Monday, 21 September 2015

Disaster averted....

This weekend I have been working on finishing up my Gail Pan 'Hazel' bag which I started at the workshop I attended last weekend in Barrowford.  I finished all the hand work on the front panel during the week, so only needed to cut the fabrics for the bag, applique the panel to the front and then construct the bag.

I started by appliqueing the panel to the fabric for the front of the bag.  As I had embroidered around the applique shapes featured on the panel itself (to hide my wobbly needle-turn applique) I decided to embroider round the panel too.

The bag front was layered with some batting and I added a row of quilting (as described in the pattern instructions)  Next, I added the ric rac, which I couched onto the front using colonial knots rather than just slip-stitching it over the seam.  This is a technique which Gail used in another of her projects that I made and I really liked the look of it, so I thought I would add it here too.

Then I constructed the handles and made up the bag all as per the pattern instructions adding a cute little toggle for the closure. It just needed one final press and it would be done but, disaster struck!! My iron choose that moment to spit out some horrible dirty water right onto the panel on the front of my bag! This is what the ironing board looked like....

I quickly sponged the dirty water off the bag and hung it up to dry with my fingers crossed that it wouldn't leave a stain! I was lucky and it dried without a mark.... disaster averted!!

I am very pleased with my new bag.  I  am hoping to get my other workshop project finished this week.

I am linking this post with Super Mom - No Cape for her stitchery link up.  Why not pop across and see the other projects that have been linked.
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56 comments:

  1. Quayceetatter21 September 2015 at 15:01

    Love the bag with beautiful embroidery and applique!

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    1. Christine B21 September 2015 at 19:20

      Thank you! It is a beautiful pattern! Christine x

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  2. Shelly21 September 2015 at 15:14

    Your stitchery posts always make my heart melt....Lovely work!

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    1. Christine B21 September 2015 at 19:21

      Thank you Shelly! Hope you are keeping well! Christine x

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  3. Magpie's Mumblings21 September 2015 at 15:25

    Oh my - that WOULD have been a disaster!! I wonder if putting some vinegar through your iron would help?

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    1. Christine B21 September 2015 at 19:22

      I probably should be using distilled water.... it does have a self-clean button.... perhaps I should use it!! Christine x

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  4. Renee21 September 2015 at 16:48

    We have a lot of minerals in our water, so I have had my iron do that same thing. It is so frustrating! I am glad yours was easily cleaned up. Your bag is darling!

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    1. Christine B21 September 2015 at 19:23

      Thank you Renee! I have a self-clean button to clear the calcium in the iron... I just forget to use it!! Lesson learned!! Christine x

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  5. Valomea21 September 2015 at 17:29

    Oh, the way to this bag was not easy! :-)
    But it's a wounderful applique!
    Valomea

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    1. Christine B21 September 2015 at 19:24

      Thank you Valomea... it is a beautiful Gail Pan pattern! Christine x

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  6. bn21 September 2015 at 18:04

    Lovely stitching, pleased to see that disaster was averted. Irons are always a problem in hard water areas.

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    1. Christine B21 September 2015 at 19:25

      Thank you Brenda! The water is really hard here... I always forget to descale the iron! Lesson learned! Christine x

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  7. Lynda21 September 2015 at 19:26

    Thank goodness - you heart just sinks doesn't it?

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    1. Christine B21 September 2015 at 19:30

      I nearly burst into tears Lynda! Luckily there is not a trace of the disaster now that it is dry! Christine x

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  8. Janet Pring21 September 2015 at 19:39

    Such a pretty bag, thank goodness it didn't get stained

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:23

      Thank you Janet! I was very relived that it wasn't damaged! Chrissie x

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  9. Monika Kunstnadel21 September 2015 at 21:40

    Liebe Christine,
    das ist eine wunderschöne Tasche geworden.
    Gefällt mir sehr gut.
    Ganz liebe Grüße
    Monika

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:34

      Thank you Monika! It was a lovely Gail Pan pattern! Christine x

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  10. Martina21 September 2015 at 22:01

    Beautiful bag! So happy it all turned out well in the end!
    Hugs martina

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:24

      Thank you Martina! It is a lovely Gail Pan pattern and I was relieved that it wasn't damaged! Christine x

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  11. FlashinScissors21 September 2015 at 22:31

    My iron does that too! So glad it didn't stain your lovely bag, Christine, after all your hard work..
    Barbara xx

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:25

      Thank you Barbara! I think I'll have to remember to descale the iron more often!! Christine x

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  12. Laura21 September 2015 at 22:38

    I just got rid of my iron because it kept spitting rust. Drove me crazy!

