Hooked on Needles: Angel Swap Gifts Coming Along -- Scissor Holder

I've been diligently working on my Angel Swap gifts and enjoying every minute of it, even those minutes when things were not working out quite as expected. But that's when I had to get creative and improvise, you know, go off pattern and just get it done. I think we've all had projects like that.

I fell in love with Lynette's Here Kitty Scissor Holder when she introduced it recently for the Angel Swap. That would have to be one of my gifts, it just HAD to be! I couldn't pass up that kitty's face! Entirely irresistible! So I gathered my Stuff and got to work. Take a look and see how it turned out...

In the end, I was quite pleased with the result, even though it ended up smaller than designed. I had trouble with the part where the fabric is supposed to be folded over the cardboard and glued, probably because the iron-on interfacing I used was a little heavier than it should have been. So I cleaned up the gluey parts and just sewed the pieces right sides together, then turned them and stitched up the opening.

In my distress over having to improvise, I completely forgot to sew in the ribbon, so I ended up hand stitching that to the inside of the pouch. With the thicker batting I used on the front and back pieces, the whole thing ended up being pretty sturdy, so I think not using the cardboard worked out fine. I supposed it could even be washed too.

I purposely made the stripes on the front piece go diagonally because I knew I would never be able to line up the stripes to match with the back. I also added a clear glass bead to the middle of the flower on the back piece.

I love herringbone stitch and thought Lynette was clever to use it in joining the two pieces together. It adds such a pretty decorative edge too.

All in all, I enjoyed working on this piece and was surprised how quickly it worked up, even with my glue issues! Now I just have to find a pretty little pair of scissors to accompany this kitty to Australia.

Here's a little peek at what else I'm working on for the Angel Swap...

Natalie at Cinderberry Stitches introduced the cutest little Blue Wren's Nest pattern for the Angel Swap and I couldn't pass that one up either. Natalie makes a tote bag with hers, but that's not what I'm doing with it. I'll be making it into something else, but still stitching related. I'll show it to you when it's finished.

This swap is quickly coming to the end, so I best get on my horse and get my things complete and ready to mail, but there is still one more design to come next week. I wonder what it will be. Surely one more thing I won't be able to pass up!

Happy Stitching!