Backpacks 4 VIC Kids

Backpacks 4 VIC kids is an Australian charity that provides essential items to Victorian children entering foster care and emergency accommodation, to assist in easing the feelings of loss and relocation. 

Each year, 45,000 Australian children are placed into foster care or emergency accommodation, and quite often without any of their possessions. Run by volunteers, Backpacks 4 VIC Kids aim to aid children during their transition and provide the help and support they need by supplying backpacks and nappy bags to children aged 0-17 years. 

In celebration of Christmas approaching, this month we are supporting Backpacks 4 VIC Kids and creating Santa sacks for the children. These Santa Sacks will be filled with gifts and given to the kids for Christmas.

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

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Bosom Buddies

Breast Cancer affects 1 in 8 women by the age of 85 and is the most common cancer in Australian women. Bosom Buddies ACT Inc is a charitable organisation of volunteers who provide care and support to breast cancer patients and their families in the ACT and the surrounding region.

All volunteers of Bosom Buddies have experienced breast cancer personally or through loved ones and are committed to providing support to people in the community. This month, we’re supporting Bosom Buddies by creating drainage bags for breast cancer patients. 

Quite often when a woman has breast cancer surgery, she will leave with tubes protruding that drain her incision. These tubes end in a small plastic bag that holds the liquid drained. Women can leave with one to three tubes and in some cases, they’ll need them for as long as two or three weeks. 

The drainage bags that we will be creating are to hold the plastic bags containing the drains and allow the patient to go out in public. These bags can then later be used as a shopping bag or a tote bag. Each breast cancer surgery patient will receive a drainage bag from a breast care nurse.

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

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Life’s Little Treasures

Life’s Little Treasures is Australia’s foremost charity who provide support, friendship and information to families of premature or sick babies. Their care is available at hospitals in neonatal and special care units and close by in the community when families come home.

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BRIEF

Life’s Little Treasures strives to give families the support and assistance they need during a very traumatic time with their sick or premature baby. This month, to bring comfort and support to these babies in need, we’ll be creating small, soft teddy bears. These teddy bears are the perfect gift for a baby and will represent love and support from our community.

Please note: The charity has requested that these teddy bears are created with gender neutral colours to simplify distribution to families and babies.
(Examples: Greens, soft yellows, mint blues, light greys)

Download Teddy Bear pattern →
(The pattern includes the outline of the bear’s face for those who may prefer to hand embroider)

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Childhood Cancer Support

Childhood Cancer Support is a children’s cancer charity with practical, hands-on support for the Queensland paediatric oncology community. They provide family support, home away from home accommodation and transport services to children with cancer, and their families from regional, rural and remote locations.

Talk like a Pirate Day is a nationally recognised major fundraiser for Childhood Cancer Support. While dressed up in your best pirate costume, funds are raised for the Childhood Cancer Support charity to go towards their support for their patients and families. 

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BRIEF

For this month’s sewalong, we’re going to contribute to Childhood Cancer Support and their Talk like a Pirate Day by creating pirate bandanas for the kids to wear. 

We have sewn these bandanas in a few different ways. We have created them using a whole square method, patchwork method and also added an extra touch with some embellishment using the ScanNCut or applique.

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ORANGE SKY Australia

Orange Sky Australia is the world’s first free mobile laundry service for those experiencing homelessness. They provide a platform for every day Australians, where they can connect through a regular laundry and shower service.

Orange Sky not only give those who suffer homelessness an opportunity to wash and dry their clothes, but also to positively connect with the thousands of volunteers. The genuine and non-judgemental conversation made through this incredible service has a big influence on their lives. The community at Orange Sky is made up of people who treat others how they want to be treated.

With 29 services across Australia, Orange Sky are determined to challenge the perception of homelessness. In this month’s charity sewalong, you can become a part of their movement and create laundry bags which will be donated to those that are homeless.

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BRIEF

For this month’s Sewalong, we are asking you to create a laundry bag for homeless people to carry their clothes in. 

We have created a reconstructed denim bag made from denim jeans or you can create a fabric laundry bag. Plus, we’ve added an extra touch to these bags by adding appliqued words that are relevant to the message of Orange Sky.

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