The Gentle Art
Embroidery. I can't think of a more gentile form of needlework or a more common one. It certainly occupies a good part of my free time anyway. I'm happy to see it coming back around again, even though there are those who will tell you that it never went anywhere. It seems as though it's always been here in one form or another, like a comforting old friend. It's what I refer to as my "cheap therapy" anyway. After recently finishing up that long 
over-due quilt project, I was ready to do a few smaller things and this drawstring bag was perfect. It's a surprise for a ten year old girl that will have a few small favors tucked inside. The embroidery design was done freehand. (Worked out on a piece of paper first, then traced onto tracing paper. You get a reverse image when you flip it over---use a transfer pen to trace over the reversed image, then pin and stamp with an iron.) I do a lot of custom work this way. Especially if the design is small like this. Sulky has a good how-to page here.
Ohhh very cute bag !!! Lucky girl. I agree, embroidery is a gentile art. I really love it. Chloe loves it too and even my Aubern'e (miss glue gun) is finding she likes embroidery !!! Clarice
Posted by: Clarice | July 13, 2006 at 08:35 AM
That bag is adorable. Thanks for sharing how to transfer the design. I have always wondered about that.
Posted by: Lauren | July 13, 2006 at 08:43 AM
Such a pretty bag! Beautiful stitches!
Posted by: Angie | July 13, 2006 at 09:26 AM
Very cute bag! I love embroidery too - thanks for the hints on transferring!
Posted by: jackie | July 13, 2006 at 09:34 AM
such a lovely little bag. And thanks for the tips on those pens...freehanding hasn't been happening for me of late...those pens might be just the answer.
Posted by: amanda | July 13, 2006 at 09:41 AM
What a nice gift! You do such lovely work.
Posted by: Dawn | July 13, 2006 at 10:02 AM
Simply beautiful. Such a thoughtful gift and great work!
Posted by: Kelli | July 13, 2006 at 10:05 AM
Ah Vicki, that is so charming! I love it! I so want to learn to embroider..there are a million things I would like to embroider, just no idea how! I love all the pretty things you show!
Posted by: Cerri | July 13, 2006 at 10:28 AM
lol... is there any possible way that you could do me the favor of being just a tad less talented and mostly, a smidgen less quick!! My only excuse being I have TWO surprises I have to complete...lol
You're so sweet, she'll love it!
lauren
Posted by: lauren | July 13, 2006 at 11:10 AM
That bag is absolutely special and precious!
Posted by: Sarah | July 13, 2006 at 11:41 AM
How funny! I just started teaching myself some embroidery stitches today.....and learned to my surprise that I already knew a few :) I'm finding any type of sewing by hand to be so peaceful and relaxing. Right now I'm trying to use a vintage Vogart transfer on a dress I just sewed, and the picture *just won't transfer*. It's driving me nuts! I guess I'll have to buy some transfer paper and do it the hard way :(
I love the little bag you made :)
Posted by: Amy | July 13, 2006 at 01:33 PM
LOve the embroidery on the bag. It reminds me of how at school on our gymskirts we had to emboider our name in thbottom right hab=nd corner.
Posted by: weirdbunny | July 13, 2006 at 04:41 PM
Oh it's adorable!
Posted by: Bessilu | July 13, 2006 at 04:45 PM
Lovely work...you are so inspirational.
This bag is very sweet and I have to agree about embroidery...yes it is the gentle art.
Posted by: kali | July 14, 2006 at 03:25 AM
Absolutely beautiful ! I admire your work !! You're so amazing ! Have a nice weekend ! Hugs
Posted by: Sandrine (alias Didine ♥ ) | July 14, 2006 at 03:54 AM
oh dear me. this is adorable. she'll love it!
several folks last night told me i should find a way to spead up the embroidery process...possibly use a machine. my heart sank. sometimes slow is just fine.
me: oh! the absolute horror of machine embroidery...
Posted by: laura dodson | July 14, 2006 at 07:30 AM
so this is sorta OT, but i printed out your Lambkin pattern the other day, and tried to make it with some leftover silk (silly me). well, as you've probably guessed (i had no clue), it's unraveling at the sides, and is really hard to handstitch. is there anything i can do to remedy this, or are the cut pieces just for the trash pile, now?
me: Oh dear, I'm afraid silk is probably not the best fabrics to use
for stuffies...as you found out!! A nice cotton works best, but
felt and other medium-weight fabrics can also be used.
Posted by: Laura | July 14, 2006 at 07:56 AM
Thank you so much for this post. I have often wanted to try embroidery but don't know anyone who does it. I have found a UK company that sells transfer pens and am now waiting for the postman to deliver.
Is there any chance you could give us some words of wisdom about fabrics to work on.
You blog is by far the best one I visit and makes me yearn for a lifestyle like yours.
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea Atkinson | July 14, 2006 at 08:04 AM
cute! I love the colors and the lettering. I just recently discovered the transfer pencil too. I was scanning and sending fabric through the printer before. the pencil is more in line with the gentile aspects of the discipline :)
and I too would love to hear what fabrics you like to work on. I think it's time to splurge on something other than, um, muslin.
Posted by: hillary | July 14, 2006 at 11:33 AM
such a lovely little bag, and your embroidery is always exquisite! i would love to know what type of linen you use? and thanks for the link to the pens, i always use the blue one...those look so much better!
Posted by: brandie | July 14, 2006 at 04:57 PM
I love your embroidery. Just the other day I traced a picture my daughter drew for me when her little brother was born. I am embroidering it for a pillow for my dressing table chair.
My question is -- I put the drawing on a litebox and traced it with a water soluble pen onto the fabric. Is that wrong? Should I use your method for better results?
me: Not necessarily, if you're happy with it. But knowing a few other methods can help you decide how to deal with a particular project. For instance, some fabric isn't transparent enough to see through. So in that case, using a light table or taping it up to a window wouldn't work as well. I find writing backwards lettering tricky, so a transfer pen makes that a bit easier. i don't think any one method works best for every situation though, so it's always nice to have choices.
Posted by: Harriett | July 15, 2006 at 04:08 PM
Great colors and beautiful embroidery Vicki! I made little drawstring bags for my kids and my neice and nephews and they are all well-loved, so I'm sure this will be a hit with your little friend :)
Posted by: Cassi Griffin | July 15, 2006 at 10:08 PM
It's wonderful to see people still embroidering by hand ... In the States there isn't even a publication catering to hand embroidery .. so it's hard to come up with designs. I love your pruse, and with your permission, I'm going to try to make something similar for a friend to hold her make up in. Personally, I have used rubber stamps with success: stamped on paper, then scanned, and enlarged as necessary before printing either on paper, or directly on fabric. I'd like to know more about the various fabrics you use to embroider on. Linnen, cotton batiste, of course, muslin, occasionally silk. Have you tried anything else? Thank you - and I wish you continued creativity!
Best wishes from a lady quilter/embroiderer in Florida,
Vianna
Posted by: Vianna | July 16, 2006 at 07:17 PM
Your little drawstring bag is so adorable! I made a little drawstring bag from a japanese pattern a while ago and was just thinking of making more. Maybe I'll add the personalization to it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Stacey | July 19, 2006 at 01:35 AM
Love the bag and love your blog! Keep up the inspiring work.
Best,
Kristin Nicholas
Posted by: Kristin Nicholas | July 20, 2006 at 01:06 PM