Dantela Handbag with Lace & Cutwork Embroidery

This beautiful handbag project, together with detailed instructions, was kindly sent to us by Bobbie Berry.

Bobbie, thank you so much!

As you can see from the photo below, this is a capacious bag in creme-colored artificial silk, decorated by crystals fringe, lace and cutwork designs.

The lace id from Dantela Lace Blocks set, and the cutwork embroidery - from Dantela Cutwork.

Here'a a photo of ready bag, and the instruction follows:





Supplies List

- Cut fabric 20�x16�
- Cut two strips fabric 4�x36� for handles
- Cut interfacing 20�x16�
- Cut lining 20�x16�
- Cut pocket lining 10� square


Detailed Instructions

1. Stitch out the free-standing lace design on water soluble stabilizer, and set aside. Do not rinse out the WSS.



2. In your computer software, make a template of the cutwork design, by mirroring and joining the design. Print out a copy of the template, and cut it out, to use for positioning.

3. Place the template on your fabric, pin in place.



4. Hoop fabric with water soluble backing underneath, and insert hoop in embroidery machine.



5. Bring needle down, exactly in the center of the template where the horizontal and vertical lines cross. Press �set� on your embroidery machine.

6. Stitch out the first running stitch and remove hoop from machine. Do not remove fabric from hoop. Cut out fabric inside the stitching being careful not to cut the thread.



7. Return hoop to machine and finish stitching the design.



8. Center the free standing lace design above the cutwork, and pin in place.



9. Stitch the FSL to the fabric.



10. Trim away excess WSS. Rinse away the WSS from the cutwork and FSL and lay flat to dry.



11. Sewing purse handles:

Press 1� to the center on each side. Then fold pressed sides together forming a 1� strip and press again. Set aside.

On one piece of the interfacing, zigzag a retangular piece of lining fabric over the area where the cutwork will show through.

12. Sewing tote:

Cut out a 2� square notch from both bottom sides of the fabric, interfacing and lining.



Pin the interfacing to the back section and the front section of fabric being certain to align the strip of lining fabric which has been stitched to the interlining, so the lining shows through the holes in the cutwork.

With right sides together, stitch down both sides of the fabric, and across the bottom, leaving the 2� square notches open.



Pull the corners of the notched edges out and bring the side and bottom seams together.



Stitch across several times for added strength.



Turn right side out. Measure in 3� for placement of handles, pin in place.



Stitch several times across the handle for extra strength.

Cut a 10� square piece of lining fabric, and fold in half. Stitch around it, leaving an opening for turning. Turn and press. Pin to the back piece of the lining and stitch in place.



You may also want to stitch vertically down the center of the pocket, to divide it.

With right sides together stitch the sides of the lining. Do not stitch notches yet.



Stitch 1� across bottom from each side at notch. Now stitch the notched edges, by pulling the corners out, bringing the side and bottom seams together, and stitch across, the same as for the main body of the purse.



There will now be a large opening in the bottom of the lining for turning the purse inside out after the lining has been stitched to the purse.

With right sides together, set purse down inside lining and stitch lining to purse all around the top. Pull lining away from purse and blind stitch bottom opening.

Push lining back inside purse, and tack in place on each edge of the bottom seam inside purse. Press purse.

13. Tote trimming:

To apply trim, measure down 1� around top of purse and mark with disappearing ink pen.



Put small bead of glue on trim, let it get tacky then press onto purse, following the line you have drawn.



While glue is still tacky, measure down to make any adjustments.

After glue has dried, stitch over trim to secure it to top of purse.



Purse ready!!!