Last week it was my Skipton Stitchers meeting, one of our members ran a workshop on stitching teabags! Now I have a roll of teabag paper that I found at a scrap store, but this was actual used teabags, Yorkshire Tea of course!
She’d prepared them all for us by drying them out thoroughly, making a little slit in the back so she could empty all the tea out, pressed them and then added a square of vilene on the back to give a little support.
She showed us various examples she had made using little scraps of lace and fabric. She also introduced us to the idea of an Ort jar, I’ve heard of them before, I’ve no idea where the word comes from but it’s basically a jar for all those tiny scraps that would otherwise be thrown away. When you’re working on such a small piece, you only need a tiny scrap…I now have an Ort jar!
We layered up various textiles and then added a few simple stitches. Here’s my first attempt…
….not sure where that green thread sneaked on from! I’ve not trimmed the edge as I’m thinking of making a few more and putting them into a mini book, I might extend the scene past the teabag.
I decided to do a second one using some stiff canvas to make a fence.
I finished this one at home. I’m really pleased with them, there’s lots more to see on the Skipton Stitchers website if you fancy some inspiration. I now have a collection of teabags drying on my radiator in the sewing room…it’s probably a good job my OH hasn’t spotted them yet or he would think I’ve completely lost the plot 🙂
thecraftycreek 
ORT is odd random threads or some people say it means old ratty threads. The jars are supposed to just keep the bits in one place whilst you are stitching but a friend of mine saves them till the jar is full and pops them in the bottom of plant pots to hold the water in and become a reservoir for the plant for drink from.
Your tiny teabags are cute but as I dont drink tea I would wait a long time to make a collection of these. I think they look like you could be having another book collection soon. x
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Thanks for the explanation, I think there will be several books 🙂
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Mini pieces of art, they are wonderful. Great excuse to drinksome more tea
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Thanks Jane, I never needed an excuse to drink more tea did I 😀
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I love these tiny landscapes. I think it would be great fun to take a series of photos on one of your day hikes and then replicate it with a series of tiny teabag landscapes.
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Ooh, I see another book 🙂
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I like the idea of working on such a tiny scale and your pictures are lovely. I have never heard of an Ort jar but now I know what to call the one where I put short lengths of yarn when i have threded ends of knitting or crochet in!
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It is remarkable what one can do with an old dried out teabag!
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It is, and I have a never ending supply 🙂
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