NEWS
Welcome to the News section. Get the latest updates, information and KS gossip here!
2024 EMBROIDERY JOURNAL
Using a basic pattern from fellow sewist 'Botanical Stitching' (which you can also buy over on her Etsy!) I have decided to complete a 2024 embroidery journal.
Capturing Weekly Memories in Thread: The essence of the 2024 embroidery journal is to recap each week by translating your experiences into thread, stitching an "icon" or "picture" that relates to a memory from that week, eventually you will have 52 complete sections.
Want to join in? I have decided to share this journey via social media to connect with the sewing community as I progress through the weeks so head to my socials on a Sunday for a new collection I am calling 'Sunday Stitching Sessions'. Fellow sewists can provide valuable insights and encouragement throughout the year-long creative process.
Assemble your embroidery essentials, including hoops, colourful threads, and a needle!
We are making a visual diary.
While Botanical Stitching provides the foundation, infuse your journal with personal touches if you wish. Experiment with stitches, colour combinations, and embellishments to make each weekly entry uniquely yours. The result will be a rich and personalised narrative of your 2024... a great beginner starting point if sewing is something you want to get into.
Happy stitching and storytelling if you are joining me in this process!
My icons stitched so far: Yoga - Bacon and Hot Choc - Burger - Office Desk - Cupcake - Balloons - Sheep - Pancake - Strawberry Daq - Flower - Hair Dye
NEW CELEB CLIENTS
Had an email come through to the KS Sewing inbox and to my surprise it was none other than Sophie Kasaei.
You likely have but if you haven't heard of Sophie, she starred on Geordie Shore for a number of years so is a bit of a Celebrity! She has since moved from Geordie to Essex to be with Jordan Brook.. Who is also part of 'The Only Way is Essex' cast.
Now Sophie had a fashion birthday trip emergency, she reached out to her instagram followers looking for a seamstress and you lovely lot sent her my way (thank you my loves for all the 'word of mouth' work xo)
I had 6 hours to fix her outfit ready for her flight and of course pulled it out the bag. Birthday outfit saved she was chuffed when I dropped it off.
Since then I have done a couple jobs for her, always last minute hahaha but she is sooo lovely, such a giggle and so authentically herself. If you don't already give herself @sophiekasaei_ and myself @katesurridgesewing a follow online and spread the love! KS xo
THE COVID-19 ERA
What a year 2020 was!
I spent the year of 2020 in lockdown - as we all did! - wondering what I was going to do with my time and small business, considering I couldn't see anybody for alteration appointments, I was a little stuck. Luckily, I did some door step drop offs and local customers still brought me little jobs of pre-pinned items for take ups and we left cash and clothes on door steps...
After being in lockdown for a couple months I came across the voluntary scheme 'For the Love of Scrubs' set up by a lovely man called Keith Bates, which I then dedicated all my time too. Other volunteers would pre cut fabric, voluntary drivers would drop said fabric at my door step and I, along with other home sewers, then spent a few days sewing scrubs for our busy NHS staff before they were collected and distributed to our local hospitals. By the time the scheme slowed down and lockdown eased I had made 40 sets of scrubs and 15 outpatient re-usable masks, all in different colours that had been distributed into our healthcare system; my favourite being a pink ice cream print for wear on the children's ward!
As the government advice changed in May 2020 I decided to sell re-usable KS masks. I gathered a host of pretty poly-cotton prints, soft elastic and got to work. I sold my first mask on 23rd May 2020 and my last on 24th April 2021 - how would of thought we would be under restrictions for that long! 3000+ masks, 30+ fabric choices later, a range of personalised masks for businesses, charities and just some fancy customers who wanted a personalised touch, I think the local area was then fully covered and things started to take a turn to start our new normal so mask orders slowed down. I will always be grateful for all that purchased a KS mask in this period as I'm not sure how I would of got by otherwise!
I hope everyone is now keeping safe and germ free moving forward, lots of love to all, KS xo