#sewbloodpressure24

Hello!👋

Hope you have been keeping well!

I don’t think I have ever sent as many emails and messages as I have this week! 😅

I have been quite busy trying to organise my upcoming sewing challenge in June, and it’s the second year that I am running it.

As some of you may already know, my dad passed away unexpectedly last year in January.

Only a few days before his passing, I made a sewing calendar with dates that I wanted to sew for.

For the first time since I started sewing, I was going to make my dad a sweater for his birthday in June…but I never got the chance to. 😢

This is where the idea for the sewing challenge was born.

As hypertension was one of the contributing factors to his passing, I wanted to spread the word on the dangers of having high blood pressure.

As some people aren’t even aware that they have high blood pressure!

So the aim of the challenge is to raise money for the Blood Pressure UK charity that helps people lower their blood pressure to prevent death and disability from stroke and heart disease.

Since my dad’s passing was unexpected, I decided that the project to be made for the sewing challenge should be related to the fact that I waited so long to make a garment for him, and in the end… It was too late. 

Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today!

So please grab your sewing to-do lists as there are probably quite a few things on there that you have been putting off, and let's get them done during the month of June.

For entering into the challenge, you get a chance to win one of more than 30 prizes worth over £600!

As for actual sewing, not much has happened this week.

I had to make a trip to Leon’s Fabric (fabric store in the UK) to get a matching cotton jersey for some pyjamas I cut out for my girls.

I thought the printed fabric I had would be enough to cut out 1 full dress for each child…but that was not the case. I only had enough to cut out 2 front panels in a size 4. 😐

I had one metre of this exclusive fabric I bought more than 3 years ago, and although I didn’t search for any more online, I guessed it would be easier to just get a matching solid colour than the same print fabric.

I did, of course, buy a few more metres of other fabrics.

All with intentions though. 😂

The red is a ribbed jersey that I plan to make a top from.

The pink is a poly suiting that I plan to make some trousers from.

And lastly, the cream is a viscose that I want to make a dress out of.

Now for an update on my sweater. 😮‍💨

If you can remember, I knit up the whole bodice and didn’t like it, so I frogged it all.

I managed to redo the whole bodice and have finished the sleeves too.

The pattern I am using, Tilly Turtleneck Sweater, as the name states, is a turtleneck.

I want to be able to use the sweater all year round and not just in winter, so I decided to try and make a rolled neck.

I tried it on and 😬… I was not a fan of how it looked.

The ribbing doesn’t lay flat on my neck, instead it stands up which is not something I like the look of.

So I have currently put it aside, to gather my feelings of disappointment and I hope to get back to it this coming week.

My current plan is to undo the neck ribbing, and pick up less stitches than the pattern suggests and try the rolled neck again.

If it doesn’t work, I will admit defeat and just follow the pattern instructions.

If you have any suggestions on what I can do to achieve the look I want, please let me know.

😎Confidence Corner:

“The one who falls and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” ― Roy T. Bennett

This quote may be a little too strong for what I am going to talk about, but it stood out to me.

If you read here or saw a reel I put on my social media platforms on my latest knitting project, you will probably know that things haven’t been going to plan.

I decided to put my own spin on it, TWICE, instead of following the instructions. 😅

And both times, it didn’t work out.

I knew there was a possibility that it could go wrong, but I tried it anyway. 🤷

I am disappointed in the time it has taken to knit, only to undo it all, but I rather undo it all and start again, than leaving it half way or continuing and not wearing it.

I am glad that I tried though, this way I know what doesn’t work and I will hopefully remember not to attempt it again. 😂

If there is something you want to do, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be related to sewing/knitting, but you fear the outcome, just try it.

You will gain more in trying, instead of not, and wondering if it would have worked out.

🧵Today's Sewing Tip:

Sewing with thick fabrics can be tricky sometimes, the trick is to have the presser foot level. So today I am sharing with you some things I do to help me get through it.

1. Paper

This is the one I use most often. I use a paper that is folded enough times to equal the thickness of the fabric I need to put under the presser foot.

I put the folded paper right up against the thick fabric(at the back) under the presser foot. Then I lower the presser foot and start sewing. Sometimes I need to adjust the paper by raising the presser foot and pushing it back under, but it does the job.

2. Presser foot locking pin (black button on presser foot)

Another option is to use the black button on the side of your presser foot. On Brother sewing machines, these are labelled as  “J” presser feet.

Place the fabric under the presser foot. If your fabric doesn’t fit, you can raise the presser foot lever to give you more space to slide the fabric under.

Hold the presser foot level by placing your finger on top at the front.

Hold the locking pin pressed in and lower the presser foot lever.

You can now let go of the locking pin and begin sewing.

After the seam is sewn, the presser foot will return to its normal position.

⭐My Favourite Things This Week:

• Getting more than 30 sponsors onboard for my sewing challenge
• Finally making a start on Pj’s for my daughters,the eldest had been asking for a while. 😅

🗓️Upcoming Plans

• Keep organising my Instagram sewing challenge #sewbloodpressureuk24;
• Make my partner's parka jacket! (I feel by putting this here I may feel pressured to get it done. 😂 It has been cut out since January, just need to cut a few more pieces and sew it together.🙈);
• Continue to work on my blue yarn knit project;
• Repaint my cutting table (still haven’t done this).

🎬What I have been Watching/Reading:

• Fight For Paradise: Who Can You Trust (Reality TV Competition)

Contestants play a game of who can they trust while some get to live in luxury and others live in a campsite. They are playing with and against each other for the ultimate prize of €100 000. It is a German series, but I have been watching it dubbed in English.

• The Circle (Reality TV Competition)

This series follows contestants who talk to each other over messages via a social media app without meeting each other face to face. The contestants need to guess who is a catfish(fake persona) among them and there is a grand cash prize at the end for one winner.

The series is halfway through, with a few more episodes coming out on May 1st and the season finale on May 8th, so I will be watching the final next week.

🎉Upcoming Events

Sew&Bond - 25th of May 2024 10:15 - 15:45 - in Gatley Hill House, South Manchester.
(5hr30m, an extra 30min than usual)
Email bianca@beesilva.co.uk and quote reference: SEWBOND05
For more information: https://www.beesilva.co.uk/sewbond05/

June 2024 - #sewbloodpressureuk24 - Sewing Challenge on Instagram.
This is not an in-person event but a sewing challenge with the aim of raising money for a charity and awareness on the importance of monitoring your blood pressure.

Sew&Bond - 22nd of June 2024 11:45 - 17:15 - in Gatley Hill House, South Manchester.
(5hr30m, an extra 30min than usual)
Email bianca@beesilva.co.uk and quote reference: SEWBOND06
For more information: https://www.beesilva.co.uk/sewbond06/

Sew&Bond - 27th July 2024 10:15 - 15:45 - in Gatley Hill House, South Manchester.
(5hr30m, an extra 30min than usual)
Email bianca@beesilva.co.uk and quote reference: SEWBOND07
For more information: https://www.beesilva.co.uk/sewbond07/

Thank you so much for reading my newsletter! And if you enjoyed reading it, please tell a friend about it to allow me to reach more people.

What did you think of this week's newsletter? I would love to hear from you!🥰

Bye for now,
B! xx