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:25

      I'll just have to remember to descale it more often! A lesson learned!! Christine x

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  13. the girlfriend gap21 September 2015 at 22:48

    Very cute bag. For that very reason I have switched over to a squirt water bottle and no longer use water in my iron. Much happier. Glad your project was not harmed. Janita

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:26

      Thank you Janita! That is a very good idea! Christine x

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  14. KERYN B21 September 2015 at 23:09

    Gorgeous bag bet you nearly died when the iron had a melt down. Thankfully your bag was okay.

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:27

      Thank you Keryn! I did feel close to tears after all the work that had gone into it! I had a lucky ending though!! Christine x

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  15. Cath21 September 2015 at 23:56

    oh, thank goodness, disaster averted! Such a pretty bag!

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:27

      Thank you Cath! I was very relieved when it wasn't stained! Christine x

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  16. Unknown22 September 2015 at 08:17

    Again a small , great masterpiece of you . The bag is just great . It always fascinates me that you always make for wonderful Sachend . So much creativity is contagious .
    Greetings Sandra

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:28

      Thank you Sandra! The pattern is a pretty Gail Pan pattern... I love her designs! Christine x

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  17. Baa. xxx22 September 2015 at 08:49

    Whew! So glad it didn't stain - that would have been awful. The bag looks lovely - love the toggle.

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:29

      Thank you! Yes, it was a big relief! I really liked the toggle too... amazing what you can find tucked away in your sewing room!! Hee hee! Christine x

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  18. Unknown22 September 2015 at 09:27

    A very beautiful bag Christine! Just so unique with such detailed stitching. I love the ric-rac trim! xx

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:30

      Thank you Alison! It was a beautiful Gail Pan pattern.... I just love her designs! Christine x

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  19. Sheila22 September 2015 at 10:42

    Such a beautiful bag , so glad the water didn't permanently stain the pretty stitching . I have also had that happen at the worst times so frustrating .

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 10:48

      Thank you Sheila! It was a big relief it wasn't permanently damaged! Christine x

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  20. Carol- Beads and Birds22 September 2015 at 12:32

    We have such crappy city water with lots of "stuff" left in it after they treat it. I learned a long time ago to only use distilled water in my iron. Cute bag.

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 12:56

      Thank you Carol! I always used to but I stopped when we moved last year. Clearly I need to start again! Christine x

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  21. Linda22 September 2015 at 13:21

    What a darling bag! What size is it?

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 14:38

      Thank you Linda! The body of the bag is about 12" x 13". It is a nice size for a sewing project!! Christine x

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  22. Wendy22 September 2015 at 13:48

    You did a great job, what a lovely bag

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 14:39

      Thank you Wendy! I really enjoyed making it! Christine x

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  23. Karen in Breezy Point22 September 2015 at 15:09

    Whew--those darn irons!! Your bag is beautiful--love the rick rack detail too!

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 16:27

      Thank you Karen! The knots on the ric-rac appeared in a different Gail Pan pattern and I liked the addition, so I often use it now! Christine x

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  24. Jackie22 September 2015 at 15:34

    Lovely bag! I love the rick rack too....

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 16:28

      Thank you Jackie! I love Gail's designs! Christine x

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  25. Cattinka22 September 2015 at 17:42

    You created a very beautiful bag, with lots of hand sewing in it. I am glad it didn´t get stained, and I can imagine how shocked you were when that happened.
    KATRIN W.

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 22:06

      Thank you Katrin! Luckily there was no harm done... I am very pleased to say! Christine x

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  26. SuperMomNoCape22 September 2015 at 22:14

    Your bag turned out beautiful. But my goodness... I can just imagine the panic when the iron chose that moment to spew out that gunk. I'm so glad there were no stains.

    Thanks so much for linking up to this week's Stitchery Link Party and for the link back. Aloha hugs!

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    1. Christine B22 September 2015 at 22:26

      Thank you Sue! I'm just so pleased that no harm was done! I always love linking up.... it is fun! Thank you! Christine x

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  27. Christine M22 September 2015 at 23:16

    Your bag is gorgeous, Christine. Lucky no marks were left from your iron after all that hard work. Christine xx

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    1. Christine B23 September 2015 at 11:35

      Thank you Christine! I love Gail's beautiful patterns... this bag will be treasured! Christine x

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  28. Sheryl29 September 2015 at 19:08

    What a beautiful bag Christine, love all the details but what a shock you must have had with the iron episode, just typical, why didn´t it happen when you were ironing socks.

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    1. Christine B29 September 2015 at 22:13

      Thank you Sheryl! Luckily no harm was done! Christine x

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