To begin, we will prepare the pattern piece. Start by drawing a 12 inch wide by 9 inch high rectangle on the bottom portion of a large piece of tag board or paper - this will be the body of the purse.

Starting at each top corner, measure and mark in one inch. Measure and mark in another 2 1/2 inches starting at the marks you just made.

At each of the four marks across the top of the rectangle shape, draw a 16 inch vertical line. At the top of the vertical lines, draw lines to connect the ends creating two, 2 1/2 inch wide columns - these will be the straps.

Round off the bottoms of the columns where they meet the rectangle by tracing a 3 inch diameter object (we are using a ribbon spool).

Round off the bottom corners of the rectangle, by tracing a 4 1/2 inch diameter object (we are using a roll of masking tape).

Cut out the shape - be sure to cut along the rounded corners you just traced.

Now we will prepare the fabric for the front piece of the "daytime" side of the bag. Lay the pattern piece on the fabric (we're using linen), pin in place, and trace the shape using an air-erase pen (or other marking tool).

Remove the pattern piece and create paper templates of the designs by printing them at full size using embroidery software. If you don't have embroidery software, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the design to help with placement and centering. If you'd like a recommendation for an embroidery program that can make templates, consider Embird from www.Embird.com.

Arrange the templates within the body portion of the fabric how you'd like them. We arranged the designs with about 1/2 inch of space between the outer edges of the designs and the outer 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 to connect the axis points.

Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with 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 first design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design. When the design has finished, re-hoop the fabric for the second design. The first design might be hooped over - this is OK - the design will not be damaged.

Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each design.

When all the designs have finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the back of the embroidery.

Now, to prepare the back fabric, lay the embroidered fabric piece on top of the fabric, pin in place, and cut around the shape.

Remove the pins and separate the fabric pieces. Now we will add the interfacing to the front and back fabric pieces. Pin the light-weight fusible interfacing onto the backside of the front and back fabric pieces, fusible side down, at the bottom "body" portion. Trim the interfacing around the outer edges of the shape leaving about 1/2 inch of the fabric extending out past the interfacing. Iron the interfacing in place by following the manufacturer's instructions.

Align the front and back pieces together with right sides facing, and pin in place.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the side and bottom edges of the "body" portion and also along the top edges of the straps - leave the top edges of the body portion and the side edges of the straps open.

To prepare the "evening" side of the bag, follow the exact same instructions that you did for the "daytime" portion. Including the last step, sewing the seams along the sides of the body portion and at the top edges of the straps.

Insert the "evening" side of the bag inside the "daytime" side with the right sides facing. Align the raw edges and seams together and pin in place.

To create the button loop for the closure, cut a 5 1/2 inch length of decorative cord. Then, bring the ends together to form a loop and insert the loop in between the layers of fabric on the top edge of the body portion on one side - leave at least 1/4 inch of the raw ends extending out past the edges of the fabric. Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the entire inner edges of the straps and the top edges of the body portion that are between the straps - leave the outer top edges of the body portion open.

Turn the purse right side out and press the seams with an iron. Turn the fabric of the openings (along the outer edges of the straps and the outer edges of the top of the body portion) in 1/2 inch and press. Pin in place and top stitch a 1/8 inch seam along the entire outer and inner edges of the straps and the top of the body portion.

Sew a peg shaped button on the opposite side of the top edge of the purse directly across from the button loop. And your purse is complete!

Your trendy, reversible purse is a perfect addition to any outfit or special occasion.