Embroidered Patchwork Handbag

Complete with a cell phone-sized pocket, and sleek satiny lining, this patchwork purse is fabulously functional!

Collectively, the four sides of the purse consist of 16 embroidered blocks. We used two different types of fabric for our purse -- a light blue textured twill and a dark tan chenille.

The finished purse is 14 1/2 inches wide, 9 1/4 inches high and 4 3/4 inches deep.

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies needed:

1 yard outer shell fabric (If using two colors, 1/2 yard each)
1/2 yard inside lining fabric
One pair of purse handles
Cut-away stabilizer
Spray adhesive
Cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Needle and thread
Beads (optional)

The designs used in this tutorial include:

Turkish Fancy Geometric Circle

Fans and Flourishes Geometric Square

Gather Materials:

Lay the first color of the outer shell fabric right-side up. Mark eight 5 3/4 x 5 3/4 inch squares on the fabric. The dimensions of each square include a 3/8 inch seam allowance and fit a 4 x 4 inch embroidery design.

Light blue fabric laid flat on a wooden table with a hand holding a metal ruler and marking straight lines forming a grid with a blue pen.

Mark the center of each square by measuring each side of each square and dividing by two. Draw horizontal and vertical lines connecting the marks -- these lines will be used for hooping. Repeat this marking process for the second color of outer shell fabric.

Hand marking grid lines with blue fabric marker and metal ruler on folded light blue fabric placed on a wooden table, preparing for embroidery.

Start Embroidering:

You may need to extend the lines outside of the square to aid in hooping.

Spray a piece of cut-away stabilizer with adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Align the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric and hoop the fabric and stabilizer.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design, align the needle directly over the center point and embroider the design.

White embroidery hoop placed on light blue fabric with a grid of darker blue lines, lying on a wooden surface.

When the design has finished stitching, unhoop the fabric and trim away the excess stabilizer. Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each square.

Hand cutting blue fabric alongside white fabric with floral pattern using orange-handled scissors on a wooden surface.

Cut each of the squares from the fabric. Using a rotary cutter and mat works well.

Hand cutting light blue fabric with rotary cutter and metal ruler on green cutting mat; embroidered circular floral patch with yellow, blue, gray threads visible.

Lay out six squares for one of the long sides: three across the top and three below. We are alternating the two colors.

Six embroidered fabric squares laid out on a wooden surface, three with blue backgrounds featuring circular floral designs and three with beige backgrounds featuring symmetrical patterns.

Starting with the top row, lay the middle square and the left square, right sides together. Pin along the right side.

Hand holding layered fabric pieces with embroidered patchwork squares pinned together on a wooden table surface, showing floral and geometric designs.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Close-up of an embroidery machine stitching a round, intricate floral and geometric pattern in blue, gold, and orange thread on white fabric.

Lay the sewn squares, right side up, and add the right square to the middle square, right sides together. Pin along the right edge. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Hand holding layered embroidered fabric pieces with floral and geometric patterns, blue and tan colors, on a wooden table background.

Press the seams open. Repeat the pinning, sewing, and pressing process for the bottom row of squares.

Two embroidered fabric squares with floral and geometric motifs in blue, orange, and beige tones lie on a table next to an iron.

Lay the top and bottom rows right sides together. If you are alternating colors, take special care to line them up. Pin in place along the top edge.

Hand holding layered embroidered patchwork squares with symmetrical floral and geometric designs in blue, gold, white, and gray on a wooden surface.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the entire pinned edge. Be sure to keep the seams open between each square flat as you sew.

Now one of the long sides is complete! Lay out another six blocks and repeat the pinning, sewing and pressing process to complete the other long side.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a blue and white floral embroidered patch onto beige fabric, with a partially visible blue embroidered piece nearby.

Lay out the remaining blocks. There should be two for each of the end sides of the purse.

Position the blocks so the colors alternate with the blocks on the edges of the long sides.

Two pairs of embroidered fabric squares on a wood surface. Each pair has a top blue square with yellow and blue circular designs and a bottom brown square with star-like patterns in white and orange.

Lay the blocks, right sides together, and pin along the top edges. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge on each pair of blocks. Press the seams open. Now the short sides are complete and the outer shell can be assembled.

Two fabric patches on a wooden surface; left patch shows yellow floral embroidery partially covered by blue fabric, right patch displays a circular embroidered pattern with blue, yellow, and brown colors on blue fabric.

Use one of the outer shell fabrics to cut out a bottom for the purse. Measure, mark, and cut a 15 x 5 3/4 inch rectangle.

