Stirling Bags

While checking the stats on Blog this week I noticed several people were looking for Stirling bags. These are self-finishing tote bags from a company that went out of business when they lost their supplier, so these are hard to find. I did a little searching and came up with a few sources. Hopefully the websites are up to date and these are still in stock.   Please check the colors and sizes of the bags carefully and check to see the opening so you know if you need to pick up a canvas to fit.
http://theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=186&products_id=4786&osCsid=f128024e680298f66434fd8e8800c47f

http://needlepointthis.com/html/what_s_new.html

http://www.greatyarns.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=STIRLINGFINISHBAG

http://www.athreadgarden.com/athreadgarden.com/NNews_1.html

If your local shop has Stirling bags still, please let us know in the Comments!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 26, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Needle Bug Pairs

The Needle Bug just got in a shipment of Stirling bags, which they promptly paired up with pieces from their current Mindy trunk show.  Like peanut butter and jelly (or chocolate and more chocolate), it's a match made in heaven.
http://theneedlebug.com/2011/09/stirling-whimsical-fabulous/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Introducing the Red Geisha

Small Red Geisha (Melissa Shirley Designs)

Since I have three purse canvases to stitch this year, I'd better get started, right?  The first purse piece is a Melissa Shirley design called Red Geisha.  This will be a model for Melissa Shirley Designs at the June Columbus trade show and I'll be selling a stitch guide for her.

The canvas itself is on 13 count canvas and it is 8 inches square.  There is a larger wedge-shaped Red Geisha design that is intended to be made up into a leather purse.  You can see both designs in the link to Melissa's website below.  Note the details you can see on the larger piece that you can't on my Red Geisha.  I looked at the larger canvas several times trying to figure out what I was seeing on my smaller version so I could stitch it appropriately.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?cat=27

Melissa also sent me a black Stirling purse to put Red Geisha into.  The Stirling bag she will adorn is their small tote bag.  The first thing I did when the purse and canvas arrived is to make a color copy of the canvas, then I cut it out so I could slip the paper copy into the front of the bag to see if I needed to stitch a row or two outside the painted lines.  They look like a perfect fit to me.  So the paper pattern was put aside to use as a reference as I stitched Red Geisha.  I can feel secure that she will fit nicely without any row additions or subtractions.
http://www.stirlingcases.com/products_sub.php?id=14

I haven't forgotten Luna but since I have a deadline to finish Red Geisha, I only work on Luna's cloak lining on nights when I need mindless stitching.  Once Red Geisha is done, I will finish Luna.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

2011: The Year of the Purse

Tote bags, purses, clutch bags, or anything in between--whatever style of bag you like, 2011 is the Year of the Purse.  Folks are stitching purse canvases like nobody's business!
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/03/25/its-a-bag-thing/

Want more proof?  Have you noticed all the purse and insert canvases from Melissa Shirley?
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?cat=81

Have you seen the snakeskin textured purses from Stirling?
http://www.stirlingcases.com/products_sub.php?id=23

Check out the new bags and laptop tote from Lee.
http://www.newleesneedlearts.com/files/flyers/2011_Jan_New_LeatherGoods_lo.pdf

These Leigh Designs inserts are made to fit inside the leather, nylon and patent leather totes.
http://theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6112

http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp760x.html

This year I am stitching three purse inserts.  Before I reveal the first canvas, we should take a look back at the purse canvas I stitched last year and see what it looks like now.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Christmas Treats (with Stirling Bag Tutorial)

This time of year usually means Christmas trees and lots of Christmas treats for me.  In order to avoid adding more pounds, I think this year I'll just admire the treats that Pocket Full of Stitches has in their shop.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/12/eat-drink-be-merry.html

They have trees, too, and needlepoint trees aren't heavy, crooked, shedding needles and an endless temptation to the dogs and cat.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/12/whats-more-festive-than-tree.html

Robin King has a treat for us on the Needlepoint Study Hall blog--a tutorial on inserting a canvas in the Stirling bags!  Robin recently fixed up a canvas for Vicky DeAngelis recently and took photos of the steps.   Now I have an idea of how to do it when I insert a new canvas into the new Stirling bag that arrived here last November.  But more on that after Luna is finished and I have some time with Stars.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/12/see-one-do-one-teach-one.html

Finally, I have a lovely Peace Angel from Nimble Needle.  I know she's supposed to be a holiday angel but this time of year, I always long for peace for all.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-angel.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Review: The Stirling Self-Finishing Small Tote

Stirling Small Tote Front

Susan kindly loaned me a black Stirling bag which I've photographed for you.  Note the bag is black, not blue, but the morning light-camera combination turned it a lovely blue shade.  I guess I should be glad the camera didn't decide to make it the color of baby poop, right?

Stirling Tote Back

The bag above is the small tote bag.  The opening on the front is exactly 8 inches square and there is a sheet of paper you peel away inside the opening to expose the sticky back that you press your finished canvas against.  There is a small lip of leather all around the opening except at the top, where the overhang is much larger.  I think stitchers probably will want to put a row of tent stitches around their design's perimeter and perhaps do 2-3 rows at the top of the canvas.  I don't think anything will show but a row of stitches will prevent the bare canvas from showing if someone is looking at an angle.

Stirling Logo

The back side is all leather with the Stirling logo embossed at the top. The shoulder straps are roomy, long enough to go over your shoulder but not so long that you can't carry the bag by the handles without dragging it on the floor.

Interior with Pockets

The interior of the bag is plaid fabric protected by clear plastic.  Thee are three little pockets made from the same clear plastic.  The leather handles look sturdy and the outside leather is fairly thick and substantial.  The purse width is narrow. This is not going to hold a great many items but it will carry the basics in style.

Here's the Stirling website with all their products so you can see the colors available in the small tote bag besides black and see the other items they sell.
http://www.stirlingcases.com/products.php

I've only read one other review of the bags.  Linda had a problem with hers and got immediate attention that fixed it.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2010/07/sterling-bags-great-experience.html

I've seen the Lee leather bags in person.   They seem sturdier and more classic in style to me.  They are also more expensive.  If I wanted a bag that I'd use for a decade or more that would never go out of style or wear out, Lee is the way to go.  If you want a more fashion-oriented, cheaper bag that comes in a variety of colors that you can put away after a while, Stirling is the bag for you.

I hope with Christmas coming this is a useful review in case you wanted to put this on your wish list or were considering buying a Stirling bag for someone else.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Stirling Bags

If you've ever considering buying one of the Stirling leather purses, you'll want to read what Linda has to say.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2010/07/sterling-bags-great-experience.html

Here is their website.  Note all those lovely purses!
http://www.stirlingcases.com/products.php

Not interested in a pocketbook?  My spies tell me that next January Stirling is going to release leather cases for eBook readers like the Kindle and the Nook and a case for iPads, all of which will have about a 6 inch opening for your stitching.

By the way, the photo above is from the Alex Paras website where they sell the leather tool tote and the darling Shelly Tribbey canvas.  A little bird whispered there is a Brenda Hart stitch guide for that canvas, too!  However, you don't have to buy a canvas for the tool tote because AP Needlearts includes a free Janet Perry Bargello pattern with each purchase of that item.
http://store.apneedlearts.com/roletoto.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow