WIP's - Bags, Secret Cross Stitch and a UFO!

Hello Dear Reader,


A Very Happy New Year to you, and "Welcome" to any new readers!


I'm afraid I got out of the way of visiting and commenting over Christmas, but I'm hoping to catch up with everyone very soon!

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Today I'm linking to Esther Aliu's - WIPs on Wednesday.

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On my last post I told you about this bag I made my sister for her birthday.

Sis's bag

Before I'd even finished making hers I was already planning one for myself!

This is now my main WIP, but I know its going to take a while as I put myself under a lot of pressure to complete my sister's for her birthday, and that pressure isn't there for this one, with no deadline!

This is the fabric for my bag.

I had the main fabric ready at least a week ago, but then I had problems stitching the handles, although they are ready now ..... and yet again I forgot to cut the fabric for the handles on the bias! 

I have since found a great tutorial for handles on a blog called SEW FEARLESS, from Pinterest. Looks really easy! Must try it out on my next bag!

Then I wanted to Free Motion Quilt (FMQ) the front of the bag to the interfacing but I didn't have a darning foot for my machine ..... I looked on line, and decided to buy one from Singer. Whilst I waited for a new darning foot to arrive I stitched my main fabric with a few meandering lines.

I want to make a large pocket  - for knitting patterns, etc. and then I can complete the bag.

At a later date I'd like to make a pencil case or pouch to match.

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Like most crafters I always have more than one project on the go, as there are times when I am happy to sit at the sewing machine, but in the evening I like to be able to sit watching TV and either work on some hand stitching or some knitting.

And so another WIP, at the moment, is some cross stitch I started last week. 

Jo of Serendipidous Stitching is running her annual "Stitching Sweethearts" bloghop in February - you can read about it and sign up, if you fancy joining in - HERE!

Last year I linked in with one of my embroidery projects, however, as Jo's blog is mainly about cross stitch this time I've found a little cross stitch kit from a magazine I bought ages ago, which I thought might suit the hop, and I'm happy to say my stitching is going well! Here's a little peep:

"Secret" stitching!

I was visiting France Nadeau's blog recently where she is working some pretty cross stitch fruit (which you can see by clicking "HERE") which reminded me of this UFO I had tucked away in our bookcase - like you do!

France was working with six strands and I mentioned that for my project I had used three. It's hard to choose when you make your own fabric choice for a pattern, isn't it?

But, ooooh, I'm not sure if it is a UFO or whether UFO's are so called when the stitching is done and they just want to be made into something? What do you think?

Pattern from Jane Greenoff's book "55 Country Cross Stitch Charts"

Well, I really need to get stitching now and cross some of these projects off my "lists"!!!!

Thank you for visiting, and I love to read your friendly comments.

Hugs,
Barbara xx

Btw, I've now received my new darning foot, and some Magic Bobbin Genies (to hopefully stop the bobbin jumping about when I'm stitching and causing those maddening bobbles under the stitching), and I'm looking forward to testing my FMQ skills ..... soonish!!!!

Of course, as always, any products mentioned in this post are my own choice of products, and I am not being reimbursed for mentioning any of them!