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Home Programs 2003 Programs 2003 Guild Project - Sweet Bag
2003 Guild Project - Sweet Bag Print E-mail
Date/Time:  01/12/2003 1:30 - 4:00
Type:General Meeting
Location:Glen Ellyn Library
Teacher:LMSG-Kathy Joassin

At the first meeting of the new year, we will begin our 2003 project. The guild project for 2003 is a sampler sweet bag designed by Sharon Cohen originally published in the August 1996 issue of Just Cross Stitch. The project kits have been made up by the guild. The kits will be distributed at the January 2003 meeting. All payments are due at the kit distribution time. The kit can be mailed to you by request for a cost of $4.00. 

If you missed the signup, but you would still like to do the project, the chart can be ordered direct from Just Cross Stitch. Don't forget to bring your needlework projects to the meeting for show and tell!

While similar in size and construction to the Elizabethan sweet bags, The Sampler Sweet Bag is reminiscent of seventeenth-century English band samplers in composition. Flowers, fruits, and birds, motifs intrinsic to sweet bags and sampler alike, grace this diminutive bag. Richly textured features of this design, such as raised embroidery (petals of the central flower) and the scattering of golden spangles (paillettes), are also element of some sweet bags. The attached matching pincushion suggest this bag's function as a needlework reticule, an accessory the twentieth-century embroiderer can appreciate every bit as well as her sixteenth century counter part.


Bag
Size: 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"
Stitch count: 80H x 80W
Pin cushion 
Size:  1 1/8" x 1 1/8"
Stitch count: 20H x 20W
Linen
36 count Khaki linen
Colors
Pink, mauve, blue-green, gold, khaki, violet, peacock, pewter-gray, 
cornflower blue, turquoise, celadon green, pine green.
Stitches
Cross, long armed cross, double running, satin, detached buttonhole, 
chain, queen, tent, cross stitch over one, rice, spiral chain stitch.

Model of the 2003 project 
stitched by 
Kathy Joassin


Stitching Schedule

January -
February		Stitch areas 1, 2 & 3 (A, B, C)
MarchStitch the left vine outline motif to the center flower stem.
Stitch all the left side flowers and motifs.
AprilComplete right side vine outline and flowers and strawberry motifs.
MayFill vine with chain stitch per instructions.
June Stitch center detached button hole flower.
JulyStitch areas 6,10 & 11 (date, E & F name)
AugustAttach paillettes. Stitch pin cushion flower.
SeptemberFollow pin cushion finishing instructions.
OctoberFollow sweet bag finishing instrurcions.
November -
December		Follow cording and tassel making instructions. Attach to bag and pin cushion.

Highlights

Leslie Lewis, our new president, began by welcoming the members attending the meeting. She encouraged everyone to wear a nametag so we can all get to know each other's names. If you have stitched a nametag, this is your chance to show it off!  Leslie also provided more information about Carol Humphrey's special lecture scheduled February 22nd. We need your help to spread the word about this exciting event! She introduced the idea of a field trip in August to an Ohio museum to view their sampler exhibit. Reaction was positive, so you should hear more about this at the February meeting.

Leslie thanked the people leaving office for all their hard work. Pictured are Kim Lemberg (outgoing treasurer), Leslie Lewis (current president) and Elaine Hoagland (outgoing president). Roberta Siegel was unable to attend, but we thank her, too, for all of the  wonderful programs in 2002.


Cross stitch

We had one item for show and tell:


Cross stitch

One of our members, Judy Roubick is moving and cleaning out her stash. She brought magazines and material to give away to those who wanted it. She says she'll bring stuff back to future meetings until it's all gone. Thanks, Judy!


Cross stitch

The main part of our program was the distribution of the kits for the 2003 project, a Sampler Sweet Bag designed by Sharon Cohen. The kit was put together by our program chairman, Kathy Joassin. She talked about the materials in the kit and the stitching schedule. Great job, Kathy!
 


Kathy showed us her completed model and passed it around so we could all admire it.  We were amazed by the detached buttonhole stitch done on the center flower. Kathy volunteered her help later in the year, when we all get that far on the kit. Click on the picture to see a larger image.


Kathy went around the room and answered detailed questions about the kit. She offered to do a demonstration later this year on cording. This kit uses many strands of silk or floss for cording and Kathy suggested that you may want to reduce the number of strands.  She also cautioned us about the inner lining which makes the material very thick where the eyelets are stitched. You may or may not want to use the inner lining. She also suggested doing six eyelets around the top of the bag instead of eight. 

It will be fun to share our progress throughout the year with others who are participating in the 2003 project. Make sure you bring your bag along to meetings to show everyone what you have accomplished!