Tote bag with DesignWorks embellishments

Materials

• 0.5 m cotton fabric (for a width of 140 cm)
• 1 thin cord, 110 cm long
• Sewing and embroidery thread in a matching colour
• Textile markers in various colours (recommended: Edding 4600)
• Iron-on crystals
• BERNINA embroidery machine with DesignWorks compatibility
• BERNINA overlocker
• BERNINA DesignWorks Software Box and Tools
• CutWork Tool
• PaintWork Tool
• CrystalWork Tool
• Edgestitch foot no. 10
• Zipper foot no. 35

Cutting out (all measurements are inclusive of seam allowances)

Bag: 42 x 42 cm
Base: Circle with 11cm diameter
Handle: 44 x 4 cm

Sewing

• First, paint on the embellishment in the bottom corner of the square (bag) as per the separate instructions "Downloading the Flower Design".
• Neaten circle with overlocker.
• Place the square in front of you with the embellished side outwards and at the bottom.
• Fold side edges together lengthways with right sides facing. Draw a 1cm-high marking at a height of 23 cm on the open edge as well as on the folded edge and unfold fabric. Work a 1cm-long buttonhole into the folded edge and cut open.
• Place side edges together again as described above; pin, and sew side seam closed such that the marked 1 cm remains open. (The cord is pulled through this slit and the buttonhole.) Press seam allowances apart.
• Slip the open edges inside each other wrong sides facing so that the embellished side faces inwards. Both open edges now lie one on top of the other.
• Press the folded edge, then topstitch all around at 3 and 4 cm from the outside edge. (The cord is pulled through the casing thus created.)
• Neaten opposite edges together and divide into quarters. Mark with pins. Divide circle into quarters and mark in the same way.
• Topstitch the open edges of the bag with the longest length of straight stitch half- a-presser-foot’s width from the edge. Allow some excess length of the beginning and end threads for knotting off. Repeat half-a-presser-foot’s width in from the edge.
• Knot lower threads together and pull upper threads together until the circumference of the circle is reached.
• Pin circle right sides facing in the curve so that the markings meet up. Sew in circle.
• Turn under long edges 0.5 cm on both sides of the strip for the handle and sew together. Turn 1 cm inwards at both ends and secure above both cord slits.
• Turn bag right side out. Halve cord and pull through a slot all the way around. Pull cord out again through the same hole. Repeat process with the opposite slit. Knot off both ends together.