Pulled Thread Whitework Class

 I have just constructed this bag from Carol Stacey's Whitework Pulled Thread class that I attended at the Guild over the last two Sundays.  I had selected a piece of green silk as lining, but it proved to be a bit short, so I used some rayon lining fabric I had been given by a dressmaker years ago. 

It was a lovely design - really elegant, with a lot of variety in both stitches and thread. I do like pulled thread work.

I chose to trace the pattern on to the linen using a pencil, which was probably a mistake. The lead was intrusive under the white thread. Although it washed out easily, it was a bit unpleasant to look at. I didn't, however, want to use my usual fine permanent marker with the white thread and chalk tends to wear off too quickly.

While the class was a really pleasant way to spend a couple of Sundays and I enjoyed the company, I found it very hard on both my back and my eyes. I used a seated hoop in order to have both hands free and to be able to bring the work up fairly close but even so, the work needs to be so close that I found myself having to bend my back while seated in the chairs in the Gallery at the Guild. 

After the first Sunday, when I stitched for several hours straight, I went home with a very sore back and blurry eyes. At home, after a rest, I was able to get myself to a position where I could work on  it with a straight back, so I did as much of the work as I could at home, leaving only one leaf to finish the next Sunday. 

This worked well for me. I took breaks to stretch my back and rest my eyes, and left after lunch, with the work almost finished.

I blocked the finished piece to get rid of any remaining pencil. 

                                       

I constructed the bag very simply by backing the linen completely with the lining fabric, creating a gusset for the cord and stitching the whole piece together with a seam down the back. 

The twisted cord took a while, as I couldn't find my cord maker, and did it by hand. Of course, I found the cord maker an hour later!

Two tassels finished it off.

I'm delighted with the result and the bag will no doubt hold some jewellery, or a gift, or, more likely, the makings of another project!