Simple projects, in these complicated times, seem to be what I want to lean into. I want to make things that don't require too much "figuring out" but rather things I can relax into because they are easy or repetitive or I've made similar before. Perhaps, there's a comfort in a familiar process and a reassurance that it will all turn out fine. So it was with this little blue ribbon bag.
Little blue ribbon bag.
This sweet little bag is the first in a set I am going to make from an unfinished and beautiful vintage tea cloth. A tea cloth gifted to me, amongst many other linen-y treasures, by the lovely and generous Maria. The tea cloth is embroidered with swirling ribbons tied in bows, twining green stems and lazy daisy flowers.
Vintage and antique linens are my favourite fabrics to sew with. They are often soft with age and use and embroidered with sweet motifs. They often come with stories! Sometimes, their motifs may be incomplete or the fabric may be threadbare or stained in some places. So, choosing what to make will often depend on how much of the fabric can be salvaged and re-purposed into something new.
I made this little blue ribbon bag using the instructions detailed by Jude Van Heel, of the utterly gorgeous Fairy Wren Cottage, in the latest issue of Grass Roots magazine (#257). It was so very simple to make:
I made a template and cut out the pieces for the bag.
I stitched tiny french knots for flower centres.
I mended a few flowers as their centres had frayed.
I sewed it together and threaded through a blue ribbon.
(It had to be blue!)
A project like this embodies a simplicity that gladdens my heart. I 💙that it makes something new from something old in a world where older things are sometimes just discarded.
More of Maria's pretty tea cloth.
I am looking forward to sewing up more of these little bags, with the fabric from Maria's gifted tea cloth. I think I should be able to make at least three more. One with an orange bow and purple flowers, one with a purple bow and orange flowers and one with blue flowers tied with a pink bow. More simple sewing ahead!
I'd love to know what simple projects you are working on too.
Meg
What a beautiful project to work on....what are you going to do with the bags and what size are they, at first I thought they were soap size however I think they must be much bigger. Love the recyle aspect of something like this that had so much work go into it in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. These bags, when finished, are about 19.5cm x 15.5cm. They would hold a folded washcloth along with some soap. A template could very easily be made to increase the size of the bag depending on what linens you were wanting to use.
DeleteI plan to add these little bags to my gift stash. I agree that one of the most pleasing things about a project that uses vintage embroidered linens is being able to save all those tiny stitches from the scrapheap. You are absolutely right in that someone has spent many hours making all those tiny stitches. Meg:)
Ooo...just thought they could also hold a little clutch of Easter eggs!
DeleteMegXx
thanks for the info Meg....make sure you get your eggs this week and not have to face the shops in the few days before Easter when everyone realizes it's Easter.
DeleteBeautiful! You are inspiring me to do some sort of project! Andrea
ReplyDeleteI wonder what you will make, Andrea. I hope you'll show us photos on your blog. Meg:)
DeleteThat is just beautiful Meg. I think I might have a piece of vintage linen with a design very similar to that so I am going to hunt it out in the next few days - you have inspired me thank You. xx
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy some simple sewing, Julie. Vintage linens are just lovely! MegXx
DeleteThat's so pretty Meg.Those vintage embroidered linens are so worth saving. I totally get your wanting to do simple, repetitive projects. I'm doing a bunch of these too. I cut 5 tshirts into yarn each day, make square knot dog toys with the hems and am making a mat/wall art with lots of tshirt scrap bobbles joined together (all for Intercept Fabric Rescue).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne. I definitely agree that linens, like Maria's tea cloth, are worth saving. The projects you are working on for Intercept Fabric Rescue sound interesting. I would love to know how to make square knot dog toys as our neighbour has two little dogs that love to play with toys when we look after them. Meg:)
DeleteMeg, I need to get back into some craft work. I have an unfinished beanie on my knitting loom so will finish that off first. I am sitting too much these days from being at home so have been reluctant to get back into craftwork but really need to. I had been turning our son's room into a craft room but then he came home temporarily and has left half his stuff behind so that put a spanner in the works.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your craft room sorted soon, Chel. My sewing area used to be in the spare room but now it's in the study. I find it harder to "spread out" my stuff in here...except for tubs of fabric and yarn and vintage linens still in the spare room. Oh dear, not exactly organised either! Meg:)
DeleteHi Meg,
ReplyDeletewhat beautiful fabric and lovely embroidery. The bag you have made with some of the tea cloth will make a very pretty gift bag. Such a lovely way to repurpose vintage fabrics.
