We're sewing for 12 straight hours in a Sew-A-Thon in aid of Baby Basics and Mind 

The Big Sew Off is a charity event, organised the Sew Over It team in London, and we  are delighted to be hosting the East Midlands hub for the event, sewing for 12 hours continuously on Thursday 12th May 2022.   

We will be joined by other sewing businesses, personalities and sewing Instagrammers from our hub in Leicester.  We've invited some of our friends to come along to the studio to help sew with us and keep us company. We're expecting lots of guests through the day, including Adam from the last season of the Great British Sewing Bee and a Leicester local.

You can check in with us on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook through the day, where we will be live streaming the day and sharing with you some of our makes. 

There will also be some short interviews with our guests and Laura, from Baby Basics as we talk to her about the important work that she and her team do to support local new mums with Baby Basics Leicester.

Supporting Mind

Support Baby Basics

We have decided to support the local arm of national charity Baby Basics. This wonderful charity provides practical support and resources for local mums and families who struggle financially. 

Working with health professionals, Baby Basics equips young mums to provide the best start for their families. Over the course of the 12 hours we will be making items for the charity to gift, adding a touch of handmade love to each referral. 

Freya Gilbert of Crafty Sew and So, says… 

“The pandemic has had lasting effects on all of us, not least on maternity services and the challenges young families face. Baby Basics have helped over 1000 local families in the last 4 years and we are pleased to be able to do our bit to provide beautiful, handmade gifts to bring sunshine to their days.   

We will also be fundraising for Mind over the Sew-a-long, through donations from customers and sponsorship.  A lot of people have taken up crafting and sewing as a support for their mental health and Mind have done a wonderful job providing access to support.“ 

Get involved!

Customers are invited to join in with the sewathon, either in the studio or at home.   We're providing a free pattern to make washbags which we all know are endlessly useful. You can download this pattern for free with discount code 'babybasics'*

Laura from Baby Basics has also asked us to make and donate baby bibs, burb clothes and sun hats.  We would love your support if you will make these items and donate them to baby basics too! Please note, only these items are required.

You can send these items to us to pass on at our studio address:

Crafty Sew and So, Studio 8 The Makers Yard, 84 Rutland St, Leicester, LE1 1SB

 Please have your donations in to us by the end of May, thank you!

*valid between 11/5/2022 and 31/5/2022 inclusive.  Pattern for personal use only.

Sarah Laws of Crafty Sew and So, says… 

“Community is very important to us at Crafty Sew and So and we’ll be asking customers, friends and local sewing personalities to join us in the studio or to sew along at home to make items for Baby Basics, Leicester. We are providing a free sewing pattern to make baby hats and bibs, which are always welcomed by new mums. We’d love fellow sewists to get a group of friends together and create a mini-sewing hub at home!  You wouldn’t have to sew for the whole 12 hours; you can aim to make a few lovely bits for the charity or raise sponsorship and donate to Mind or Baby Basics yourself.” 

The Big Sew Off takes place during Mental Health Awareness Week. It will start at 10am and end at 10pm, on Thursday 12th May 2022.   

Find out more about our chosen charities 

www.babybasicsleicester.co.uk 

www.mind.org.uk