What’s in Your Sewing Bag? – Special Guest Lorna Slessor from Cloth & Crescent

Today’s an exciting day as I finally get to kick off a new series – What’s in Your Sewing Bag? 

I’ve had it in the works for quite a while now, and I can’t believe today’s the day it kicks off! 

This one is all about getting to know other makers in our community, all while sneaking a peek at what’s inside their travel sewing bag. 

How fun!! Right? 

This gives you a front row seat on the must-have notions – the tried and true – that must be in their sewing kit at all times. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I also want to see what they carry all those precious goodies in! 

I’ve reached out to some amazingly talented and completely inspiring makers to share their sewing bags with you.

 And I couldn’t be more thrilled to have my quilty friend Lorna Slessor – the creative genius behind Cloth & Crescent – be my first guest! 

Lorna and I met while I was working on my first quilt featured in Love Patchwork & Quilting (read more about that here), a fun UK-based quilting magazine which Lorna works at. We became fast email friends, and I couldn’t be prouder when she ventured into offering her amazing and bold quilt patterns for sale. 

Read on to learn more about Lorna and get an exclusive sneak peek into the fun sewing notions she stores in her travel sewing bag.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. 

Introduction

Tell us a little about yourself! How did you get started on your quilting journey? 

I’m a quilter/designer and spend my 9-5 working as Operations Editor at Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine. I first started quilting when I got a job at a patchwork and quilting shop the day after my 16^th birthday. I studied Fashion at college and loved making my own clothes and accessories, so my quilter mum (who also taught me to sew) took me to the store to buy some crazy, garish fabrics to turn into headbands. I miraculously – and unintentionally – scored a job, made a few quilts, then went to study Fashion Promotion at university with a plan to work in fashion magazines once I graduated.

Fast forward five-or-so years, and I changed my mind on industries (fashion < quilts) and landed myself a job at LP&Q – the magazine I’d most admired when working in the shop. Since then, the constant exposure to amazing designs and fabrics has been the catalyst to a total obsession. 

Sewing Bag

What kind of sewing bag do you have? (e.g. did you make it? Buy it?) 

I have a small pouch that I was gifted by my colleague for my 21^st birthday when I worked in the quilting store. It’s made of vintage fabric (I was BIG into thrifted clothes back then) and is the perfect size to pop in my bag for any on-the-go stitching projects.  

All-Star Essentials

What are your all-star essentials? Your tried and true must-haves that you can never run out of? 

I pretty much only take hand quilting projects on the go with me these days, so my all-star essentials have to be a Hera marker and hand quilting thread (thrilling, I know!). I also have a small ruler that came with an issue of LP&Q that I use to mark lines – it’s the perfect size for my mini pouch. 

Favourite Item

What is your favourite item in your kit? Why? 

I’ve got a teeny pair of Tula Pink scissors and, honestly, they cut through thread like butter. I’ve never been particularly fussy about tools or notions before, but these little snips are a real treat! Plus, they look good in photos… #forthegram, am I right?!

Surprise Item

What’s one thing we’d be surprised to find in your bag? 

I’d say I’m relatively predictable! I may sneak the odd snack into my pouch if I’m off on a journey (because god forbid I ever get peckish without food supplies!), but everything else is more or less what you’d expect. For reference, go-to snacks include satsumas, crackers and mini cheeses. 

Quilt Kits will Travel

When do you find yourself using your kit the most? (Travelling, on the sofa, attending sew-ins?) 

Honestly… mostly on the sofa! To me, there’s nothing better than sitting in front of a film (the scarier the better) and snuggling under a half-finished quilt sandwich to do some slow stitching. I think you might be able to relate, Shannon 😉   

You know I do, Lorna! 😉 

Travel Memory

What’s your favourite travel memory with your sewing bag? 

It’s not so much a travel memory, but when I was first gifted the pouch I used to spend Saturdays working in the fabric shop with lots of lovely fellow quilters. When times were really quiet (when perhaps we should have been working hard behind the scenes…), we used to crack out our English Paper Piecing and do some stitching in the calming silence of the shop. I stored all of my hexies and EPP supplies in the pouch back then, and really savoured those moments of learning and developing the technique and passing it on to other employees. 

Where Can We Find You?

Tell people where we can find you? 

You can find me on Instagram @clothandcrescent or through my website clothandcrescent.com. For professional-Lorna, take a flick through Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine! 

Thank you so much, Lorna, for sharing a peek into your travel sewing bag and letting us get to know you and your favourite quilty notions! 

Happy quilting! 

xo

Shannon 

______________________________________________________

Never miss a post – sign up for the weekly newsletter.

This post uses affiliate links. For more info, visit the FAQ page.