I love and collect antique and vintage linens. I have two projects on my to do list that are made with these linens. One is a pretty curtain (for a bathroom window), made by joining doilies and vintage linen napkins. The other is the top of a patchwork quilt made using pieces of embroidered fabric and fabric featuring cutwork embroidery that are joined together. The quilt looks beautiful on an old-fashioned cast iron bed.
Thanks Meg, you have reminded me and inspired me to make a start, now that many of us are spending more time at home.
Take care. Happy sewing and stitching, Maria xx.
Maria, the projects you are making from your treasured linens sound beautiful. I'd love to make a quilt one day. (I've never made one.) I'm glad you feel inspired to make a start as I think crafting is a lovely way to pass time at home. MegXx
DeleteI love Jude's little bags and you'cve done her proud with this pretty little number. Is it lined?
ReplyDeleteI've been making drawstring bags too, bit bigger and not as fancy as yours, they're for a charity that supports children going into care. They're each given a bag to hold their meagre belongings, until they're settled. It's been fun choosing colours and patterns for particular age groups and genders. Thank goodness for sewing and our other creative pursuits at this time.
Your drawstring bags would be very special possessions to those children, Nanette. All the uncertainty they must feel and then to be given a handmade bag, that is their very own and for their precious things, must mean a lot to them. A beautiful and meaningful reason for sewing. MegXX
Deletep.s. This little bag is not lined.
So pretty and what a great way to repurpose the fabric. X
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jules. It's always lovely to find a way to repurpose fabrics.
DeleteMegXx
That is so beautiful, I love the embroidery and how you have enhanced it. What a great idea for gift bags, I have made little bags like this in the past to put gifts in, thank you for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI love the flowing ribbon of this embroidery. It works really nicely across the front of this little bag. Perfect for gifts and reusable too! Meg:)
DeleteThat is just gorgeous, Meg. I love your work. I am busy knitting a pair of warm socks. The yarn is hand dyed, and a pleasure to watch unfold.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephanie. It sounds like you are very much enjoying your knitting and have a beautiful yarn to use. A perfect project for times like these. MegXx
DeleteOh they are so beautiful. I love vintage embroidery. It’s hard to see such beautiful work nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI love vintage embroidery too, Nil. I often find pieces in op-shops for just a few dollars. Meg:)
DeleteYou have so much patience and dedication. If it's something you enjoy though, it hardly seems like work. They turned out great! My sewing machine, which is about 20 years old (gasp) has decided to kick the bucket. I have a few hemming and waistband repairs, backing up. So my next job is to fix the machine before I can fix the clothes. I've pulled it apart and done it before. Hopefully I can fix it again. All depends if some component broke, or if some of the cogs became uncoupled again, which is why the stitch selection button isn't turning. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you can fix your machine, Chris. My machine was a gift from my mother on my 18th birthday!! While it would be considered pretty old now, it still works like a dream. Meg:)
DeleteThat linen bag is gorgeous! I remember seeing the pattern in Grass Roots now you mention it.
ReplyDeleteIt is the simple things that will keep us sane. My mind has been running a million miles an hour so I have dragged the sewing machine out and will be making a few things too. I made a face mask yesterday and intend to make some more in case we need them down the track.
The garden is keeping me busy for the moment, I am starting to gather more beds for growing extra veggies.
Take care Meg,
xTania