Rescue & Stitch
Our Story · Denver, Colorado

Two friends, two rescues,
and a bag that sold itself.

How two friends turned handmade treat bags into Rescue & Stitch — giving back to True Companions and Rocky Mountain Cocker Spaniel Rescue.

How it started

Two friends learned about True Companions, a Denver rescue that never puts any animals down. Through a friend who serves on the board, they learned more. One friend was making bags. The other friend had all the fabric. And together they made 22 bags plus a potholder. And then one friend has Cocker Spaniels and was already part of Rocky Mountain Cocker Spaniel Rescue in Denver. So they made bags for that rescue to sell online as donations. They donated the True Companions bags to the annual gala fundraiser.

Making the bags

Fabric on the cutting board and ironing board — how each bag comes together before it reaches a gala table or a front door.

Process — black dog-face bag on the cutting board
Process — black dog-face bag on the cutting board
Process — red dog-and-bone pouches on the mat
Process — red dog-and-bone pouches on the mat
Process — charcoal paw-print pouch on the mat
Process — charcoal paw-print pouch on the mat
Process — measuring and cutting fabric
Process — measuring and cutting fabric
Process — fabric pieces on the cutting mat
Process — fabric pieces on the cutting mat
Process — cutting-board layout
Process — cutting-board layout
Process — pressing panels on the ironing board
Process — pressing panels on the ironing board
The bags
Gray cats with pink polka lining
Gray cats with pink polka lining
White cartoon dogs crossbody
White cartoon dogs crossbody
Finished red polka-dot crossbody
Finished red polka-dot crossbody
Mustard sunglasses dogs
Mustard sunglasses dogs
Stacked dog-print pouches
Stacked dog-print pouches
Cocker spaniel bag stack
Cocker spaniel bag stack
Spaniel themes — disco, western, holiday
Spaniel themes — disco, western, holiday
Dog-face panels with bone buttons
Dog-face panels with bone buttons
Royal-blue chevron dog faces
Royal-blue chevron dog faces
Purple aviators, graphic cats & star bags
Purple aviators, graphic cats & star bags
Turquoise leopard walking set
Turquoise leopard walking set

The night the bags sold themselves

At the gala, one friend wore a kitty bag and the other wore a doggy bag. Within twenty feet, a woman stopped the kitty-bag wearer and asked where she got it — she wanted one for a kitty lover. Her husband handed over $40 cash for True Companions on the spot.

“Within twenty feet, someone stopped her and bought a kitty bag for forty dollars — cash for the rescue.”

At dinner, the woman next to her spotted the doggy bag and ordered three bags — one for herself and two for her older adult children as stocking stuffers.

The next morning

The next day the business minded friends said they were forming a company, sell the bags, to make more bags, and give the bags to the rescues to sell.

Bags for the gala
22 handmade treat bags + a potholder, donated to True Companions
Price
$40 per bag — same price the first guest paid in cash at the gala
Partners
True Companions Dog Rescue · Rocky Mountain Cocker Spaniel Rescue
Home base
Denver, Colorado · Contact [email protected]

Handmade treat bags · $40 · Bags only · Shipping from Denver
Proceeds support True Companions and Rocky Mountain Cocker Spaniel Rescue.

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