Some Slow Stitching Projects

Recently, I've been getting more and more intrigued by slow stitching projects. There is something so very therapeutic about sewing by hand and embellishing the things you make, using items in your stash. I have been collecting haberdashery and fabric for many years now. I don't really buy much anymore as I already have so much, but I have tended to keep things and not use them, thinking that I'm saving them for some future project.

I've now decided that the future is now and I'm enjoying finding ways to use these items, be they iron on patches, favourite fabric scraps, fabric labels, buttons, lace, ribbons, trims or odd hexies.

This last week, I started a couple of new slow stitch projects. They both did involve some machine stitching too, so they weren't  strictly slow stitching, but there was quite a lot of handstitching involved in both projects, more so the second one.

The first  project was this book pouch. I've recently started picking up a book to read now and then and it inspired me to make a fabric book pouch to house my current read and transport it if I travel, etc. It's not an essential need, but it gave me an opportunity to work on some slow stitching and use up some scraps and other pieces of fabric in my stash.

The outside of the pouch is made up of patchwork pieces that I machine sewed together. The lining inside was made from a favourite fat quarter I had languishing in my stash.  I embellished it with some hexies and iron on fabric patches and some pom pom trim and it was just a fun make and makes me smile.

The second item I made was a sewing/needle case. This was virtually all slow stitched by hand. The only part that was machine stitched was the inner cushion pad for pins and needles and the attachment of this to the outer cover with a central row of machine stitching, just for strength and neatness really. This was another really fun project. I used a scrap of William Morris fabric for the outside of the case and used fabrics of the same tone for the inside pockets and pin cushion.

I included pockets in the front and back of the cover, to hold cards of thread, scissors, a needle threader and a stitch unpicker, so that the case holds most of what you might need to do small sewing jobs. It is ideal to take with me when travelling, to hold all of my useful sewing notions in one place.

I also attached a couple of small hexies for decoration and to add safety pins and buttons to. The front of the case is decorated with a small sew in label I bought years ago. This was the perfect project for it. I also made a decorative patch using fabric paint and neutral fabric to add to the front of the case.

Here are some pictures of the finished case:

I needed to buy one thing to complete this project, namely a small pair of scissors to fit in the back pocket. I thought I had some, but I couldn't find them, so I bought some at Home Bargains for £1.49. I may attach a snap fastening to enable the case to be closed shut and then it will be good to go.

I really like the end result and it was such a joy to make. I'm not sure what my next slow stitch project will be, but I'm enjoying the process and moreover enjoying using up some of the things in my stash.