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Melanie Keane

@melaniekeane

449

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1.7K

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Lighthouse Sewing Project
@surreysews #SurreySewfizzteacated @sewover50 editor
Beyond The Pink Door Ambassador 💕
@babylock_uk
@fabricgodmother

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Wow…what an experience…bomber jackets complete…I was so honoured to collaborate the @moodfabrics Avelia bomber with the amazingly talented @thefrenchseams
More details to follow…
#aveliabomberjacket
#bomberjacketscollaboration
#sewover50june by @melaniekeane

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a year ago

There are some good souls in the sewing world and our #So50GuestEditor Melanie @MelanieKeane is one of them.

Since commencing sewing during lockdown making scrubs, Melanie has moved onto altruistic and diverse sewing endeavours in the community.
Thank you Melanie.
SD ☀️

******
18 months after beginning sewing I was asked “Do you know anyone who can sew…?” 2 weeks later I arrived at a refugee centre with 2 old machines and some donated fabric. 4 months later I had 3 volunteers working with me, 8 fairly decent machines and 15 women in the mixed nationality group. The women were voracious in their making, desperate to sew for their families, repair their clothes and just escape from their pitiful circumstances for a few hours. Families had lived in the oppressive centre for over a year feeling hopeless and depressed. Sewing lifted their spirits, formed relationships across the different cultures and allowed the women to feel like they were nurturing their families again. Each week I needed about 25m and so I reached out to the sewing community, whose generosity astounded me. I ran the project for 15 months until the centre suddenly closed with refugees being moved all over the U.K.

2 weeks later as one door closed, another opened but with quite a different slant. I set up a group for vulnerable women at The Lighthouse, Woking, Surrey, U.K.
I have much more to tell including
#SurreySews & #SewFizzteacated (a terrific fundraiser) which you can learn more about in the @SewOrganisedStyle Podcast out today.

Why do I do I do this?

I get back so much more than I give. My heart skips a beat when the women leave happier than when they arrived.

In the women’s refuge, the comments such as “this is the first time ever that I’ve not thought about my problems”…”my daughter is going to be so proud of me when I show her this” “I’m so happy I could hug someone” I said “will I do?” and she almost knocked me over! And lots more stories….

I feel joyful and so grateful for my life having made so many new friends in the sewing community through both of the projects and new experiences.

Melanie

#SewOver50Jun #SewOver50 #SewingCommunity #ActsOfKindness A woman stands in front of a tree. She is wearing a self made dress. taken in Woking, Surrey, UK by @melaniekeane

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a year ago

You are invited to a special making for charity session with @surreysews
PICC Line Covers Sewalong - Weds 5th August. 7-9pm (UK BST). FREE to attend.
.
In support of our friend @melaniekeane who has recently finished cancer treatment, she has been creatively inspired to support others going through treatment.
Mel has starting to make PICC line covers for patients to make their time a little brighter. A great scrapbusting project, the PICC line covers takes minimum 20x25cm (8x10") of jersey/stretch fabric and a very simple make.
.
If you are interested in learning more, join Mel and Yvette from Surrey Sews for a Zoom social along with host Jenny. Ask questions, sew along or have a good natter in this FREE charity session. Sign up via VirtualSewingRoom.com
.
We look forward to supporting Mel and having your company in this session.
#Virtualsewingroom #makingforcharity
We'll be by @melaniekeane

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a day ago

If you’re looking for a speedy summer co ord make, look no further ☀️Both these garments can be made in an afternoon and you can enjoy stylishly wafting around in the English heatwave we’re experiencing.
This beautiful viscose fabric was gifted to me as part of my @beyond.thepinkdoor Sew Inspired Ambassador role and came in Box 53 @beyond.thepinkdoor Sewscription box. I love a border print and enjoyed pattern matching the hems and it’s apt that last night on the British Sewing Bee 🐝 there were lots of helpful pattern matching tips 🐝
After starting my sewing journey making scrubs, I worked my way through @tillybuttons Make It Simple and the Safiya Trousers were my first make. They’re super quick being constructed from just 2 pattern pieces, plus pockets if you’d like them (I did..) and I made a straight TATB size 2. For the hems I pinned the edges of the border print together, basted them and then sewed them when I was happy. I had to shorten the length but didn’t want to cut off the print so I added horizontal pleats to bring the hems up.
The @merchantandmills Box Box top and dress is one of my go to patterns. The front has stylish pleats secured with a large zig zag design and again it’s a super quick make. The top is oversized so I made a straight size 6 with no alterations.

