Felicity Hall Peacock Clutch Bag

I enjoy needlepoint projects and have created quite a few 'contemporary' designs over the past few years. This one has by far been my longest, slowest project, taking me about 15 months from start to finish!

It is designed by Felicity Hall which you can buy online or from Liberty. The clutch bag is sold as a kit and comes with a printed canvas, tapestry wool, needle, clutch bag frame and instructions for how to put it together. I think it was working with the printed canvas which made me reluctant to complete it. I kept deliberating over which colour each stitch was. I definitely find it easier to be accurate when counting rather than following a printed canvas.

The final stitch!

Needlepoint projects tend to pull to one side which means that they need blocking. First I moistened the project by spraying it with water. This makes the canvas more malleable so you can begin pulling it into a more regular shape. I then used a staple gun to attach the project to a piece of ply board (all the time using a sewing ruler to check that the angles are all right angles) and left it to dry.

It blocked the canvas four times before I was happy with the angles.

The project comes with instructions for how to turn the canvas into a beautiful clutch bag. I however appeared to have lost them! After a bit of experimentation I figured out how to line the clutch bag so that it could be attached to the frame.

The bag itself is attached with glue which made me nervous as I was scared I would get glue on the bag. I did get some glue on it but luckily I managed to pick it off!

So here she is...

And here is her lining...

I couldn't get the bag to sit accurately enough in the frame at the opening corners so I had to stich it in using some metallic thread. It's not too noticeable is it?

Overall, I'm really pleased with the bag! Any ideas for another needlepoint project?