First, to prepare the front panel fabric for the outer shell, using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, draw a 12" wide by 18" high rectangle on the fabric (I used duck cloth). Leave a couple of inches of excess around the shape.  Create paper templates of the designs. See these handy instructions for more information about making and using templates. 

Position the templates on the fabric within the top 5 1/2" of the shape and the bottom 5 1/2" of the shape. Poke holes 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 medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design. 

Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each design. When the designs have finished, cut out the shape. I left the stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery to help give the fabric more support. For more information on embroidering on duck cloth or canvas, click here.

Next, prepare the pattern pieces for the scalloped detail. Click here to download a PDF file of the pattern pieces. The pieces will print in four separate parts on four pieces of 8 1/2" wide by 11" high paper (two pattern pieces total, two pieces each).  Cut out the pattern pieces and tape them together according to the instructions on the patterns.

For each finished scalloped piece, cut two pieces of fabric.  I created eight total scalloped pieces, using each pattern piece four times. To do this, pin the pattern pieces onto the fabric, trace the shape, and then cut out the shape. Align the two pieces together, right sides together.

Next, sew a 1/2" seam along the top and bottom edges only;  leave the side edges open for turning. Clip the seam allowance along the bottom edges only about every 1/4".  Also, clip the fabric at each "peak" all the way up to the seam but be careful not to clip the seam.

Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams. Then, top stitch a 1/4" seam along the bottom edge only.

Next, arrange four of the finished pieces on the embroidered front panel, in between the designs, with the pieces overlapping each other about 1 1/2" and alternating between the two different pattern shapes. Pin in place and then cut a piece of maxi piping the width of the fabric. Tuck it under the top piece along the top edge, and pin in place. Sew a 1/4" seam along the top edge of the top piece.  As you sew, flip the overlapping piece up out of the way, and sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge of each piece to secure them in place. Then, sew a 1/4" seam along the left and right sides to tack the sides of the pieces in place.

To prepare the back panel fabric, cut a piece of fabric to 12" wide by 18" high. Add the remaining scalloped pieces to the fabric just as you did for the front panel.

Next, to prepare the outer side pockets, cut four pieces of fabric to 6 1/2" wide by 13" high. Fold the top edges of the pieces over 1/2" to the wrong side and press with an iron.  Pair up the pieces and align them together, wrong sides together. Cut two pieces of maxi piping the width of the pieces. Tuck a piece of piping in between the layers at the top of each piece of fabric. Pin in place and sew a seam 1/4" seam along the entire outer edges of the fabric. 

To prepare the fabric for the side pieces, cut two pieces of fabric to 6 1/2" wide by 18" high. Align the pockets on top with the bottom edges of the pockets aligned with the bottom edges of the side fabric. Sew a 1/4" seam along the side and bottom edges only to tack the pockets in place.

To prepare the bottom piece, cut a piece of fabric to 12" wide by 6 1/2" high. Lay the front panel flat with the right side facing up. Align the bottom piece on top, right sides together, with the bottom edge of the bottom piece aligned with the bottom edge of the front piece. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the bottom edge only starting and stopping 1/2" from each bottom corner.

Align the opposite side of the bottom piece with the bottom edge of the back piece, right sides together, with the bottom edge of the bottom piece aligned with the bottom edge of the back piece. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the bottom edge only starting and stopping 1/2" from each bottom corner.

Next, to add the side panels, align the bottom edges of the side panels with the short ends of the bottom piece, right sides together, pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the bottom edges only starting and stopping 1/2" from each bottom corner. Align the side edges together, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along each side edge.  Turn the outer shell right side out and press the seams.

To prepare the fabric for the shoulder straps, cut two pieces of duck cloth and two pieces of print cotton fabric to 2" wide by 34" long. Pair up the pieces (duck cloth with the print cotton), right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along one of the long sides only.

Press the back seams open and fold both of the long edges in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Bring the folded long edges together with the wrong sides together and fold at the seam. Press the seam, pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along each of the folded long edges.

Position the straps about 2" in from each top corner along the top edges of both sides of the outer shell, with the duck cloth side down and with the ends extending up about 1/4" from the top edge of the outer shell fabric.

To prepare the inner lining, cut two pieces of fabric (I used quilter's cotton) to 12" wide by 18" high (for the front and back), two pieces to 6 1/2" wide by 18" high (for the sides), and one piece to 12" wide by 6 1/2" high. 

Assemble the inner lining the same way you did for the outer shell (the outer pockets excluded, of course). Insert the outer shell inside the inner lining, right sides together, with the handles tucked inside.  

Align the seams and the top edges, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge leaving about 5" open in between the ends of the straps along one side. Turn the fabric right side out and insert the inner lining inside the outer shell. Press the seam along the top, turn the fabric of the opening in 1/2" and press. Then, top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire top edge of the tote.

And your scalloped tote is complete! It's a fresh look for spring, and a great way to carry all your essentials.