Another veggie bag

I know I complained last November about the difficulty of stitching the vegetable bag from the RSN. It was tough stitching through the canvas.

I kept the bag for myself and it has proved to be great. I use it everytime I shop, especially, but not only, for vegetables. It is sturdy, capacious, and the outside pockets come in very handy for bottles and items that might get lost. 

So (you've guessed it!) I ordered a couple more, one the same as mine, with vegetables and one with flowers. I thought they would make great presents for family - all of whom are dedicated fruit and vegetable shoppers.

I've worked on one for an August birthday. I chose the flowers as a change from the vegetables.  The bag fitted a little awkwardly, but firmly, into a 12" hoop. I mostly kept my right hand inside the bag, below the hoop, and my left hand above. There are 12 flowers on the bag, and this arrangement allows three whole flowers and part of at least one more to be worked before moving the hoop. All in all, I think I moved it 5 times.

In general terms, I found it easier stitching this time. It was still a bit tough getting through the coating that marks the design but I didn't need a thimble this time. It is hardest where the lines are close together and the coating appears to be thicker, as where these stamen meet in the centre of the lily. Either there are fewer of these instances on the flower bag than the vegetable  bag, or I have improved my technique.I will find out when I tackle the second vegetable bag I bought along with this!

There is a nice range of flowers, none of them complicated to stitch. There are few stitch instructions, but illustrations suggest mostly stem or back stitch. I used a bit of feather stitch and open or detached chain.

Instructions, as before, are minimal, but that's not a problem. The thread provision is mostly generous. While I was missing a lighter shade of purple referred to, I had some in my stash, and I have ended up with a lot of spare thread in other colours.

I'm glad I relented and purchased another of these bags. Perhaps because I knew what to expect, this one was much easier to work and very satisfying.

One big advantage is that once the embroidery is done, there is no construction.  The bag is immediately usable

In this case, I did a bit of spot cleaning - the result of a small coffee spill while working on it.  The stain came out very easily.

I finished it a month ahead of the birthday for which it was intended. I hope it gets as much use as mine continues to do.