Self-Finish Needlepoint Rattan Bag

I wanted to share an easy, fun and special needlepoint project I completed recently. While I was down in Florida, my mother-in-law and I headed to Seaside Needlepoint in Vero Beach. I fell in love with this rattan bag and chose a small canvas that was designed to pop right in the front. Seaside Needlepoint had a handful of canvases in this size. I was deciding between a lobster, one where I could stencil my monogram, and the horse bit. I ended up going with the horse bit because, well, I love anything horse related and also thought it would age well! Something to note is that the bag itself is approximately $185. However, it’s well constructed and with good care can last a lifetime. I get excited about the idea of passing down something I made to my future daughter or daughter-in-law one day. 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1. Make sure you have your rattan bag made by Planet Earth Fibers. They come in rectangular and round shapes, as well as in natural and black colorways. I have my eye on the round black one next! I encourage you to check out your local needlepoint stores for inventory, but you can also find them right here on Seaside Needlepoint’s website. You can call them up to place an order for you, should your desired color and shape not be available.
   
   
2. Pick out your canvas and your fibers. The rectangular canvas size is 2” high x 4” wide (if you choose the round bag, check the specs before selecting a canvas). Since this is a bag that would likely see some wear, I went with Silk & Ivory fibers. Silk and Ivory fibers are a 50/50 silk and wool blend that glide well and look like a silk finish, but are also super durable from the wool. Most fibers work on various sized canvases, but always be sure your thread size is appropriate for your canvas mesh size. If you’re just starting out, I have a few tips for beginners in this blog post.
   
   
3. In terms of additional tools and materials, the bag comes with velcro adhesive strips, which is how you’ll attach the canvas to the bag. I also used stretcher bars on this little canvas so that I could have good control over my tension and prevent the canvas from warping. Since I was finishing this one myself, I wanted the canvas to be as straight as possible. You’ll also need scissors and a needle, of course!

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ONCE YOU’RE READY TO START

Step 1: Stitch your canvas. Pick a stitch that works well with wear. I chose the classic continental stitch because it creates a sturdy finished product that looks clean. Try your best to keep the back/verso of your canvas as tidy as you can, it will help the velcro adhesive stay put and present a flat and smooth looking bag. Depending on your canvas and bag, it’s also not a bad idea to stitch an extra row or two around the perimeter of the canvas design. This way, none of the mesh is visible when you insert it in the bag. 

Step 2: Prep your finished canvas. When you’ve finished your canvas, the fun begins! I made sure that the backside of my canvas was as clean as possible, trimming any dangling fibers while making sure I didn’t trim anything that was holding something in place. I then cut the canvas so that it had an approximate  ½” inch mesh border around the perimeter. I placed the rough velcro strip down onto the opening on the front of the bag, as centered as I was able to. Then, I placed the soft velcro strip on the back of my needlepointed canvas. 

Step 3: Finish your bag and attach the canvas. It’s time to attach your canvas to the bag, placing the cut down canvas with soft velcro backing onto the rough velcro strip which is adhered to the bag. My fingers were too large to smoothly tuck the mesh trim under the rattan, hiding the trim and further securing the canvas. So, I picked up a small spoon and used the end of the flat handle to push the mesh under the rattan. You can use any flat needlepointing tool that won’t pull the fibers or break the mesh. I started in the corner and worked my way around clockwise. I rubbed out any bumps, pressing down on the velcro and then it was complete! 

I hope this is helpful if you want to start this project. It’s uncomplicated and I think it’s beginner friendly, too!