Welcome everyone to the By Annie #SewPink Initiative for 2022 Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Click on the graphic above to go to the home page for this year’s events. Also, here are links to donate, to the blog hop schedule and the #SewPink photo contest! The blog hop features many of your favorite designers with projects they have designed for this event. I hope I am on your list of “favorite designers” and I do have a new project to share.
This is my third year participating. Here are links to my previous projects created for this event: Courage and Hope & Love. My project for this year is called Shining Star.
It’s a celebration of the breast cancer survivors in your life who are your “shining stars”! I have two family members who are survivors, my mom and a sister, and they are my shining stars for sure. This pattern combines my favorite things, quilting and wool appliqué. The appliqué can also be done in fabric if you are not a fan of wool appliqué. This pattern is also available in a PDF instant download.
For fun, I am planning to give away a Shining Star pattern to one of the blog readers this week! Leave a comment below and I will draw for a winner on Monday, October 24th. Those outside the US are eligible for the PDF version.
If you are interested in learning wool appliqué, I have a 3-part mini video series that takes you from template creation to stitching.
Why do I Participate?
As I said above, I have two breast cancer survivors in my family. My sister was diagnosed in her early 30s, so I have been getting mammograms yearly since my early 30s. My mom is a two time survivor and needed to have a mastecomy with her last bout, but she’s still going strong!
Because of my family history, I am vigilant myself when it comes to exams and tests for early detection. There have been great advancements over the years like 3D mammograms and MRI guided biopsies (both of which I have had). I also have a yearly breast MRI in six months after my mammogram. These advancements could not be made without funds raised from initiatives like this. I am grateful to all who work in this field of study to hopefully someday find a cure.
1 in 8 women in their lifetime will be diagnosed with breast cancer…. and you do not have to have a strong family history to be one of those women. That is why I urge you to do the self-exams and make that yearly mammogram visit at the minimum.
The #SewPink Initiative was created by ByAnnie.com LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer throughout the year. Our efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer. To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK
To find screenings available near you:
This year we are again joining forces with Fat Quarter Shop to promote a fundraiser. Their goal of raising $20,000 to donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
ByAnnie.com will match every dollar raised on the #SewPINK fundraising page.
Make sure to check out everyone’s blog posts this month for lots of ideas and inspiration: Oct. 1 :ByAnnie.com Kick off
Oct. 3 : Emmaline Bags
Oct. 4: Hugs ‘N Kisses
Oct. 5: Clover and Violet
Oct. 6: Fat Quarter Shop and the Jolly Jabber
Oct. 7: Sewfinity
Oct. 10: Teresa Coates & Shannon Fabrics
Oct. 11:Beyond the Reef
Oct. 12: Sallie Tomato
Oct. 13: Suzn Quilts
Oct. 17: Snuggles Quilts
Oct. 20: Pat Sloan
Oct. 21: Knot and Thread Design
Oct.23: Sookie Sews
Oct. 24: Mister Domestic
Oct. 26: A Bright Corner
Oct. 27: Sew Cute and Quirky
Oct. 1 : ByAnnie.com Final Wrap Up
For some fun… here’s my studio cat, Addie, “helping” me cut strips for this project!

***We have a winner! Congrats, Cathy Forslund!***
Happy Quilting & Stitching!
Deanne