The white trousers I’m wearing are another tried and tested pattern @sewhouse7 Oxbow Pants in @beyond.thepinkdoor white Vintage cotton.

You might spot that I’m wearing a matching PICC line cover which hides my chemotherapy catheter. I’ve started a project to make PICC line covers for cancer patients and if you’d like to join in please see my earlier post.

My outfit has been sitting in my wardrobe for a couple of months now and I’m so excited to finally be able to wear it today… All I need now is a Greek holiday 🏛️and a cocktail 🍸

#pinkdoormakers
#BTPDSewInspired
@beyond.thepinkdoor
@sharesewover50
#TATBSafiya by @melaniekeane

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4 days ago

Help us make PICC line covers for cancer patients in Surrey 🙏

PICC line covers are an alternative to tubular bandages used to protect PICC lines required during cancer treatment. Having a handmade PICC line cover in fun colours has such a positive impact on patients identity during tough times.

They’re super simple to make and a great jersey scrap-buster too!🤩

1️⃣ Choose fabric - cotton/viscose jersey or swim
2️⃣ Cut length (21cm)
3️⃣ Hem with coverlock or zigzag
4️⃣ Cut width - Small 20cm, Medium 25cm, Large 30cm
5️⃣ Create tube (fold right sides together and sew seam)

Pop a message over to @melaniekeane if you can help with our new project! We’re going to be distributing PICC line covers to cancer patients across Surrey with the help of The Fountain Centre 🥰 by @melaniekeane

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5 days ago

“A pattern designed to take you effortlessly from everyday elegance to statement dressing…”
Congratulations to @sew_fauve and @sewgical_endeavours on the release of The Camellia Dress and Blouse pattern @imperfectlyperfectbyfna
There’s a few variations in the pattern, long or short sleeves, big sleeves, cuffed sleeves, waist tie or a long bow tie but you know me…I went for the full sleeve and cuff. I made a straight size 8 based on my measurements and I’m pleased with the fit. I really love the faced shaped hem which I think looks very elegant. The instructions are very detailed and I found it a straightforward sew.. I was a bit daunted by the number of button holes on the placket and cuffs but they went in like a dream. This was a great project to road test my @babylock_uk Aspire and I was amazed at how easy and even the gathering was. The fabric is a Liberty Tana Lawn from the Kaleidoscope collection very kindly gifted to me by a friend. Buttons are @pigeonwishes.shops I shall certainly be making another version for summer maybe the blouse with short cuffed sleeves.

#sewcamelliadress
#sewingfriendsarethebest
@sharesewover50
@pigeonwishes.shops by @melaniekeane

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9 days ago

A beautiful bright heart patch for the #100plusheartsproject made for the inspiring @melaniekeane by Elke @sewthreadbear . This is the second heart patch in Mel’s name with the first made by Mel herself earlier on in the project. For great information on women’s heart health and disease please see @herheartcharity taken in Creswick, Victoria by @melaniekeane

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10 days ago

☀️Sunshine on a cloudy day...
I’ve been feeling quite down as 5 weeks post radiotherapy I’d hoped to have more energy and be able to eat more…I’m still on liquid nutrition and feel tired so often. I’ve not felt very motivated although I push myself to pick up some sewing.

So imagine my delight when I received a message from the wonderful @dogsinstitches_and_me asking if I’d like the @atelierjupe Olivia dress in Atelier Jupe fabric… no hesitation there!
A couple of days later it arrived beautifully wrapped already cut out, notched and interfaced 😀
Sue and I became friends through both being Sewinspired Ambassadors @beyond.thepinkdoor
We’ve chatted on WhatsApp and met up a couple of times and become good friends, all through meeting in the sewing community. I am bowled over by Sue’s generosity for sending me this gift just when I needed it most and thank you Andrea for bringing us together.

