Eighteen moths ago Pippa, who blogs at Beads and Barnacles, send me three small zipped purses as part of my secret Santa present. Three purses, because I have two daughters and Pippa thought they might like one as well as me. They did, and I ended up with this one…
In it I put a tape measure, two stitch markers and a stitch holder…
I dropped it in with a knitting project I was taking out, so I had those things to hand when needed.
The first three items were soon joined by more and I began to move the purse between projects. It was so easy to drop it in with a knitting project as I left the house on long or short trips. It saved me having to think what I needed to take each time, or to have to track down the bits and bobs. Even in the house I use it, because I knew where to find what I needed.
When I tipped it out today I found all this was now living in it…
It’s only small, but there’s still bags of room left…
I can even still fit my phone in with everything.
I love this purse so much, I think every knitter would love one. So when I was having ideas about new things to add to my stall/website, it didn’t surprise me when I thought about making some small knitting kit purses.
A couple of weeks ago, inspired by Lynn, who blogs at Tialys, blogging about free motion embroidery, I bought some fabric, cut out some purses and sheep shapes and began doing a bit of free motion embroidery.
Very happy with my first attempts I embroidered a small flock of sheep spread over several purses.
But then disaster struck!
The bottom tension dropped off completely on my Bernina. There was nothing I could do to get it tighter. Only the prototype purse was complete and I had a craft fair the next day.
I took a deep breath and unearthed my 30 year old singer. Unveiling it, I found this sticker…
Which presumably means the last time I used it was before than 2004.
I threaded it up, crossed my toes – too dangerous to sew with fingers crossed – and pressed my foot down on the peddle…
Not only did it sew, it sewed perfectly first time. (Admittedly subsequent thread changes did require adjustment of the tension discs.) I also loved the solid feel of the way it sewed compared to the Benina!
Well behind, after messing with the Bernina for so long, and having my eldest daughter here – so determined to spend time with her – I didn’t get as many purses finished as I’d hoped. The bright blue purses definitely dominated on my stall, but at least I had more than one.
I’ve now completed the whole batch using my trusty Singer, out of choice, and I’ve popped them in the shop.
Hope you like them!
Dartmoor Creative - Bekki Hill 
My sewing machine is a 34 year old Singer… it’s pretty basic, but it’s still doing a sterling job after all these years.
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Excellent! I’m definitely going to get mine serviced and use it again.
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Like them? I love them! 😉
Mr. T. uses an old (probably more than 100 years old) Pfaff treadle machine to sew some of his leather bags etc. when the industrial machine won’t cut it. I only bought it for it’s looks – I did try to sew on it but I can’t seem to get my coordination right on the treadle whereas he flies along on it. I’m not sure he’ll be doing any freemotion or freehand stuff on it though.
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I think not. I definitely need an really old machine just for its looks – but I can’t see LH ever using it if i do. Finally got hold of Bernina doc today. he thinks may be from the ‘glue’ on the seam-a-seam. Will be very unimpressed it it is.
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They’re fantastic.
I’ve dug out my really old singer to try for some bag making but haven’t got around to actually plugging in yet as I need to find a table strong enough to hold the weight of it!
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They certainly don’t make things like they used to. Good luck! look forward to reading about it 🙂
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Very cute 🙂
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Love!! So if I bought a blue one – what would the shipping cost be to NZ?
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Aw! Thank you. That’s such a compliment. Unfortunately I don’t ship outside the UK because the product insurance is so expensive 😦
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They are super cute 😊
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Thank you 🙂
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I think they are simply splendid, now you need a longer one for knitting needles. Just saying…
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thank you. Ha ha! You and me always think the same. Would be all over it, if my flippin’ Bernina was mended yet 😦
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PS just been to look at the shop, do you need to add contents not included?
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Good point. Thank you. Will do it.
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People can just be so greedy!
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I don’t don’t know if it’s greedy or just odd or expecting to much. Either way, thank you for saving me from a potential debacle 🙂
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They are adorable. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Aww thank you, I had an odd deja vu moment when that image appeared on my reader before I had quite paid attention to the context.You have managed to stash quite a lot of things into that little bag 🙂
Your sheep versions are wonderful. Every knitter (or non knitter) needs a little zip top bag to hold all those odd things in.
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Yes, it’s amazing what you can fit in it. Thank you again for the inspiration 🙂
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