Maximize Creative Time with ‘Analog’ Bags

There has been lots of buzz around the term "analog bags" lately, and while that’s new terminology (more below) we realized that it was what we have been doing at Artistic Artifacts for years, referring to them as project bags and stitching kits!

I talked about this concept during one of my recent Facebook Live presentations — watch the archived presentation on our YouTube channel — having a project to occupy your mind and hands instead of scrolling on your phone, whether at home, traveling, or finding yourself in a long line or waiting room.

Whether you’re a seasoned artisan or a curious beginner, our range of stitching kits offer you great options for your own analog bag — or bags (emphasize on the plural), since we know creatives usually have more than one project going! You’ll spy our zippered pouches and canvas totes with our Artistic Artifacts logo in my video — these are great for packing materials and tools to go. Seen below, one of our colleague Chris Vinh’s current project bags: she’s embellishing a portion of the Mini Metropolis panel with hand stitching using Eleganza threads.

What are analog bags? In their blog post Inside the Analog Bag Trend: Portable Crafts to Beat Doomscrolling, C&T Publishing writes, “If you’ve heard the term ‘analog bag’ floating around TikTok, you can thank creator Sierra Campbell for putting a name to a growing movement. The concept is simple — and refreshing: instead of reaching for your phone during every spare moment, you carry a small tote filled with screen-free activities you can enjoy anywhere. Think of it as a gentle antidote to doomscrolling and an invitation to bring creativity back into the quiet in-between parts of your day.”

C&T Publishing creates the handy pocket guides we carry in the shop — at 4 in. x 6 in., they are perfectly sized to tuck into your analog bag and are available on a variety of topics, easy to keep with you as you shop for fabric or quilting supplies, attend a quilt retreat, Open Stitch nights — Artistic Artifacts hosts one every Thursday evening — and more! As seen here, we include the Handy Pocket Guide: Embroidery Stitching by Christen Brown in several of the stitching kits we’ve created for you.

We recently issued a virtual challenge asking our community of fiber and mixed media artists to photograph what was currently in their project bag. I happened to be on vacation at the time and was happy to share my own! I packed up one of our Sashiko Sampler Kits, which include the printed cloth, thread, and thimble — we have a wide variety of designs available. And of course I packed my favorite Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Scissors in my zippered pouch.

Our challenge asked our Creative Minds to share what they were currently working on, whether it was that they had made a resolution to finish a UFO, to start a brand-new project, or wanted to show off the essential tools and the supplies they've gathered. We’re sharing a few inspiration photos here.

Catherine Miller replied that her project basket (pictured) contained, “Lots of things I’ve been jumping back and forth from. I spy Valentine gifts, an old quilt that I’m sooo close to binding, a pattern to make a pair of bibs, and leftover Christmas fabric I hemmed to use next year, and a quilt kit I purchased from Artistic Artifacts that will be a gift. There’s way more, but these are the current priorities.”

Below left, Dawn Fiedler Lighthall shared her stamped needlework sampler bag. “Stitching on linen with Wonderfil Specialty Threads Eleganza perle cotton from one of the Alison Glass color collection,” Dawn wrote. “Started it in November on plane going to Texas and back... need to go on another trip to finish it up.” And below right, Chris actually made a new project bag from our kit! “My Quiltsmart Midi Bag, made with leftover 2.5 in strips from another project, is filled with one of my many projects. This one is a knit blanket using stash yarn that I started last year.”

Culture Quilts Renee shared her lovely stitching. “I have been working on one project for 13 months now. It is a piece that is a first in a series, and is inspired by my journey, nature, the women before me, finding my inner voice, once known creators, sustainability, using stash in new ways, connecting to my soul, self alignment, and working without my mom... I set parameters no fabrics could be purchased unless they were second hand, classes could be taken to learn various techniques, and I could buy thread as I am building a substantial embellishment thread stash, I could buy embellishments like charms and bone rings, and I could buy wool to dye and dyes to dye the trims, fabrics and wool with... For the inquiring minds I have around 5 -7 other projects on hold in various stages as I work on this one.”

How to fill your analog/project bag?
In addition to creating our own exclusive stitching kits, we’re also increasing our variety of commercial kits (some of our newest ones pictured above) and products. In both cases, many include everything you need to get started on the project, such as fabric, canvas or wool, thread, needles and instructions. We have kits in a variety of hand stitching techniques — embroidery, punch needle, needle felting, Sashiko — making it easy for anyone to dive into the world of hand stitching.

And as mentioned above, Handy Pocket Guides offer a great starting point of reference as you pack up an analog or project bag. C&T Publishing writes, “Whether you're into sewing, embroidery, quilting, paper piecing, or other crafts, these petite guides condense essential techniques into portable, lightweight companions. They're easy to flip through on the bus, at a café, or during a work break — and they offer just the right spark of inspiration without pulling out your phone.”

In the recent blog post Analog Bags Are the Newest Accessory to Slow-the-Scroll and Promote Digital Wellness, the Craft Industry Alliance also wrote about this concept. They included a quote by Sierra Campbell sharing what she packs in her own analog bags: “In the seasons when I feel creative it’s full of creative crafts or art supplies. In the winter, good reading is what I’m grabbing for so it’s full of pens, books, and notebooks for reflecting. Whatever works, goes in. Whatever I’m grabbing my phone for, I look to replace.”

Stitching kits at Artistic Artifacts invite you to explore the beauty of crafting by hand and enjoy a relaxing, mindful experience without the noise and distractions of your phone or laptop. Our products provide the perfect starting point, and know that our knowledgeable staff is always ready to assist you in selecting materials and tools.

From the very beginning we’ve aimed to be more than just a store — we are a community of creators!  Whether you are a beginner or looking for a new challenge, we offer a full array of classes and events, including our upcoming Creative Minds Summit, and online opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts (our Creative Minds Facebook group) and to learn new techniques (our YouTube channel).

Above, one of Sharon McDonagh’s mixed media stitching project bags.