The fabric is a viscose but it’s unusual in that it has a bubbled texture, almost like seersucker, with a satin finish. It’s light weight but still has drape. The fabric and pattern are both from @beyond.thepinkdoor
The only alteration I made was to reduce the length of the placket by 5cm and I was delighted to find that I could take it on and off without putting any buttons on… and I made a matching scrunchie. I wore it to the Lighthouse on Tuesday and had so many compliments 😀 As I’m writing this now I’m feeling so blessed to have sewing friends ❤️

#atelierjupeoliviadress
@sharesewover50
#beyondthepinkdoor by @melaniekeane

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10 days ago

Help make PICC line covers ⤵️

Switching a bandage for a handmade PICC line cover may seem like a small change, but Mel discovered it made such a difference to her confidence and sense of identity during cancer treatment.

Now Mel is collecting PICC line covers to donate to anyone else that needs them. They’re easy to make and a great jersey scrap buster. Here’s how to make them:

1️⃣ CHOOSE FABRIC - You need something with stretch. Jersey or swimwear fabric is ideal.

2️⃣ CUT OUT - Length 21cm x Width 20cm (small), 25cm (medium), 30cm (large)

3️⃣ CREATE TUBE - By sewing the two edges together along the length

4️⃣ HEM - Fold up 1cm and hem each end of the tube. Use Maraflex thread, a zigzag stitch, twin needle or coverstitch.

💌 Please message @melaniekeane if you’re interested in helping out! by @melaniekeane

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14 days ago

☀️Not my usual summer sewing project ☀️
Although I love the heat I’ve been finding it unbearable, especially when I’m feeling so unwell. Luckily I managed to snap up a portable air conditioner a few days ago. The unit comes with a very long mesh net which is supposed to fit around the window to put the hose through to take out the hot air from the room outside. We couldn’t make it work and it looked quite unsightly. Steve and my bestie @rachybean2 came up with this design and all I had to do was to make it☀️

Read on for how to make your own or skip ahead to my summer dressmaking projects…

Supplies: fabric for front and back, Velcro (sticky backed on one side only), bias binding.
Measure your window frame and stick one side of the Velcro onto all 4 edges. With your fabric RST stitch all around the edge leaving a small gap at the bottom for turning through. My @babylock_uk Aspire effortlessly joined and neatened the edges together, then turn through the fabric and give it a good press. Stitch the non sticky Velcro around the edges of your fabric. Measure your hose, position it near to the bottom of your frame, snip a hole through the centre and check the fit. Once you’re happy with it, use some bias binding to neaten and secure the edges of the hole and that’s it!

Luckily I had some fabric leftover from our curtains (which have been up for 23 years) and I used a plain calico for the backing. You do need non sticky Velcro for the fabric part of the blind because otherwise your needle will just end up full of glue. Thanks so much @rachybean2 for blind design ☀️

#airconditioningblind
@sharesewover50
@babylock_uk by @melaniekeane

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14 days ago

Summer sewing…I love wearing floaty fabrics and this lightweight gingham is just perfect for the Lala Pants. The pattern designer is Lizzie Everard @bettysilkstudio who was on series 9 of The Great British Sewing Bee, which starts again next week, so it’s apt that I’m sewing it now 🐝
I made size A according to my hip size, just shaving off 2cm at the back fork which is usual for me. The Lala pants are designed to be loose fitting. Lizzie does talk you though adjusting the rise and I nearly did take off 4cm at the front and back rise as indicated on the pattern, but at the last minute I didn’t. For my next pair I will because they do drag a bit between my legs but it’s only me who notices. I love the pleat detail on the cuff and I added a cute @little.rosy.cheeks label. I haven’t experimented much with machine embroidery but I’m happy with the effect across the side pockets. The Lalas are a speedy make..I cut them out during our sewing morning on Wednesday and was wearing them on Thursday!

I met Lizzie at Thread festival recently and she showed me how different the Lalas look in all sorts of fabrics. Lizzie won garment of the week for her minimal waste kaftan pattern which also looks perfect for this weather.

My top is the @merchantandmills Box Box Top in a double gauze @bornellafabrics
@sharesewover50
#summersewing by @melaniekeane

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14 days ago

Wow…our largest class on Tuesday @t.lighthouse Sewing Project. Two of our ladies started making trousers, one lady started cutting out a dress and then realised she didn’t have enough fabric..(thanks @fabricgodmother for coming to the rescue with some more of the same fabric) and others continued working on projects. We were worried that we hadn’t got enough resources but one lady commented that she had just enjoyed being in a supportive, friendly environment for a couple of hours. Comments like this are so encouraging.

#sewingformentalhealth by @melaniekeane

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17 days ago