Can You Ever Have Too Many Totes?

A while ago, my craft group was cleaning out the cupboards and came up with these fabric samples. I was given them with the request – Do something with these!

Unfortunately, each sample had a narrow paper border which I wasn’t able to remove, so I had to cut each strip out, one by one. What could I make out of them all?

Thanks to Craftsy, I came across this tote pattern, consisting of 104 strips of fabric. Luckily, I just had enough fabric, with one strip left over. I was pretty happy with the result.

February Table Runner

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Some pretty hearts sewn from my stash. I wanted to have a table runner completed in time to celebrate St Valentine’s Day, and after stitching into the early hours, managed to do just that! No time for fancy quilting, just a simple stitch in the ditch for now. Maybe I’ll go back later and do some stippling to highlight the hearts a little bit more, but in the meantime, another job done!

Zipper Pouch

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Here is what I quickly stitched up this afternoon. Very easy, using up some of my stash and patchwork squares which were left over from another project. I love zipper pouches, and I could easily become addicted to making more in different sizes.

DSCN0342 DSCN0347 I made zipper tabs in the black and white fabric. This is the first time I’ve attempted them and love how they turned out. A nice finishing touch. Such a fun project.

Yoga Mat Bag

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I’ve recently taken up yoga again and decided it was about time I made a bag to carry my mat in. After scouring the web for ideas I came across a blog by Sewaholic which I thought was a great tute with step by step photos and clear instructions.

So I used some fabric from my stash and the bag went together easily. However, I did make a few changes:

I cut the body 30″ x 19″, increasing the width by 1″ after reading that some people had trouble fitting the bottom circle to the tube.
I wanted to give the pocket a bit more body, so I cut mine at 12″ x 6″. Fold in half RST and stitch along both side seams. Turn to right side, press and proceed to add velcro as per instructions.
For the strap, fold the fabric in half lengthwise, press. Open up the fabric and fold each long edge to meet in the middle. Press. Fold lengthwise enclosing raw edges. Pin and edge stitch along both long sides. I always make straps this way for a sturdy, neat finish.
I wanted to strengthen the bottom of the bag, so I cut a second 7″ circle from lining fabric. Place one circle on top of the other WST and sew a line of basting stitches around the edge just outside the seam allowance. Proceed to pin this end piece to the bottom edge of the tube, easing any fullness by pulling up the basting thread.

I am pleased with how my bag turned out, with my happy fabric purchased in Fiji – and best of all, it was put together without having to insert a long zipper!

WIP No 2

My favourite lap stand hoop

I am so happy! Now I can finish this WIP. It’s been packed away for ages; I lost the graph and just found it yesterday. So now I can make a start on all the back stitching.

Looking a little bit creased and rumpled from being packed away for so long, but it’ll all come out in the wash – literally! When it’s finished I’ll swish it through some warm water and gentle shampoo, rinse, roll it in a towel to squeeze out the water and then iron dry face down on a fluffy towel.

Cross stitching accessories

These are my necessities for cross stitching bar the needle. Scissors, floss, needle threader and two items which may be unfamiliar. The little dark blue plastic box contains a sponge. I run the thread through the damp sponge to keep it flat so it doesn’t twist as I embroider. Does anyone else do this? Also my pink floss card winder. Each card can hold one full skein of floss.

Plastic boxes for holding embroidery floss cards

I have been reading some cross stitching blogs and it is interesting to see how different people store their supplies. This is pretty much my whole collection of DMC thread, which doesn’t take up much room at all. In addition, I have a box of unused skeins of DMC floss plus two containers of other brands, so it all easily fits into one drawer.

When I’m done stitching, I roll my cross stitch in a towel and store in a clear plastic tote; everything else fits into my little case in the top photo.