Knitting Is Cheaper Than Therapy – Project Bag

Summer is the time for travelling and spending time outdoors. But that does not mean you have to leave your craft at home. On the contrary – take your knitting, crocheting, or hand embroidery project wherever summer adventures take you. What can be better than crocheting on the beach or embroidering near the swimming pool? Also, the biggest event of knitting in public – World Wide Knit in Public Day is held on the second Saturday of June each year. You can join the event in your town and bring your project along. You only need a good project bag to hold your yarn and needles! 

Let’s make a beautiful and functional project bag together. I’m sure you will find a quote in this bundle of sewing and knitting quotes that will inspire you. Follow this step-by-step tutorial, and you will make your project bag in no time.

Supplies you will need for this project:

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Embroidery pattern. I used a design from the bundle of sewing and knitting quotes from the Creative Fabrica library.
• Fabric: 
  • 2x exterior fabric: 32 x 27 cm. I used a linen-cotton blend in natural color.
  • 2x lining fabric: 32 x 27 cm. I used a light linen fabric.
  • 2x drawstring casing: 21 x 5 cm. 
• 2x drawstring: 75-80 cm. I used a 1 cm wide green ribbon.
• Embroidery floss. I used DMC Embroidery floss: Mild light moss green #166, Violet #553, Mild old gold #729, and Very dark pewter gray #3799.
• Embroidery needle. The whole embroidery is made with three strands of floss, so choose a medium embroidery needle (e.g., No 5-7).
• Pattern transferring tools. I used a friction pen for pattern transfer. It will go out with the iron heat when the project is finished. 
• Embroidery hoop. Choose a size that will fit the design. Mine is 20 cm in diameter.
• Scissors – fabric shears to cut the material and small embroidery scissors or snips to cut the thread.
• Sewing machine and sewing threads for sewing the craft bag.

Some tips before we start:

For this project, we will use the following hand embroidery stitches:

• Chain stitch
• French knots
• Split backstitch

If you are unfamiliar with these embroidery stitches or need to refresh your knowledge, read the article “Six Hand Embroidery Stitches for Lettering” on The Artistry blog.

For the pattern transfer, I used a lightbox method. You can read a “Four ways to transfer embroidery patterns to fabric” article and choose the best method to suit your fabric.

If you don’t sew, grab a blank tote bag or a big zipper purse and embroider your chosen quote on them. You will find them in big craft stores and online.

Step-by-step tutorial

Download and transfer the pattern

Photo credit: Creative Fabrica

• Download the bundle of Sewing and knitting quotes from the Creative Fabrica library. Choose the wording you would like to embroider. I printed a pdf version of my chosen design as it perfectly fits the measurements of my project bag. If your bag is smaller or more significant – you can always resize the design to your liking.   
• Print the pattern.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• For the pattern transfer – use a lightbox method. Tape your printed pattern to a bright sunny window. Tape the fabric above the design with the image positioned in the top center of the project bag. Repeat all the outlines of the letters and pictures to the material. Use a friction pen or water-soluble pen for the pattern transfer.
• Place the fabric with a quote in the hoop, adjust the tension, and tighten the screw.

Embroider the design

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Start with the word “Knitting.” Embroider the lettering with Chain stitch. Use three strands of green embroidery floss (#DMC 166).

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Embroider the knots above the letter “i” by embroidering three French knots.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Embroider the phrase “is cheaper than” with Split backstitch. Use three strands of violet embroidery floss (#dmc 553).
• To make a dot on the letter “i,” make a French knot.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Embroider the word “Therapy” with Chains stitch. Use three strands of yellow embroidery floss (#DMC 726).

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Embroider the knitting needles. Use a Split backstitch. Embroider with three strands of grey embroidery floss (#3799).

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• To embroider the stoppers at the ends of the knitting needles, make French knots to fill the round shape. Mix all three colors used in this design – green, violet, and yellow. Use three strands of embroidery floss and place French knots close to each other.

Before sewing

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Remove tracing marks, wash if needed, and iron the embroidered piece of the project bag.
• Iron all the parts of fabric you will use for sewing. Ironed fabric will make all the steps of sewing much smoother.

Sew the project bag

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Prepare the pieces for the drawstring casing. Fold the edges, iron them, and sew the folding.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Fold the casing pieces in half, pin and sew them to the top edge of the project bag.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Place the bag pieces with the right sides facing inside, pin, and sew them together.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Make the boxing to form a square bottom of the project bag. Align the side and bottom seams and measure the angle. My boxing is 10 cm. Sew the marked line and cut away the excess fabric.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Sew the lining material. Leave a hole for turning on one side of the seam.
• Box the bottom of the lining material. Use the same method as for the outer part of the bag.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Place a lining fabric inside the outer fabric with the right sides facing inside and sew around the top edge.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Turn the bag and close the gap in the lining fabric.
• Iron the top edge and sew it around.

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

• Add the drawstrings.

Your project bag is ready!

Pack your supplies and head outside!

Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery

No matter if you will choose to knit in public, crochet in front of your tent in the middle of the woods, or embroider near the swimming pool in a five-star hotel. Remember that every choice is valid, and all the crafts are lovely.