Hand holding orange-handled scissors cutting light blue fabric on a dark brown wooden surface. The fabric is folded and partially cut.

Lay the purse-bottom on top of one of the long sides, right-sides together. Align the edge of the purse-side with the edge of the purse-bottom.

Pin in place.

Blue and tan fabric squares with symmetrical embroidered patterns in blue, gold, and white, pinned together on a wooden table.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching light blue textured fabric with a green pin holding the fabric in place, background in soft focus.

Lay the recently sewn pieces open and flat, right side up. Lay the second long-side on top of the purse-bottom. Align the edge of the purse-side with the edge of the purse-bottom. Pin in place. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Square fabric pieces in blue, white, and tan shades with intricate yellow, blue, and white floral and geometric embroidery, arranged on a wooden table.

Press all of the seams flat.

Blue fabric laid flat on an ironing board next to an iron, with embroidered patchwork pieces featuring beige, blue, and gold floral designs nearby.

Lay the assembled sides and bottom right sides up. Lay each of the short-sides, right sides together, on top of each side of the bottom piece.

Align the edge of each side piece with the short edge of the bottom piece. Pin in place. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edges.

Fabric pieces arranged on a table, featuring embroidered square and oval patches in blue, gold, and white geometric floral patterns, on a blue background.

Align each short-side piece with the long-side pieces. Pin in place. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along each edge.

Blue and tan fabric pieces with embroidered geometric floral patterns in blue, gold, and brown thread are laid out on a wooden surface.

Turn the outer shell right-sides out.

If you would like to add beads or other embellishments to the outer shell, use a needle and thread and sew them in place.

Close-up of hand stitching embroidery on fabric with blue, gold, white, and brown intricate floral and geometric patch designs, resting on wood.

Use outer shell fabric for the purse straps and inner pocket.

Cut four 2 1/2 inch x 5 inch pieces for the straps.

Cut two 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch pieces for the inner pocket.

Five light blue fabric pieces cut for assembly, laid out on a wooden surface; three pieces are smaller and shaped with a notch at the top.

Fold each piece of strap fabric in thirds, lengthwise, bringing the long edges in.

Hand holding a folded, light blue fabric strip with an inside seam folded inward, on a wooden surface.

Fold it in half.

Hand with thread holding a rolled piece of light blue fabric on a wood grain surface, partially stitched with needle and thread visible.

Sew a seam on each long side, as close to the edge as possible. Repeat the folding and sewing process for each of the four straps.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a light blue fabric strap. The presser foot and needle are engaged, with the machine's metal plate and controls visible.

Lay the two pieces of pocket fabric, right sides together, and pin along one corner.

Light blue square fabric pinned with two white and two blue-headed sewing pins, placed on a wooden surface.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam around the pinned edges.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching light blue fabric, showing the needle, presser foot, and feed dogs in action on the textile.

Measure, mark and cut two 6 x 6 inch pieces from the inner lining fabric. We chose satin for our inner lining.

Lay the pieces, right sides together, and pin a corner just as you did on the pocket's outer shell. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Dark brown fabric with white chalk lines drawn on it is being cut with orange-handled scissors on a wooden table surface.

Carefully trim the seam allowance on the outer shell portion of the pocket. Trim as close as to the seam as possible without cutting the stitching.

Orange-handled scissors cutting a rectangular piece of light blue fabric on a wooden table surface. No embroidery or other objects visible.

Turn the inner lining right-side out and insert the outer shell portion inside - the wrong sides will be together. Pin along the raw edges. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edges.

Two fabric pieces pinned together on a wooden surface, one black and one light blue, with visible thread marks and straight pins holding layers.

Fold the top edges of the pocket over 1/4 inch and fold over 1/4 inch again. Sew a seam as close to the inner edge as possible.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching dark brown satin fabric with light blue binding, creating a seam. Hand supporting fabric near needle.

Align the open side of the pocket and pin in place. Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Light blue fabric pouch partially sewn with black thread, two yellow-headed pins and one silver-headed pin holding fabric layers, wooden surface background.

The inside lining of the purse is assembled from five pieces. Measure, mark, and cut the following:

two 15 x 10 1/4 inch pieces for the long sides
two 5 3/4 x 10 1/4 inch pieces for the short sides
one 15 x 5 3/4 inch piece for the bottom piece.

Four pieces of fabric laid out on a wooden table, including two light beige pieces with stitching lines and two dark brown pieces, one long and rectangular.

Lay one of the long side-pieces, right side up, and align the bottom-piece on top, right sides together. Pin in place.

