In many textile traditions, embellished pockets and pouches are wonderful examples of everyday cloth made more beautiful. from embroidered pockets hung from the waist in eighteenth-century England to intricately embroidered bags in many shapes and sizes from Afghanistan. Small embroidered bags give you a chance to get stitching with a very small amount of yarn and material.

One of life's greatest luxuries is finding the time to feel fibers under your fingertips, to learn about them and make something new. Embroidery is one of Kate Larson's favorite ways to explore color, texture, and contour with handspun yarns. Many people can find a blank canvas and free-form lines to be intimidating, but with practice, you can hone your mark-making skills.

Designer Kate Larson is the editor of Farm & Fiber Knits, former editor of Spin Off, and author of The Practical Spinner's Guide: Wool. She loves to explore the many ways in which textiles connect people and environments near and far. When she isn't traveling or teaching, she can be found in the barn with her flock of Border Leicesters.

Photos by Joe Coca