Lucy Fennessy: raising melanoma awareness through sewing
In the heart of the West Midlands, sewist and gardener Lucy Fennessy is bringing creativity and care together with purpose.
As the founder of the Sew Summer Skin Challenge, Lucy is using the power of handmade fashion to raise awareness about melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Most often linked to UV damage from sun exposure, melanoma can spread quickly, yet is highly curable when caught early.
A survivor herself of the disease, Lucy has timed her Instagram-based challenge with May’s Melanoma Awareness Month. It invites makers to create summer garments that protect from the sun. Think flowing maxi dresses, long skirts, wide-leg trousers, and breezy shirts that shield the skin while celebrating the joy of making.
It’s a powerful reminder that sewing can be not just a creative outlet, but a meaningful act of self-care and awareness, stitched together with community spirit.
Here is her story, in her own words.
How sewing and gardening shape Lucy’s creative journey
My mum used to make her clothes and mine when I was little, and I remember her encouraging me to make clothes for my dolls. She’s the reason I got into sewing.
When my husband and I moved into our first house, I started making soft furnishings. It used to be cheaper to make your own curtains and cushion covers rather than buy them, whereas it’s the opposite now. I made lots of home furnishings, curtains, cushions, I even made duvet covers for my kids when they were small.
Probably in my mid-twenties, I started making my own clothes, and little dresses for my girls.
I am quite an overthinker, which causes anxiety, but I find sewing in the evenings so relaxing. It helps you shift your focus, as you just become immersed in it. And it really helps calm the racing mind.
The same thing happens when I’m outside in the garden, it’s a chance to switch off. You sow seeds, you get things to grow. It just gives me joy.
Lucy’s melanoma diagnosis and journey to skin cancer awareness
In 2012, I had a mole on my inner left thigh that started to change. It was very small, it wasn’t significant. I was referred to a dermatologist who said it was fine. They said it’ll probably get bigger, change colour a little bit, and then fade. I have no doubt that the advice I received at the time was right, but the mole didn’t fade.
Time went on, and in May 2017, my eldest daughter told me I should get it looked at again. I went to the doctor and they referred me to a dermatologist who said they needed to get it removed immediately. The test results showed it to be a melanoma. I was lucky as it wasn’t deep, and I would require another excision and further skin removal.
Everybody is affected by things in different ways. For me, it wasn’t just having melanoma that was hard, it was everything else that went with it. I had terrible OCD and anxiety. The only way I can describe it is as though somebody turned on a light switch and I couldn’t turn it off.
It’s funny, when you go through something serious like cancer or an operation, there’s what’s happening to your physical body, and then there’s everything else going on in your mind. These things are so evasive. There’s definitely a healing process that’s needed in terms of diagnosis and emotions.
Supporting Melanoma UK and raising awareness during Melanoma Awareness Month
May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. I wasn’t aware of Melanoma UK when I was going through my skin cancer journey, which is a shame as I feel they really can help. You can hear other people’s stories, and through collaboration and education, they are promoting the dangers of skin cancer and what to look out for.
Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK but is largely preventable. The main cause is UV radiation from intense sun exposure and sunbed use. I just want to make people aware of it. If I can prevent just one person from going through what I went through, then that’s a win for me.
The Sew Summer Skin Challenge: making sun-protective garments
The Sew Skin Summer Challenge invites people to sew a summer garment that covers a large proportion of the skin or an accessory with sun protection in mind, like a sunhat or bag to hold your suncream. They can post it on Instagram with the hashtag #sewskinsummer26.
It’s just about making people a little more aware and mindful of protecting themselves.
I’m not trying to say: Don't go out and enjoy the sun. Everybody needs to get outside, and the sunshine is really good for you as is the natural source of Vitamin D. I think it’s just about being sensible and thinking about protection. If you’re going out on a sunny day, use suncream, cover your shoulders, protect your head, things like that. And most importantly, don’t burn.
The first Sew Skin Summer Challenge was in 2025. I got well over 220 entries, and a lovely variety of makes. One lady made these little triangular scarves that you wear on the back of your neck. If you're in the garden and leaning over, even though you may have a hat, you’ve got to protect your neck. I thought it was a genius idea! Lots of participants made bags to hold their sun cream.
Last year’s campaign went really well. I had entries from all over the world including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
But the biggest thing for me was having people contact me to say that they'd been affected by melanoma, either them personally or they knew somebody that had sadly passed away from it. It really hit home.
Bringing together community and sewing to spread the word about prevention
I remember being asked: Why don’t you just run a marathon or something to raise money for Melanoma UK? And that’s not for me, because my goal isn’t necessarily to raise money, it’s to raise awareness.
The sewing community is a place where I can spread that awareness. The notion of community is super important because it's about spreading the word, and that has to go through connection. I’m combining two things that I’m passionate about.
I also hate running.
Follow Lucy on Instagram and join the Sew Skin Summer Challenge by posting your sun-conscious makes on Instagram with the hashtag #sewskinsummer26.