Two rectangular fabric pieces, one dark brown and one light brown, pinned together on a wooden table, fabric edges aligned for sewing.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Close-up of a white sewing machine stitching a seam on a piece of brown fabric with pins along the edge, on a wooden surface.

Lay the sewn pieces open with the right sides up. Place the second long side-piece on top of the bottom-piece, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Brown shiny fabric laid out on a wooden surface with a cut rectangular piece pinned to a folded larger piece of fabric, no embroidery visible.

Lay the sewn pieces open and align each of the short side-pieces with the edge side of the bottom-piece. Pin in place and sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edges.

Dark brown fabric laid flat on a wooden surface with two folded corners pinned with colored sewing pins, forming a triangular shape in the center.

Align the bottom of the inner pocket with the seam between one long side-piece and the bottom piece. Make a raw edge sandwich. Align the raw edges of the pocket with the raw edges of the long side-piece and short side-piece and pin in place.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edges.

Align the other three long and short side-edges together, pin in place, and sew a 3/8 inch seam along each edge.

Dark brown satin fabric laid out on a wooden surface with a folded light blue fabric piece placed on it, partially covered with pins in the fabric.

Wrap a strap around each handle and pin in place.

Pinch the strap so that the strap is snug on the handle - mark at that point.

Tortoiseshell-colored handbag handle with two light blue fabric attachments secured by yellow-headed pins resting on a wooden surface.

Remove the handle and sew a seam across the strap at the mark. Do this for each strap. Slide the straps back onto the handles.

Close-up of light blue fabric being stitched on a sewing machine. A yellow-headed pin holds the fabric in place under the machine's presser foot.

If you are adding handles that have closed loops, like the handles shown, add the straps, pin them in place, and sew a seam across the straps as close to the loops as possible. You may want to use a zipper foot attachment to sew the straps.

Tortoiseshell-style plastic handbag handle with beige fabric ends secured by red pins, placed on a wood-grain surface.

Pin the straps and the handle to the top edge of one of the long side-pieces of the outer shell. We "eye-balled" the straps on either side of the center block. Align the ends of the strap with the top edge of the outer shell.

Blue fabric handbag with intricate embroidered patchwork squares in yellow, blue, white, and brown, featuring floral and geometric patterns.

Place the inner lining over the outer shell, right sides together. The handle should be inside, laying flat against the outer shell. Align the top edges and pin the layers together at the short side-pieces and at the long side-piece with the handle. Leave the other long side-piece open for turning.

Partially assembled handbag with visible embroidery panels in blue and brown fabric, satin lining, pins holding pieces, on a wooden surface.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the pinned edge only.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a dark brown fabric, with a needle and presser foot in focus, under bright light.

Pull the outer shell fabric through the open long side-piece. Turn the liner right side out and tuck it inside the outer shell.

Then, fold the raw edge of the outer shell in 1/4 inch and press.

Close-up of a fabric piece with embroidered floral patterns in blue, gold, and beige tones, bordered with blue and gold trim, laid on an ironing board next to a white iron.

Lay the purse on its side and add the other handle to the open long side-piece. Align the second handle with the first handle and pin in place. Fold the inner lining in 1/4 inch and align it with the outer shell. Pin in place.

Close-up of a handbag featuring a blue fabric with embroidered square patchwork in beige, gold, and white patterns. The handle is a glossy tortoiseshell-style loop attached with blue fabric straps. The bag is placed on a brown wood-grain surface.

Top stitch all the way around the top edge of the purse. Sew over the handle straps and close the open long side-piece.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a blue fabric square with an intricate yellow and beige embroidered floral and geometric pattern, part of a patchwork project.

Tack the inner lining to the outer shell with a few stitches in each corner, and in a couple places along each side.

Close-up of a light blue fabric handbag corner with intricate embroidery in gold, blue, white, and brown, including floral and geometric patterns, on a wooden surface.

Get Inspired:

You can choose any color combinations that you wish for this purse. The colors that we used are included below for your convenience

Turkish Fancy Geometric Circle

Dark Sunflower #1173
Dark Smoky Blue #1353
Khaki 1338
Dark Smoky Blue #1353
Dark Gold #1025
Light Golden Tan #1270
Dark Gold #1025
Dark Gold #1025
Light Golden Tan #1270
Dark Smoky Blue #1353

Fans & Flourishes Geometric Square

Light Smoky Blue #1153
Dark Brown #1059
Smoky Blue #1360
Dark Sunflower #1173
Burnt Brown #1230
Smoky Blue #1360

Interior view of a shiny dark brown handbag lining with a small light blue fabric pocket holding a small electronic device, possibly a camera or phone.