I needed a hand embroidery project to take with me on an up-coming holiday, and I couldn't resist this lovely kit from Cross Patch - the Vintage Paisley Stitchery Bag. The kit includes the pattern, all the fabrics for the bag, handles and lining, the zipper AND a spool of perle thread for the hand embroidery. The panel is pre-printed with the stitchery design, so all I had to do was add an embroidery hoop, a needle and scissors, and pop it in my suitcase! While I was away on holiday, I made a start on the hand embroidery using the Finca perle thread that was included in the kit.These are very simple stitches - back stitch, some lazy daisy stitches and a few Colonial knots...
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...once the hand embroidery was completed, the panel was trimmed to size, and the pieced border was added. These pretty 2.5" squares are all by French General for Moda.The front of the bag was then layered on to a piece of fusible wadding (Vlieseline H630, also purchased from Cross Patch) and was hand quilted very simply around the edge of the panel, with a neutral perle thread. The sides and the base of the bag are made from piecing more of the 2.5" squares. The back has been machine quilted in a simple crosshatch pattern...
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...when the quilting was completed, the bag was pieced together. The lining was added, and the zipper inserted...
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...the fabric handles were machine stitched in place. This is the first time I've made this particular type of handle, and it was a really simple task - although I might add some flexible plastic tubing to give them a bit more structure...
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...and here's the completed bag. This small tote bag measures approx 16" x 12" and is 2" deep, and will be perfect for keeping my project bags in.
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