Cap'n Mermaiden's

Plastic canvas. It retains its shape when washed, and can be cut to whatever shape/size you need. Just insert it between the bag and the lining.

ratdog posted a cute idea I wanted to save/share:

For all of you with Teenagers on your list this Christmas, I saw on a retail website a pair of fingerless gloves that were referred to as:

Texting Gloves

Makes it sound up to date and cool doesn't it?

I want to re-post a tip here that I read because I know I've needed this tip before, so you might too, plus I don't want to lose it!

totalrealtor said:

Well my mother (god rest her soul) was right when she used to say "don't throw away those "stockings" with runs." I just finished a darling 15 inch bear in dark, dark brown chenille yarn and when I started to stuff him I thought-hmmmm what if he were lined first? So, I took a pair of old, very dark tights I had(clean of course), cut the legs off and then using the foot, slipped it into his head, stuffed inside the tight then just tucked in the ends before closing the head. Voila! no white stuffing showing through!!! For the body, arms and legs I used various pieces of the "legs" from the tights and it worked like a dream!

So, the thing I hate most is now solved WOO HOO!!! I figure I can pick up a pair or two as needed at the dollar store and my bears will never show stuffing again.

Maybe this is not a new idea but it is new to me and I just wanted to share.



Tampa Doll shares in reply that:

You can use all colors, for the different color bears or whatever you make. I have used green and yellow and such.

I love using the stockings so that the stuffing doesn't show.

No, really. I got a head today. You know, for taking pics of hats and necklaces, and stuff. It is styrofoam. It came from Hobby Lobby.

Hemstitching

Need a great quick and personalized gift for an expectant mom or a new baby? Edge a blanket. You can buy pre-pierced flannel squares for you to stitch into.

You can edge more than just baby items this way too, such as pillow cases, handkerchiefs, placemats, etc.

Here's a really great how-to:
http://www.mormonchic.com/crafty/crochet-edges.asp

This one shows you how to make a great foundation edge, the blanket stitch, to add your edgings to, if you want to edge a piece that's crocheted instead.
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa120702.htm

If you want to add your own holes, here are some handy tips from Crochetville members!
Just put your fabric on top of top of some cardboard, get out your ruler and a pen to mark the dots with, then puncture the fabric with a steel hook or a knitting needle. :D

Edgery-Doo kits include a tool to pierce your own holes. It is unlike purchased pre-pierced (truly hemstitched) items in that there is no thread to hold the holes open, but it has become rather popular lately, so perhaps it is still easy to use. Maybe I'll have to give it a try sometime.

Then for more ideas on edging styles you can put around that, here are some handy links.
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/edgings.php
http://home.inreach.com/marthac/edging.html

Now, here are some sources on where to order pre-pierced products (Ready-to-Crochet Hemstitching):
http://www.hemstitcher.com - best variety, and you can get single-ply blankets here, unlike at most places.
http://www.edgerydoo.com
http://www.fabric-mill.com/view_category.asp?cat=50
http://www.hemstitchingetc.com/hemstitching-kits/foundit.asp
http://www.blanketsandmoreonline.com

If you're really serious about it, you can even buy the machine yourself! Hemstitching machines create a line of stitched perforations.
http://www.hemstitchers.com
http://www.heirloomhemstitching.com/machine.htm
You may find used listings online for considerably cheaper, especially vintage machines.

Here's even a different kind of machine that does the crocheted edge for you.
http://www.cthompson.org.uk/blanketstitchers/

Thanks to Katandia for the link to this awesome technique!