Parisienne Pocket Tote

First, I will prepare the fabric for the outside of the pockets, which is the bottom of the outer shell. On the solid colored fabric (I used faux suede) draw a 37" wide by 12" high rectangle. Leave a couple of inches of excess fabric around the shape for hooping. Using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, measure and mark the center of the top and bottom edges by measuring and dividing by two. Draw a line connecting the marks.

Also, measure and mark the center of each half of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks dividing the shape into four equal sections.

Create paper templates of the designs by printing them at full size using embroidery software. Position the templates on the fabric how you want them. I centered each design within each section. Leave at least one inch of space between the outer edges of the designs and the edges of the shape. Poke a hole in the center of the templates and mark the fabric. Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points. Remove the templates and draw lines connecting the marks.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric for the first design by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the first design.

Move the hoop so that the needle is aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design. When the design has finished, repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each design. When the designs have finished, cut out the shape.

To prepare the inside of the pockets cut a piece of print fabric to 37" wide by 12" high. Align the print fabric and the embroidered fabric together, wrong sides together, and wrap the quilt binding around the top edges of both layers. Pin in place and sew a seam along the entire bottom edge of the binding and also sew a 1/4" seam along the side and bottom edges of the fabric.

Next, to prepare the top section of the outer shell, cut a piece of print fabric and batting to 37" wide by 18" high. Align the fabric on top of the batting, pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along all edges of the fabric to tack the batting in place.

Lay the fabric/batting piece flat with the right side facing up. Align the pocket section on top, right side facing up, with the bottom and side edges aligned. Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the side and bottom edges of the pocket section. Sew a seam along each vertical line in between the designs; this creates the four separate pockets.

To prepare the drawstring pockets, cut two pieces of print fabric to 17" wide by 2" high. Fold each short end over 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Sew a 1/4" seam along each fold. Then, fold the edges of the long sides in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. 

Next, lay the fabric pieces on top of the outer shell, right sides facing up, about 2" down from the top edge and about one inch from the outer edges of the fabric. Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the top and bottom edges; leave the short ends open.

Fold the outer shell together, right sides together, with the short ends aligned. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edge only.

For the bottom fabric, trace a 12" in diameter object (I used a pan cover) onto the fabric and cut out the shape. Pin the fabric in place around the entire bottom edge of the outer shell, right sides together. Sew a 1/2" seam around the entire bottom edge. Turn the outer shell right side out.

To prepare the inner lining, cut a piece of print fabric to 37" wide by 18" high. Fold the fabric, right sides together, with the short ends aligned. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edge only. Cut another 12" in diameter circle from the fabric and add it to the bottom of the inner lining fabric just as you did earlier.

For the handle, cut a piece of fabric to 22" high by 3 1/2" wide. Fold the long edges in 1/2" to the wrong side and press with an iron. Fold the long folded edges together, wrong sides together, press, pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along both long edges.

Pin one end of the handle at the seam at the top of the outer shell with the raw end up. Then, pin the other end of the handle at the opposite side of the bag. Tack the handle in place by sewing a 1/4" seam along the top edges.

Insert the outer shell inside the inner lining, right sides together and with the handle tucked inside. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge leaving a 5" opening for turning. Turn the tote right side out and insert the inner lining inside the outer shell. Turn the fabric of the opening in 1/2", press, and top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire top edge of the tote. 

Cut two lengths of cord to one yard each. Starting on one side of the bag (in between the two drawstring pockets) add a safety pin to one end of the first cord and work it through the pocket on the right.

Continue through the next pocket on the opposite side of the tote ending up where you started in between the two pockets. Then, starting on the opposite side of the bag, repeat this step with the remaining cord. The two ends of each cord should be hanging in between each drawstring pocket on opposite sides of the tote. 

For the drawstring pulls, draw a 2 1/2" triangle shape onto a small piece of paper. Trace the shape onto the fabric and cut out four pieces.

Pair up the pieces by aligning them together, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along two of the sides. Leave the third side open for turning.

Turn the shapes right side out and turn the fabric of the opening in 1/4" and press. Insert the ends of the cords into the pulls, pin in place, and sew a 1/8" seam along the entire outer edges of the pulls. And your tote is complete!

With lots of pockets and even more charm, this tote will win a place in your heart and be the first one you grab when you're on the go!