Making these workbags, they truly feel like a convergence of Fanciful Utility and Straw Millinery.
I laugh a little when I think about how times I must have flipped by the illustrations of items made with straw while doing my research for Fanciful Utility. The pages of Lady’s magazines and fancy work manuals are speckled with items made from straw – from slippers to bonbon baskets to workbags.
Many of the bags are made from the same plaited straw used for making millinery. A few are made to resemble hats, while a few others are even made from hats.
The straw foundations for the bags, whether basket shaped or a disk, are made much the same way as a straw hat. The plait is hand sewn in a spiral, into the appropriate shape. Then, it is blocked into a more defined shape with the aide of a stiffener.
The bag/basket style workbag is similar to reticles found earlier in the century and constructed based a bag in An American Girl’s Book. It is essentially a silk bag with a straw basket for the bottom. The basket foundation can vary in size and shape. It shows up in various publications, calling for different materials. My tapered square basket makes for a very roomy bag capable of holding a good size project such as a knit scarf, shawl, or undersleeves.
The folded disk workbag, that resembles a taco, is based on a pair of illustrations. One of these is described as a knitting bag, calling for an 8″×12″ straw foundation with pockets set inside. My first version is smaller, using the last of a straw hank. The center is a silk bag, which closes with a drawstring. The straw foundation is lined in silk with a pocket on each side. This size and construction would work well for carrying basic sewing tools: scissors, needles, threads, pins, thimble.
While researching for another potential program, I came across a description that was essentially a wild grass sewn as for making a hat, and made into a balloon style bag. This style bag can be rather roomy for its petite size.
I will be adding bags to my Etsy shop as I make them in between millinery. I will also be adding straw foundations for you to make your own workbags.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
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