Sew….wow!

So yesterday was the inaugural Sew Up North and I am still in shock. So many wonderful people turned up! A couple of weeks ago, Sally and I were worried no one would turn out on the day. And then by 10:30 yesterday, the basement of Costa Coffee looked like this:

So many sewists (and one seriously bemused looking couple in the corner!) All chatting, comparing garments, discussing fabric and making enough noise to lift the roof. It was  awesome ! (note: I’m aware I may be over using that word, but I’m a little stunned and out of ideas!)

By 10:45 we were heading out into the fabric shops of Leeds. Sally and I were two of the last out of the building and our group headed straight for the bricks and mortar B&M Fabrics shop which amazingly wasn’t yet crammed. I had a very small shopping list and very nearly managed to stick to it, although I admit that the dinosaur print Jersey snuck in under my no impulse buying radar! I picked up two shades of blue sequined fabric for Christmas skirts for the kids, which were in my list, and the dinosaurs which definitely weren’t!

We moved into the market itself, bumping into other groups of Sew Up North-ers as we went. I found the perfect Robert Kaufman polar bear print for my Xmas dress this year at Fletchers and a length of blue knit at Jack’s which was going to be for my Linden swap partner.

At this point, food started to be mentioned. Now Sally and I hadn’t organised any proper lunch type food (like I said, not that sure anyone would come!) so there were no firm plans: Amy came to the rescue with a pub recommendation and several of us ended up munching around a big wooden table in a previously peaceful bar!

(Totally stolen her Instagram post here, sorry Amy, I didn’t get my camera out in the pub!)

Then we headed up to Fabrication, where lots of sewers were already gathering. The fabric and pattern swap had been set up on the floor and there were many eager rummagers! I came away very happy with some floral print rayon and a deckchair print I had resisted buying online this summer (go me!)

The raffle went with a swing, raising a whopping £217 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

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(Video courtesy of Thimberlina who is a paramedic)

 I think Sally was rather sad to part with the £100 fabric bundle from Minerva Crafts: personally I would have loved the 2m of Girl Charlee fabric, but sadly my numbers were not lucky!

And then it was done.

Except for the bit where I called back in to B&M (who were knackered!) and bought the red wool Melton which was in my list, along with some grey jersey and the burgundy textured jersey I’d originally seen for the Linden swap!

If I met you and ignored you, or stared blankly at you despite many online Instagram chats, or asked you your name half a dozen times and still forgot it, forgive me? I am by nature more observer  than organiser and was bloody petrified. Sewists are without doubt the best, but new people terrify me still, so this was a whole new world of scary for me. Between adrenaline and caffeine, my brain was slightly frazzled.

I had a fantastic day though, it looks like a lot of others might have enjoyed it too and, if that’s the case, well we might have to do it again. 

What say you, Sally? 

Becca x 

Thank you very much indeed to all those who donated raffle prizes (see below) and to Sew Essential and Twisted Thread for the discount vouchers included in the goodie bags!

• Minerva Crafts
• Girl Charlee UK
• The Knitting & Stitching Show
• The Fabbadashery, Halifax
• Fabrication
• Crafty Sew and So