Vegetable shopping bag

This week I finished the canvas vegetable bag that I bought online as a kit from the Royal School of needlework.

The kit came with a very strong ready-made canvas bag, bundles of thread and a QR code to access instructions. 

A canvas needle was provided. Unfortunately, there was no way that was going to penetrate the canvas. so I worked mostly from my supply of crewel needles from The Crewel Work Company.  

The first job was to organise the threads into usable and convenient lengths.

The instructions use the capsicum to demonstrate the method, so I began there, and moved on to the leek. Although the stitches are basic, they are difficult to execute. The canvas, of course, demands a strong, sharp needle. The designs are marked on the surface of the canvas with a plastic-like coating rather than dyed into the cloth, so the needle needs to penetrate that as well as the canvas.

I had the bag mounted in a seating frame so I could use both hands. I pushed the needle from the top using my nails, which are strong, and from below using a thimble on my ring finger. I also used a brace on both hands to protect my thumb joints.

The corn, which comes up really well textured, was the hardest. working french knots through the dense surface was a challenge.

The rest were easier, but still not relaxed stitching.

  I was pleased to finish this one. It is a strong, attractive bag that will be really useful. I am going to keep it and use it as my greengrocery bag.  

I hadn't anticipated it would take so much effort. The stitches are very simple indeed ( I varied them a bit) but their execution required significant effort.

I quite like that they are not to scale, pumpkin about the same size as a peapod! 

It's going to be a great talking point as I shop for fruit and veg.