Stitch & Zip - avoiding the faff of pointy needles

The trouble with needlepoint is that completing the canvas doesn't mark completion of the project. After a year or so of sewing away, I've got various things that await the final tiresome steps with a pointy needle to turn them into a cushion, specs case or whatever. I really dislike that stage - and am not very good at it - and they will no doubt linger folded up in a box for many months to come.

So I've been enjoying the relatively instant satisfaction of three cute little kits I came across by chance on ebay. They are called Stitch & Zip, by Alice Peterson, and come entirely made up when you buy them - all you have to do is the actual needlepointy bit. The little fishy purse is about 4.5" by 3.5" (12cm by 9cm) and the bigger floral ones are about 7" by 5" (18cm by 13cm).



The canvas and backing are already both sewn neatly onto a zip, which undoes all the way round to provide full access.



The ones I bought are printed with flowers and fish and, rather oddly, carry the legend 'Princess Cruises'. It's a rather strange concept for a promotional item! I have a vision of them being handed out as a mandatory recreational activity on a trip round the Med, with rows of passengers sitting on deck in a kind of open-air workhouse, sewing diligently and having to complete another square inch before being awarded their next G&T...

Of course there is no need to follow the pattern - I could have ignored them completely, and would have done so if I hadn't liked these designs. As it is, I'm just aiming to hide the writing - eg with an an extra fish in the case of the smallest one. However, I was very lazy and didn't bother painting over the words Princess Cruises. It still shows through (the thread on these particular kits is stranded cotton, which doesn't have very great coverage) and so I'm sprinkling the background with random flecks of green to try and disguise it.



I'm part-way through the second one and I've painted over the words, ready to do the background areas. The writing still shows up on the photo but is less visible in real life and I'm fairly optimistic that the painting will be sufficient. This one's for my Mum to keep her magnifying glass in - not sure yet whether appropriate words or another flower will fill the gap.



I'm no neater with a sewing machine than a pointy needle, but may in time have a go at making up a similar purse myself, as it can't be very difficult (if only I can make myself measure it out properly and tack it together first). But in the meantime, I'll keep an eye open for more of the kits - they don't seem to be readily available in the UK. They're ideal for carrying round as a project on the go as, being a purse, you can of course keep the scissors and thread safely zipped up inside.