Quaker Gardener Pouch

 

After the bicycle panel I moved straight on to the Gardener, which comes from panel D11 of the Quaker Tapestry, entitled Industrial Welfare.There it is associated with the Cadbury Company.

It is a more complex design than the earlier two so the tracing and reverse stitching took a bit more time.

I worked the roof first, then the gardener. His clothing reminded me of my grandfather, who was a nurseryman.

I don't recall him tying his trouser legs with string, but he well might have. His waistcoat and jumper certainly looked like this.

It took me a while to be satisfied with the tree. It probably still isn't the best, but I'm satisfied. In the original tapestry panel the blossom on the tree is white, but I stayed with the kit.

I originally intended to back this with similar cloth and make a tote bag, however the cloth proved elusive. I thought I had bought a pack along with the kit, but I must be mistaken about that. I tried the Hand Spinners and Weavers Guild to no avail, so opted to make a pouch.

I fortunately had a strip I had trimmed from the fabric supplied with the bicycle kit which matched this fabric and was the same length.

With that addition the fabric could be folded so that the embroidery fitted nicely on one side, with a zip insertion on the back. Most of the zips I had were too short, but one proved to be about right.

My go-to green ikat once again proved useful as lining. It was slightly tricky to line, but I managed most of it on the machine. I did have the iron going though the construction which certainly helped.

I enjoyed seeing the Quaker Tapestry, both in Adelaide and in Kendal. I also enjoyed visiting the Museum and Shop, both now closed.  

Finishing the three associated kits gives me great satisfaction and pleasure.