Back to being a bag lady

Late in October (I think!) I bought a bundle of Christmas fabric from the Embroiderers' Guild trading table. I wasn't sure what I'd do with it, but it was a bargain and bound to come in handy. Once I got it home and needing to find space to store it,  I was less sure. 

A week before Christmas, when I got to organise my Christmas presents, I realised I could do with a few more gift bags. For a couple of decades now I have been making fabric bags in lieu of paper wrapping. It gives me pleasure in the making and the bags are recycled numerous times.

I decided to use the Christmas fabric to make the bags I needed. That done, and my presents organised, I decided to use up all the Christmas fabric on bags. 

I figured if I didn't do it now the fabric would sit there for at least another year so I grabbed the scissors and cut the whole lot into bags. There was probably around 5 metres in various pieces, all crisp and new, so easily cut.

Most of my bags have been made with recycled fabric, sari scraps, kimono pieces, dressmaking left-overs, occasionally old clothing. I cut them as the piece dictates and zoom them up on my machine into drawstring bags in the easiest possible way, stitching on the inside. Having so much crisp new fabric presented opportunities - and challenges - for a more careful finish, something dressmaker and quilting friends had long suggested.

I took up the challenge and got out my iron - a rare occurrence in my bag making ventures.Where the piece was long, to be folded vertically, I turned under the sides and ironed them down, then folded over a hem at top and bottom.  After stitching down the two hems, I folded the piece to stitch the side seams on the outside giving a neat seam as well as a channel for the cord. 

I realise this is de rigueur for quilters. I am much more slapdash. This time, however, I ended up with a pile of cut and ironed fabric before I touched the machine. That worked a treat.

Next an evening, with my ribbon stash and bags spread all over the floor while I watched television (nothing more challenging than Midsomer Murders, Lewis or Vera), I found drawstrings for each bag. I nearly had enough ribbon, just 2 bags short, but they were large bags, requiring over 2 metres of ribbon per bag, so a trip to Spotlight was called for. I now have a future supply of ribbon.

My next session resulted in a bundle of 30 bags with ribbons, ready for the cords to be either tied together ( where double drawstrings were used) or have a stopper applied to the ends to stop the cords disappearing into the draw channel.

                                                                      

Now to raid my button and bead boxes for suitable ends. Once identified and allocated, these were attached in a final session in front of television.   

The bags were taken up quickly by family and used this Christmas. The Christmas fabric was very    popular. The bags will be recycled over several years.   I had fun, the fabric is put to good use, the Guild has benefitted and present wrapping was made easy and pleasant for busy people. 

    All wins for this bag lady.

A Mad Hatter touch to Christmas.

This year I tried my hand at the Shetland Wool Week Hat - The Bonnie Isle Hat by Linda Shearer. Each year, for Shetland Wool Week, there is a competition to design a knitted hat. The pattern for the winning entry is made available free, and woollen mills produce their own colourway for the design, which they offer as a kit. Photos of the many versions of the hat knitted around the world, are posted to the Shetland Wool Week site.

This is the first time I've tried it. I intended to use it with the left-over wool from several Marie Wallin projects but thought I'd try it first of all in 4ply cotton - of which I have rather a lot. 

The first one knitted so well I decided to keep going. The pattern came in 3 sizes (achieved by changing needle size, not the pattern). I knitted one of each and tried them on various family members. The middle size fitted everyone.

This was back in August. I got the idea to make enough for everyone at Christmas lunch. Last year I made reusable Christmas crackers. Rather than create more waste paper making hats for the crackers, I thought people could choose a knitted hat. They won't fit in the crackers - but people could choose.

I had the initial 3, and 10 different coloured 4ply cottons, most of them pale. I added in a cone of bright orange in a silk/cotton mix and began mixing and matching. I needed at least 8 for Christmas Day. 

I put it aside to knit a couple of vests, returning for  a marathon in early December.

Although the pattern had pompoms, I wasn't sure about them so I consulted Veronica, my fashion oracle, who thought no.  I agreed and proceeded, although others shook their heads and said 'pompoms'. 

However, on Christmas Eve I capitulated and decided to add pompoms. At this point, Veronica, in the Christmas vibe, also said yes. I got out my pompom maker and set to work. I've used it before, but not for a long time. 

I wasn't thrilled with my efforts, and reverted to a technologically cruder method. They still weren't plump, rounded pompoms, but the floppiness had a kind of charm (guests agreed). I think I need pompom practice!

In case there were pompom objectors I attached the pompoms on the inside with safety pins. No-one objected.

I finished the 9th on Christmas Eve, and the pompoms just after midnight. 

It turned out to be the right number, and, somewhat to my surprise, they were a hit.

Each one has five colours. I varied the pattern very slightly in a couple of places, but not by much.

A number of people wore theirs all afternoon - and I must say, they looked really good. It was a hot day, but cool inside. The cotton is comfortable to wear and shapes softly. 

I'm not promising to repeat the exercise every year, but it was a fun exercise for me, used up yarn, looked good, and gave pleasure. 

That's a happy result - and I wouldn't rule out repeating or extending it.

Successful family events don't just happen. Immense planning and effort by my daughter's family went into hosting the highly successful lunch. I'm glad I could contribute in a small way. 

If the Christmas hat fits, wear it!   

Much Joy at Christmas.