I hope it is okay to share this project, as it isn't cross stitch or surface embroidery. It was, however, inspired by a couple of Krista's patterns and tutorials here on this website, so I thought people might be interested.
As a direct result of this stitching hobby, I ended up getting myself a vintage Singer sewing machine a couple weeks ago. I hand stitched my Baltic scroll pillow together, and started daydreaming about how quickly the project could have been completed with a sewing machine. The next thing I knew, I had fallen in love with a vintage Singer Featherweight sold by a local fabric shop. I loved the beauty of the machine, and the fact that it still worked and was made in 1941. A couple sewist friends told me that they did all their sewing on such a machine, and that convinced me -- I bought it. Since then, I've been teaching myself how to use it. I started with making a tiny tote bag using Krista's pattern for the Posy Mini Tote. Then I spent a LOT of time researching sewing on the internet. I watched at least 15 different bag making tutorials on YouTube. I branched out to websites and tutorials about garment making. I've even chosen a pattern to use to make myself a top. But first I thought I'd better do some more smaller projects to get better at the basics.
I decided to make a drawstring bag this time and I didn't use any of the tutorials I saw on YouTube. Instead, I was inspired by Krista's method for making a tote bag and by her tutorial for turning a cross stitch into a wall hanging. Using these two methods, and also by examining a draw string bag I've been using as a project bag, I came up with a way to make a pretty easy full-lined drawstring bag. It took me 2.5 hours in all, including time picking out a seam sewn on the wrong side, and time taking apart my sewing machine to find and fix a thread jam. I resolved to try to enjoy the whole process and not to rush through anything. And I ended up with a successful bag! I enjoyed every minute of it, too. It may well become my new project bag.
Hello! I haven't been around this forum in some time, though I still follow Krista and Avlea with great interest and gratitude. Gratitude because it was her designs and stitching which introduced me to the fiber arts, and in turn, it was the fiber arts that allowed me to get to back to writing.
Currently I stitch, sew garments, knit garments, spin yarn, and have dabbled in processing raw fleece (from an actual sheep!). It is great fun, and a great source of joy. And that joy has brought back my writing. I've got a few publications coming up in the next couple months, which is exciting. One publication came out this week, and I thought I'd share it here. I should caution that it deals with intense subjects -- mental illness and pregnancy loss in particular. I feel like it is my joy in the fiber arts that allows me to tackle such subjects. https://atticusreview.org/book-of-proofs/
Krista, thank you. Your work is maybe more powerful in people's lives than you know.
These pictures would be why I made no progress on my cross stitch the past three days. But look! I made my first dress, complete with a v-neckline and mitered corners at the hems. It was a lot of work, as I am an extremely slow sewist, but was also a lot of fun and I'm very happy with the result.
An update on my new sewing hobby follows! The one problem with it is that it does take me away from my cross stitch, though not for long. I tend to sew intensely for 2-3 days and then I return to my stitching. But I am really enjoying learning yet another totally new skill.
I already have two machines. I have the 1941 Featherweight, which is what got me started with all this. It is my straight-stitch machine and I love it very much. Then I also have a 1970's Singer Stylist, which I inherited from my late mother-in-law. I use it to zigzag, and I love how it connects me to my MIL, who was a lovely, kind, and brilliant woman (a chemistry professor as well as a sewist).
I've now made two tops, using the same pattern both times. The blue chambray was my first effort, and the floral hemp top is my second. I wore the floral top to an anniversary dinner out with my husband last week, and it felt great to be celebrating in something I'd made myself!
Yay for you! You fell down the sewing rabbit hole! Isn't if funny how, once you get inspired, you can't stop making things? Your project bag is spiffy. I notice that your room is quite neat and tidy - I only wish my studio were so uncluttered....
Your vintage machine was a great choice! I love that you aren't afraid to stitch by hand and that you chose a vintage machine. If I have one prediction for your future, it's probably a safe bet that you'll soon be looking for more shelves.
I'm so glad you posted this! Making a bag like this is something I really want to do, but I'm inexperienced on a machine and frankly pretty nervous about jumping in. I'll be starting with Krista's instructions and will go step-by-step. Your project is wonderful! Congratulations, by the way, on your machine purchase.