The Stitcher II

Becky let me know that my gift for her arrived (and quickly too -- big thanks to the Post Office). I made Becky a zippered bag to use when you only want to carry a few things and want your hands to be free. I like to make a nice long strap so you can wear it diagonally across your body. I also like to place the zipper in the back so it lies against your body. Just seems safer that way. I found a new tutorial for these that leaves no exposed seams on the inside. The link is in my sidebar if you are interested. I'd been trying to invent a way to do that for a while and just never could figure it out. Topologically speaking (that's math talk from a math major) there had to be a way, but that didn't mean I could find it alone.

The design is a part of "The Stitcher II" by Homespun Elegance. I added the border around the top and sides from a piece of the Hands to Work sampler in the Feb 2009 issue of JCS. The crocheted edging is from a book of edgings I have and this one is especially nice to do because you don't have to stitch a foundation chain first.. you just keep adding the pattern repeat til it's long enough.

I also used fusible fleece to give it some body. The fabric is Light Coffee 32-ct linen from Vikki Clayton. The lining is the same fabric as the backing.