New Jewel Garden Sweete Bag & Embroidered Needlebook Kit

Inspired by the antique examples seen in museums, both in the UK and in the USA, I have designed a tiny ‘sweete bag’ for you to stitch on pure unbleached linen in counted cross stitch – with a few seed beads for extra detail. I was not sure what to call my new Sweete bag and Needlbook project to begin with, then my esteemed Editor Jenny gave me a copy of Monty Donn’s Jewel Garden book and that decided it for me!

The completed bag measures 3 x 5in (7.5 x 12.5cm).

Inside the silk-lined sweete bag lives Notes and Needles, a tiny book hand-crafted by the wonderful Kate Bowles who has included pages for notes, linen to store needles and envelopes to hold secrets! I have designed a linen band that will just wrap around your needlebook with the minimum of finishing needed. When closed the needlebook measures 2.75 x 3.5in (7 x 9cm).

This boxed kit includes two different linen bands, 28-count Cashel linen, pre-sorted threads, seed beads, two gold-plated needles, the tiny, handcrafted book, charts and illustrated instructions.

Early examples of the Sweete Bag were often quite tiny and worked in gold and silk thread with and even with semi-precious jewels added. It is known that Queen Elizabeth I was given many such purses with gold coins or other gifts inside, always elaborately decorated with stitching, gold threads and beads.

These highly decorated bags were commonly carried by both men and woman, sometimes holding petals and herbs to ward of insects and disease. Sometimes the purse would hold a matching book of prayer or similar. Antique examples of these beautiful bags are very collectable indeed and fetch considerable amounts at auction.

I’ve written a little more on the subject here.