One delicious Sew&Bond™
Bianca SilvaHello, hello!
As we come to the end of the school summer holidays, I am so happy that we had great weather throughout and we had lots of fun and outdoor time with kids!
But it’s time they go back! 😂
My youngest is starting nursery now and for the first three weeks there is a very odd schedule in place to settle all the kids in, so it’s still going to be a little while before we get a proper schedule going again.
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Thank you so much to Lena and Karen who came to visit me at Leon’s on Friday! 😀
They spent a couple of hours stroking fabrics and deciding what to make with them!
And I nearly joined in on the spree, but I kept strong and pulled through with nothing to report back to you. 😂
The damage to their purses wasn’t THAT bad either and I am looking forward to seeing if their initial plans for the fabric come true! 😂
Tickets Now Live: One-Day Sewing Celebration at Janome HQ!
The Janome Social Sewing Day is now confirmed, and tickets are officially on sale! Spots are very limited, and with half already sold, we encourage you to book soon to avoid missing out.
It’s going to be a full day of sewing with sewing machines provided by Janome so you don’t have to bring yours. There will be food and drinks to keep us going and some goodie bags and raffle prizes too!
If you were on the waitlist for this event, you should have received the link to book your ticket. You can also book your ticket using this link:
PS: I still haven’t touched my white Take It or Leaf It Sweater, but I have already washed the fabric I bought last week for the Hanbok vest! 🎉
Stitches of the Week
BeeSilva - Sew&Bond™ Social Sewing Event
It was also my monthly Sew&Bond™ social sewing day this weekend and it went great!
Lots of delicious food and this time there wasn’t even a crumb left! It went so quick that I didn’t even manage to get a photo in time! 😂
There were some gorgeous fabrics and some very adventurous makes too! From origami bags to reversible vests and a beginner completely drafting her own dress from scratch, it’s just so inspirational! I love these days!
And for the first time in Sew&Bond™ history, me and Karen wore the same dress!
Yet they looked completely different!
We both wore the Friday Pattern Company Wilder Gown. Mine has long sleeves, a tiered skirt and I wear it tied up. Karen has short sleeves, a skirt with no tiers and leaves her ties open!
We might need to plan a day where we all somehow have made the same pattern and wear it for the occasion!
Ellie and Mac - Button A-line Skirt and DIBY - Kid’s Tee
I can’t believe I finished this set already! A whole week before the birthday party! 🎉
I had a little moment with the buttons for the skirt because the pattern suggested 1 inch wide ones, but I didn’t have 6 of that size in the right colour.
I do have about 500 smaller cream buttons and the colour was perfect, so I used these instead.
One thing I thought about was how the fabric was going to behave on the waistband with a tiny button. I felt it would pull or fold over and not lay properly over the waist.
So I decided to add 2 buttons instead of 1 and then spread the others out along the rest of the button stand.
I am also so happy that I dusted off my coverstitch machine to hem the crop top. I used rainbow thread on the wrong side to keep the colour theme going on the inside and a matching colour for the right side.
And to tie it all together, I made a couple of bows with the same fabric as the skirt.😍
It looks too cute!
I made 2 bows(hot glued to alligator clips) because I thought if she makes 2 ponytails, she could put a bow on each.
And of course I made an extra 2 bows, one for each of my girls.
It has been mentioned that a third, larger bow in a coordinating colour fabric(burgundy), should be made as another option for the outfit just in case one ponytail is made. 😂
I’m still deciding if I want to make this one.
If I have time I will, especially because ANOTHER request has been made!
My girls want blue bows to match their school uniform! 🙄
It just never ends! 😂
Fabric: Autumn ditsy print cotton poplin for the skirt and bows. Ochre cotton jersey for the top. All from my stash.
Size: The skirt is a size 6 and the top a 5.
The Drama: Do I make a third matching bow? 🤔
The Win: Whether I make another bow or not, the set is well ready to be gifted. And way ahead of time!
BeeSilva - Tote Bag Workshop
The fabrics I bought last week have already been put to use! 😀
My original design idea was to make the front panel of the bag with rectangular/square shapes, but I decided on another design. I will still make this one up as an option for the workshop, but I wanted to work on another shape first.
I went with triangles first because I thought it would be more exciting to work on!
The back panel will be one solid colour, it will be fully lined and the handles will be made from fabric.
I am so happy with the topstitching on my handles, and I am even wondering if I want to try and stitch another 1 or 2 rows to see if I like how it looks. Just for something a little different.
For the workshop, I am planning on including the fabric so those coming wouldn't have to go through the trouble of trying to find suitable fabric, but I am wondering if this is what you would want.
I am going to call the workshop "From Fabric to Finished Tote Bag" and the idea is to make it together step by step. From cutting to preparing handles , topstitching and boxing corners, you will learn sewing skills that you can use in almost any project.
I would love to know if you prefer a workshop that includes the materials or do you prefer to bring your own?
Fabric: Cotton Drill in taupe, pink and orange - all from Leon’s Fabric.
The Win: Drill fabric is really easy and sturdy to work with, so it’s made sewing the tote a breeze. It’s perfect not just for the workshop, but also for the use and longevity of it!
Skill Builder of the Week
Sewing with Jersey Fabric
Jersey is a knit fabric, which means it’s constructed from loops of thread (just like knitting, but done by machine) instead of interlaced threads (crossing over each other) like cotton poplin or lawn. These loops are what give jersey fabrics their natural stretch and softness, making it perfect for T-shirts, dresses, and loungewear, etc.
Some things to keep in mind are:
Use the right needle – Sew with a ballpoint or stretch needle. These have a rounded tip that slips between the loops instead of piercing them, which prevents holes and skipped stitches.
Choose the right stitch – A straight stitch won’t stretch with your fabric and will snap when you put your garment on. Use a zigzag stitch or, if your machine has it, a stretch stitch. Both will allow your stitches to move with the fabric avoiding snapped stitches.
Cut with the stretch in mind – Pay attention to the direction of stretch when cutting your pieces. You want the greatest stretch running around the body horizontally (not vertically), so your garment moves comfortably with you.
Maker Spotlight
This week’s spotlight goes to @thanksimadethem!
Bianca held onto a quilt for 2 years waiting for the perfect ‘click’ between patterns and fabric, and it finally happened! She turned the quilt into the McCalls M6552 (with a few hacks) and I think it was a great choice!
The quilt was made by someone else but she loves how the pinwheel blocks in bold colours pop against the white background!
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
Sewing a Custom Birthday Outfit for My Daughter’s Friend
Events:
One-Day Sewing Celebration at Janome HQ - Tickets are now LIVE!
Sew&Bond™ - September (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - September (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 25th of October 2025 (SOLD OUT)
Sew&Bond™ - 29th of November 2025 (7 seats left)
Workshops:
Build Your Confidence in Sewing Workshop
Sewing Patterns:
Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx