the Tilly and The Buttons Lyra for her birthday! 😍

It’s amazing how you can use so many types of fabric for the same pattern and you can make it look so different every single time!

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

 

Catch Up

 

Indigo Dress Pattern Hacks, Facing Trick & Updates

 

 

Events:

Sew&Bond™ - September (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 4th of October (3 Spots Left!)
Sew&Bond™ - 25th of October (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 29th of November 2025 (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 13th of December 2025 (1 Spots left!)

 

Sewing Patterns:

Roma Necessaire
Paphos Pouch

 

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