Sewing with Purpose: My #SewPink Bag for Ovarian Cancer Awareness
- Sondrasa
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
October marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. and I’m honored to once again participate in ByAnnie's #SewPink Initiative. This annual event brings together makers and quilters to raise awareness, encourage early detection, and show support for those affected by cancer.
This year, I chose to focus on a cause close to my heart: ovarian cancer awareness, represented by the teal ribbon.
Why I Chose Ovarian Cancer Awareness
There have been many important women in my life who have faced ovarian cancer, so it felt only right to highlight this specific cause.
"A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 91."
According to the American Cancer Society,
About 20,890 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
About 12,730 women will die from ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is most often diagnosed in women over 63, which overlaps significantly with our quilting community. The good news? Rates have been on a steady decline since the 1990s—likely due to greater awareness, increased use of oral contraceptives, and reduced use of hormone therapy.
Choosing the Right Bag: Size Matters
When creating a handmade bag for someone undergoing treatment, size and functionality make all the difference.
I find the size to be very important.
A larger bag can hold a pillow, blanket, or quilt to stay warm during chemo.
It leaves room for a book, craft, or project—a welcome distraction during long sessions.
For my project, I chose the Jet Set II bag pattern by ByAnnie, which has a roomy interior, large panels (perfect for adding appliqué!), and plenty of space for comfort items.
Putting Heart into Every Stitch
When it came to fabric, my heart led the way. I pulled from my stash of Spellbound by Sarah Watts & Rashida Coleman Hale,  a collection I had previously used in 2018 for a quilt honoring a dear friend who lost his battle with bone cancer. Using this fabric again felt healing, like closing a circle.
Once the fabrics were chosen, the bag came together quickly—I finished it in just a long weekend!
Tips for Bag-Making Success
If you’re making a #SewPink bag of your own, here are a few lessons I’ve learned:
Read the pattern carefully—just like a recipe.
Prep your parts—cut, quilt, and sort everything before sewing.
Label everything—labels will save you from frustration later.
Take it slow—steady stitching beats seam-ripping any day.
Adding Appliqué for a Personal Touch
Of course, no Art Quilts by Design project feels complete without a touch of appliqué. The Jet Set II Bag has several perfect spots for customization:
The back panel can hold a large motif such as a Dresden plate.
The front pockets are ideal for smaller accents like flowers or English paper piecing.
The included bag tag is a fun opportunity for embellishment. I added a simple teal ribbon appliqué to honor ovarian cancer awareness.
You could easily swap ribbon colors to represent different causes, such as pink for breast cancer or purple for epilepsy awareness.
Bonus: Free Awareness Ribbon Appliqué
Want to make your own awareness ribbon appliqué? Whether for a bag tag, quilt label, or wall hanging, this simple design is versatile and meaningful.
More #SewPink Inspiration
Looking for additional project ideas? Don’t miss my SewPink project from last year:
Check out last year's SewPink project:
Get the pattern: The Rose Moon
Want to Make The Rose Moon with ByAnnie's Courtside bag? Find it here
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The #SewPink Initiative was created by ByAnnie.com LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer throughout the year. 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:
There's a whole month of blogs, live events, and community events from some of your favortie creators!
