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.

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. 

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Press all of the seams flat.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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

Fold it in half.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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