30/05/2026
🐝 Bee-Hind The Seams —
Week 13 🧵✨(which has Bee-n an unlucky one for me)
Some weeks glide together like a perfectly pressed seam.
Others feel like you’re sewing through towelling, denim and emotional instability while your machines silently plot against you.
This week?
Definitely the second one.
Held together by sweat, snacks, stubbornness and a mild refusal to stop creating.
Also…
🏚️ We have officially entered Week 3 of the Kitchen Renovation.
Which means Still:
🙅♀️No kitchen
🙅♀️No routine
🙅♀️No idea where anything lives
🥄Meals best described as “creative survival”
The house remains absolute chaos.
I remain absolutely convinced this is all completely normal.
The kitchen may be unfinished, but thankfully creativity is still running seamlessly.
🪐 Saturday — Lines, Layers & “I’ll Just Do One More”
Started the day like a responsible human being.
Fabric prep.
Sewing room tidy.
Organisation.
Well…
What actually happened was I moved several piles from one surface to another and declared victory.
Finished The “Caroline” Top for Ju, ready for Sunday, which felt like a rare moment of calm competence.
Naturally I immediately ignored that achievement and launched straight into “Caroline” Top No 3.
By the time I was three-quarters finished my sensible brain said:
“That’s enough for today.”
My sewing brain replied:
“Or… hear me out… just one more seam.”
Classic.
🌞 Sunday — Cold Water & Hot Ideas
Started the day with a cold water swim 🏊♀️.
Because nothing says “I’ve got my life together” quite like voluntarily throwing yourself into this beautiful water.
Julie wore her soft denim “Caroline” Top and absolutely loved it.
Which obviously means…
She’s ordered another 1️⃣
I didn’t choose a Bee-spoke life it choose me.
Meanwhile my sister tried on the Rossi Dress. It wasn’t a good fit, so The “Rossi” Dress immediately decided it belonged to her daughter instead.
Pattern Design No 4 officially began:
The “Julie” PJ Shorts
Made from a repurposed duvet set that has never actually met a duvet. Two pillowcases with the frill made the shorts, leaving plenty for The “Caz” PJ Bottoms, The “Julie” Chemise PJ top and The “Caz” PJ Top - Zero waste.
Maximum smugness.
Honestly? Already cute.
🌙 Monday — Heatwave & Questionable Life Choices
Bank Holiday.
Thirty plus degrees. No breeze.
And feeling faint.
The ward was hot.
The house was hot.
Standing still was hot.
Everything felt like it had been tumble-dried on high.
Still…
Because apparently resting isn’t one of my hobbies…
I cut out Caroline Top No 4 using the final half metre of treasured fabric and mixing it with broider anglaise.
Nothing says stability like cutting into your last piece of fabric during a heatwave.
If life gives you scraps…
Draft another pattern.
🛡️ Tuesday — Sewing Group Success
Another roasting day.
Another episode of “I’ll push through and pretend I’m absolutely fine.”
Quick nap post work.
Cold shower.
Reset.
Then off to sewing group.
The highlight?
Pattern testing my very first design — The “Caroline” Top.
I graded this down a size for one
And added a dart for another.
They choose their frills and sleeves and neck shapes. They are all going to look so different (such a versatile pattern)
I didn’t print them instructions I explained each stage as we went so everyone did it together.
Just pattern pieces and optimism.
And honestly? They smashed it.
Watching people successfully sew something you’ve designed yourself is a very special feeling.
I’m ridiculously proud of them all.
Even better…
One absolute legend has already finished our “Stitch”overlocker / sewing Cover design. My pattern design No. 2
And made TWO.
Next week’s lesson:
French seams.
Bias binding.
Continued brilliance.
🪄 Wednesday — The Day Everything Said “No”
Wednesday started badly.
Then escalated.
Then kept escalating.
1️⃣First the kettle broke.
2️⃣Then my sewing machine broke.
My 13-month-old machine.
Timing gone.
Warranty expired.
Obviously.
Then came…
3️⃣THE INCIDENT.
I embroidered through THREE layers of somebody’s jeans.
Three.
Layers.
Do you know how long that takes to unpick?
Long enough to rethink your entire personality.
I’ve ordered replacement jeans the originals were saved (but I couldn’t give them back).
But honestly…
What a day.
Then, just when I thought Wednesday had thrown everything it had at me…
The skies joined in.
⚡ Thursday — Lightning, Retail Therapy & Machine Temptation
Wednesday night rolled into Thursday morning with a lightning show that went on for hours.
Not a quick flash.
No Rumble
A full theatrical production.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash
The universe appeared to be doing decorative topstitching across the night sky.
Meanwhile I lay awake mentally drafting patterns, planning future projects and wondering whether a sewing machine could technically qualify as an emotional support device.
The storm eventually moved on.
Unlike the kitchen renovation.
Thursday itself was thankfully calmer.
Day off, Coffee, Shopping.
A proper catch-up with a friend.
Came home with:
New kettle
Kitchen bits
Towels
Secret Bee mugs
No regrets.
With my main machine out of action I turned to “Big Jack”.
That I hadn’t used for ages as the thread kept breaking. So bit the bullet and rang Direct Sewing Machine Ltd in Bristol.
They were amazing and now
“Big Jack” purrs bee-utifully
However: after talking to them
I may or may not have spent part of the afternoon researching sewing machine upgrades.
So I am now exploring:
💡 Trade-ins
💡 Upgrades
💡 “Technically it’s a replacement”
Watch this space.
💕 Friday — Nana Day & Creative Explosion
Up early. Quiet cool conservatory.
Bliss.
Spent time unpicking fabric ready for its next life.
Because nothing in this house gets to retire peacefully.
Then came grandson day.
Cuddles.
Chaos.
Snacks.
Repeat.
When lil one went down for his nap…
The creativity floodgates opened.
Friends had given me fabric and simply said:
“Just make me something.”
Which is simultaneously the highest compliment and absolutely terrifying.
So naturally…
I designed 3 items for a collection
I somehow went from six designs this month…
To ten.
TEN.
In one afternoon.
Am I okay?
Unclear.
Am I buzzing?
Absolutely. 🐝
✂️ This Month’s Designs (Send Help)
🐝 Caroline Top (4 made)
🐝 Stitch Cover (2 made by me + 5 tester versions)
🐝 Julie PJ Chemise (cut out)
🐝 Julie PJ Shorts (1 made)
🐝 Caz PJ Bottoms (cut out)
🐝 Caz PJ Top (finalising draft)
🐝 St Ives Beach Shorts (1 made)
🐝 Perranporth Beach Wrap Top & Dress (Cut out)
🐝 Sherry Tie-Back Top (cut out)
🐝 Sherry Tiered Skirt (Cut out)
🐝 Sherry Tie waist shorts (cut out)
At this point my plans are multiplying faster than fabric scraps.
💇♀️ And Finally…
Hair done thanks to some childcare teamwork.
Grandson loved.
Brain buzzing.
House still chaos.
Kitchen still missing.
Finished the week with a date night.
Not for romance but For food.
Let’s be realistic.
🧵 Bee-Hind The Seams Reflection.
This week was messy.
🥵Hot.
😩Frustrating.
🤩Brilliant.
Unfinished.
😭Things broke.
Plans shifted.
Machines rebelled.
🐝Bee Creative.Bee Bold.By Caz🐝
