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Tag: how to slow-stitch a small bag

  • Stitcheries of Rosary Bags and Old Lace

    I have been using slow stitcheries as a way to process the loss of my mother-in-law. She and I had become quite close and in the last two years, especially, I helped to care for her as we navigated the diagnosis of terminal cancer.
    front and back of a small bag with white, yellow, and black lace
    Hand stitching is my current thing, and has been for years. I hauled a colorful, happy quilt around to most of my mom’s doctors’ appointments throughout her battle with cancer and Alzhemiers. That was 12 years ago. This time around, I thought I’d work with something smaller. Carolyn already had a heavy, old lady purse. There was no brick…I checked! Then she started insisting on a huge shopping bag that she used to carry an extra set of clothes, her medicines, a light blanket, and whatever new whim she decided on. Telling her it was unnecessary to haul everything–just leave it in the car, I’ll go get anything you need–was like talking to the bag itself. So, whatever I carried for my stitcheries had to fit in my purse.
    front and back of a small bag with pink and white lace and other notions sewn on.
    Of course, I tried a book at first, but there were too many distractions. I’m really good at blocking noise out when I read. (I’ve read at Beta Convention where there were 5,000 teens!) But these interruptions were for me, personally. She would begin by saying, “Uh, Mary…”
    front and back of a small bag with colorful pieces of scraps sewn on with embroidery thread
    To make these little stitchery bags, I first did the stitching. As you can see, whatever I felt like working with would do. It was all VERY improv. A few extra pieces of lace or scraps made it more interesting as I went along. In no time, the stitcheries started to build up. The work was small and slow, but still… I could pile only so many pieces of lace or fabric on a 4″ X 6″ base, and it was finished.
    front and back of a small bag with colorful pieces of scraps sewn on with embroidery thread
    At the time, I needed something to put my rosary in, and my stitcheries were conveniently available. That solved that. Because, what else could I do with them. As it turns out, I’ve since had a few ideas: any kind of small bag, bookmarks, journal covers, hair bows, gift tags, postcards, etc. See what I mean? Anyway, I made a bag for myself using a drawstring as a closure. Every bit of the bag made by hand. Just because I could, and why not?
    front and back of a small bag with white, blue, and brown laces sewn on
    I don’t have a favorite, but my sisters definitely all have differing tastes, which worked great when I gave them out last Sunday. Since they were such a hit, I’ll make a few more and see where this takes me.
    front and back of a small bag with off-white, blue and pink laces and other findings sewn on

    Here are a few slow-stitching websites that I enjoy reading and watching

  • Summer, Slow-stitching, and Smart Grandies

    A bit of slow-stitching while school is wrapping up for summer, The last of the grandies are finishing this week. It’s looking like we’ll be babysitting two of the smallest ones. Of course, they are six and seven, so the duties should be light.

    Two are finishing eigth grade and one is right behind them. They’ve had award ceremonies and graduations and all the end-of-year parties. Richard and I have missed every event, unfortunately. His mom had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and it seems relatively serious. After a two week stay in the hospital, she was discharged to a nursing home and is on hospice care. We’ve suspended her cancer treatments and begun the final process of life.

    All of this waiting, for therapy, for doctors appointments, for hospital staff and so on, has given ample opportunity to do a little slow stitching. And slow it has been. I put together this little rosary purse using only a needle and thread. I even sewed the zipper in by hand. Why not? I discovered a few things about myself. I can be quiet if I’m busy enough. I make really small, strong stitches. And I enjoy embroidery more than I remember. However, I’m not very good at it.

    This rosary bag is half of a piece that I threw together after watching a few videos with Ellie of Petal Plum and perhaps my favorite Sarah from sarahhomfray.com. The piece is as simple as possible because I didn’t want to have to do much thinking. I know. Just sit and stitch. Set things down in a moment’s notice. Carry it all in a small bag. Simple.

    The colorful bag is the second one that I’ve made using some of my slow-stitching pieces. I learned a few things on this first, lacey one about putting it all together. And I like the drawstring closure. So maybe I’ll go back to that for the next one. I have two pieces big enough to make bags now. One of the old lace and one of the new, bright fabrics. I can’t decide which I like more. What do you think?

  • Slow Stitching Another Of The Little Things

    I love slow stitching projects. Remember the little projects that I wrote about here? I’ve managed a few more. One that I use daily is a little drawstring rosary purse that started as a slow stitching project. Richard likes college basketball, and I have him watching old movies. You know, movies from before cursing made its way into every line. Yes, that includes black and whites, though not silent films. I’m the kind of person whose hands must be busy. Slow stitching pares great with television.
    Slow-stitching piece by Ellie at petalplum.com
    Slow-stitching by Ellie at petalplum.com
    It began after I ran across an Australian blog, Petalplum, that is all about slow-stitching, hand-work, and needle crafts. I fell in love! Ellie has a book, a blog, an online store, and a Youtube channel, which is where I found her.
    Image credit: petalplum.com
    Of course, I began a new slow-stitch project! First, I thought I’d use tissue paper to hold everything together, then remove the tissue. To that end, I cut strips from an old pattern that, I promise, no one will miss. However, the pattern tissue ripped easily so, leaving the tissue in, I added a sheer crinoline. Next, I pulled pieces of really old lace, cording, ribbon, and just about anything, to audition together.
    I used mostly old, ancient lace with a yellow, brownish tint and a few rips. Interestingly, the tissue adds another layer of antique color. Then, I just started stitching embellishments on, layering two or three pieces, one on another. My strips are about four inches wide and maybe twelve inches long. It took a few attempts, but I finally settled on using a regular hand-quilting thread in beige. It barely shows in the picture or on the pieces.
    Waiting for stitches.
    I slowly introduced some old, pastel pieces and used lace as binding. Anything goes! And I surprised myself at how carefully I’ve been stitching. Nothing moves or shifts. The stitches don’t show. And when I cut it, the stitches didn’t fall out. What a pleasant surprise! I’m sure mom would be quite proud of my tiny, secure stitches. Richard asked what I’d do with this “stuff,” so I decided to make a rosary bag for the rosary that stays on the table next to my chair.
    I simply cut off what I needed (4″ by 8″ or so) and faced it with a piece of off-white quilting cotton. Then I folded it in half, leaving openings for the drawstrings, stitched up the sides, I put in the drawstring. Voila!
    It’s perfect. I love the old look and that some of my mom and grandmother’s lace is part of my prayer life. I plan to make a few more for my sisters. Then we’ll see where it goes.