29/08/2026
Bee-Hind The Seams
Week 26
“Cornwall Edit”
This week’s Bee-Hind the Seams comes from Cornwall.
We had a wonderful family holiday, but this is still a crafting blog,
sew, I will spare you the full stitch-by-stitch account!
Even without my sewing room, creativity followed me through handmade beachwear,
yarn,
pattern designing and
a little fabric shopping.
Sew, let’s dive in…
Making Waves in Handmade Towelling
The stars of the week were the three towelling beach sets I made before we went away:
a hooded top and shorts for Ruby, Elsie and me,
three sets, six handmade pieces and sew much seaside style.
Ruby’s was the bold pink hibiscus design,
while Elsie’s was the fun pink fruit version.
Both girls had “Meet me by the sea”embroidered on a sleeve and down the side of their shorts, a little stitch of Cornwall to tie all three sets together.
My set was made from white,
pale-blue and navy striped towelling. The back was the most important part, with a large shell and the words:
ST IVES
CARBIS BAY
“Meet me by the sea”
2026
Already there, sew, used that as my motto.
“Meet me by the sea” was also embroidered on my sleeve, because one seaside slogan is never quite enough!
The girls’ towelling came from Primark and cost around £15 per outfit;
mine came from Matalan and was nearer £30.
We wore them on every beach trip. They were splashed, filled with sand and worn again every time we went to the beach.
We had people asking where we bought them from, my pride when the girls said I made them.
They looking fabulous and became an outfit stitched into real memories.
Yarn on Tour—Hooked on Cornwall
There may not have been room for a sewing machine in the car,
but there was always room for yarn. Knit happens, even on holiday!
My Lake District cardigan came along with all five pieces:
two sleeves,
two fronts and the back,
each now at row 100.
Every holiday stitch was progress,
those mountains are not going to knit themselves.
I also began a crochet cardigan.
The hook appeared whenever I found a quiet moment, something of a yarn-spun fantasy on a family holiday!
Three beginner macramé kits also found their way into my shopping.
We will each be making a sea turtle, but needed more than just the kit, we need Cork boards and push pins.
And because apparently my project list was not already long enough.
I really do have no shelf-control.
My biggest creative job was designing my own pattern for Week Two of the Dream Fabrics Sewing Bee.
I could plan the shape and construction,
but the cutting and sewing had to wait.
No pressure then,
straight home and directly into Sewing Bee mode.
Time to wing it and hope it all comes together at the seams!
A Very Hungry Fabric Stash
Somehow, around five metres of The Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric crawled into my holiday shopping.
(It’s quite expensive as it’s really hard to get hold of).
Another two metres may be cocooned in my stash at home,
potentially bringing the total to nearly 5 metres.
I have a commission that I can’t wait to make.
I can already feel the ideas fluttering in.
Sew Much to Show
Before leaving for Cornwall, I prepared five entries for the Cam and Dursley Flower and Produce Show:
• A crochet jumper—my rainbow jumper, a toft pattern with bramble yarn.
• A crochet toy—my Frida Kahlo doll, also Toft with toft yarn and information about her.
• A sewn blouse—my cotton-lawn carnation blouse, pattern from fabric godmother and fabric from dream fabrics (it was my week 2 submission in the winter sewing bee, something I’m really proud of, as the sewing and ex*****on is amazing.
• A transformation—my Godrevy tea-towel dress, made from entirely tea towels.
• A crochet blanket—my allotment blanket, made for a friend and gifted, but borrowed back to enter.
You will have to wait until next week to see where I came.
Nothing says
“relaxing end to a holiday”
quite like unpacking,
washing, pressing five show entries and starting a Sewing Bee challenge. Sew far, sew good!
The Singer That Got Away
In Falmouth, I spotted an immaculate black electric Singer sewing machine, complete with her lid,
for just £45.
I checked her over, wanted her, and walked away.
Sensible Caz knew the packed car had no room unless I carried her on my lap.
Naturally,
I looked up her value afterwards and have been pining for the Singer that got away ever since.
I was sew close, and yet sew far!
Perhaps next year we need a roof box. Not for luggage,
obviously,
but for emergency
vintage-sewing-machine purchases. It is always best to bee prepared.
A Little Bit of Cornwall - Just for Shore
Away from the crafting,
there was swimming,
bodyboarding,
ice cream,
determined seagulls and
a crab leg Ruby used to scare Nana. She found it hilarious,
I felt rather crabby about it.
There was also a weever-fish sting,
a shoe claimed by the Atlantic and Bampi receiving seaweed hair and a monobrow.
Cornwall kept us on our toes, when it was not stealing our footwear.
The girls became quizmasters on the drive home to keep Rob alert.
I had planned to have a nap,
but I wanted to answer too,
so there was not a wink of bee-auty sleep for me.
The four of us also made a pebble heart in the sand for Josh,
formed his name and left four pairs of footprints beneath it, a precious moment making sure he was part of our holiday, as he always is.
The sad news about Dolly stayed with me too.
I loved her warmth and music,
but as a maker I especially admired that incredible wardrobe: rhinestones, colour, fringe, lace, crochet, big hair and complete confidence.
She was never afraid to dress boldly and be entirely herself.
Dolly truly understood that life is too short for boring clothes.
Back to Bee-siness
Week 26 was about seeing previous makes being worn,
keeping long-term projects moving and letting new ideas take flight.
My Cornwall beach collection had its moment by the sea.
The Lake District cardigan travelled with me,
a crochet cardigan was begun,
three macramé turtles joined the list, Hungry Caterpillar fabric found a purpose,
five show entries were prepared and my Week Two Sewing Bee pattern was designed.
Now it is time to unpack the car, shake out the sand and get back to my sewing room.
My design is waiting to be brought to life, and I am buzzing to get started.
Until next week…
Bee Creative. Bee Bold.
Make something new from something old.
Love,
Caz 🐝
