So, last Weekend I had a list of sewing to do as long as my arm. There were the chair cushions for mum, the new cool bag I desperately need for a lunch box, the big pile of WIPs I have, preparation for the upcoming blog hop... So what did I make?
A picnic bag. Yes. With napkins. I know, I know, it's October, I live in the coldest, windiest, rainiest country on earth (or so it feels) and there's no prospect of a picnic any time soon. I don't know how to explain it!
I'd gone up to my craft room and spotted these dumped on the sofa. I felt like cleaning up, but instead of tackling the piles of fabric, patterns strewed all over the room, mountain of boxes in the corner... I decided I needed to tidy up these poor picnic plates and cutlery.
I had the perfect fabric in my stash, some food print fabric I'd bought from Fabric Land ages ago with no plan in mind. Add in some IKEA solid red and Bob's your uncle.
I made a very simple drawstring bag with boxed bottom. It's not for the food, we have a large cool bag for that (not the smelly one I take to work, a family-sized one), it's just for the plate and cutler.
And for the napkins. Because I decided we needed napkins too. Hmmm. I used the pattern in Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time. It shows you how to do the perfect mitred corner.
Unfortunately, I didn't really understand the instructions the first two times. The bottom corner in the picture above shows my messy corner. Then I got it, you really had to push the corners out.
Ta-dah! I'm really quite proud of them. Useless though they will be for the next 9 months.
So now I have two perfect napkins and one bag. And two not-perfect napkins waiting to be unpicked... It may take a while as I may have the urge to sew a lifesized giraffe, or a TV-cover or something first...
BUT, at least the corner of my sofa that held the plates and cutlery is now tidy. Yay, a victory! ?!?!
13 comments:
Excellent job on the mitred corners, Wendy!!! I must learn how to do them. The bag and napkins look great!!!
Sounds like you have Pennydog Priority Syndrome. Sadly there's no cure for PPS but I believe there are many others who suffer from it...
Sometimes we just need a different small project that we are pleased with to get us going on our other projects. Your picnic bag will make you smile this winter in anticipation of using once the weather warms.
Well at least you will be organised when the sun appears for a day next summer!
Very cute ideas! I laughed at your 'bob's your uncle' expression. We don't have that in the USA. I assume Bob is a good person to have as an uncle? lol
HGAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I was reading this in my blog reader and didn't notice whose post it was. I was lol'ing to myself at the idea of making a picnic bag tbat wouldn't be used for ages - the whole idea of getting an idea in mind and then plowing ahead JUST BECAUSE - reminded me of something I would do! Sometimes you just HAVE to make what you want to make, lol. By the time I got to the end of the post I knew exactly whose post it was - and yes, I got it right, LOL!! Well done Miss Picnic'er - maybe you'll be going on a little picnic with J, who will be a toddler by then!
This is a gorgeous bag ( and napkins of course ) you've made, and I must say there is no bad time for a picnic.
Once, when me and my sister were little, our parents promised us a picnic on Saturday. It happened to be raining that day and not to disappoint us our parents made a picnic for us in the middle of the living room. It was hilarious and I will never forget that day!
I think you just have to do what you have to do!! Lovely material and all ready for when we spring into....spring!
You really are a kindred spirit - just the sort of thing I do. Start a new project rather than tidying the sewing room. You could have an inside picnic to try out your lovely set.
They look great.
Gillx
Oh Wendy - your response was hilarious! I cried from laughing so hard. Of course I didn't think your husband would be thrilled by a carpet picnic, but other alternatives might be thought of. :)
I had exactly the same problem with the corners recently - I sewed up a pretty little organiser, and ended up with rounded corners. I've decided I rather like them, but I'll pay more attention to the "really push the corners out" instruction next time! x
Hilarious!
I actually thought about making a tv-cover HAHA!
As for the picnic set - you can't be prepared enough. Living in those cold and dark countries we have to be ready for any glimpse of sun!
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