Level: Intermediate

Add a monogram tab to a simple to make tote for an up to date fashion statement! The single letter monogram is centered on an appliqué, and embellished with a border of decorative stitches, creating the perfect coordinate for the fashion fabrics chosen for the tote.

Janome Supplies Required
Any Janome Sewing machine
Any Janome Embroidery machine
Blue Tip needles 75/11
Janome embroidery thread in colors to match fabrics

Download the embroidery pattern for this project here.

Fabric and Notions Required:

5/8 yd green dot cotton fabric
3/8 yd green stripe
1/2 yd green & blue print
1/2 yd fusible craft fleece
3” x 15” piece of heavy weight stabilizer (such as Timtex)
1/2 yd fusible web
All purpose, embroidery and bobbin thread
Stabilizer
Magnetic purse clasp
4 rectangular rings
City Bag Trace & Create Bag Template

Cutting Instructions:
From green dot printed fabric cut:
Two 3” x 18” rectangles
One 2” x 45” strip for handles
Two 15” x 18” rectangles for lining
Two 6” x 9” rectangles for tab closure
From green & blue print cut:
One 2” x 45” strip for handles
Two 13 “ x 18” rectangles
3” square for appliqué, fussy cut to center a motif from the print
From green striped fabric cut the following bias strips:
1” wide strip, pieced to make 1 yd
2” wide strip, pieced to make 1 yd
From fusible craft fleece, cut:
One 1” x 45” strip for handles
Two 15 1/2 ” x 18” rectangles
One 6” x 9” rectangle for tab closure
Straps are cut to length during construction.

Embroidery Instructions:
Mark one of the 6” x 9” rectangles of green dot fabric for embroidery placement, placing the mark 3 ½” from one end, centered on the width of the tab.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer, centering the placement mark. Stitch Colour 1. This is the placement line for the appliqué. Place the fussy cut appliqué fabric over the placement line, and stitch Colour 2. Remove the hoop from the machine, and trim the appliqué fabric close to the stitched line. Place the hoop back on the machine, and stitch the remaining colours until the embroidery is complete. Remove excess stabilizer and press from the wrong side.

To Make the Tote:
Fold the 1” bias strip in half lengthwise and press. Cut the bias strip into two 18” lengths. Baste each piece of bias to 13” x 18 “ print rectangle, keeping the stitching within the 1/4” seam allowance. .Sew a 3” x 18” green dot rectangle to a 13” x 18” print rectangle along the bias trimmed edge, using a 1/4” seam. Repeat for the second rectangle. Press the seams toward the green dot fabric. Fuse each finished panel to a matching rectangle of craft fleece. Align the City Bag template with the upper edge of the completed panel and mark and cut each panel for a Portfolio Bag with a 3” bottom. Mark and cut the lining.

To create the straps, center the strip of fusible fleece over the green dot strip, and fuse in place. Fold the edges toward the center and press in place. Turn in the edges of the green print strip toward the center 1/2” on both sides, and press in place. Cut a strip of fusible web the length and width of the green print strip, piecing where necessary. Fuse the green print strip to the green dot strip with wrong sides together, keeping the strips centered on each other. Top stitch both sides of the strap, 1/4” from the edge. Cut according to the City Bag Template instructions.

Mark the remaining 6” x 9” rectangle 3 1/2” from one end, centering the placement mark. Attach the snap side of the magnetic purse clasp at this mark. Cut a matching piece of fusible web, and apply to the fabric. Layer the rectangle, the matching craft fleece (fusible side up) and the embroidered rectangle, aligning the edges. Fuse the unit together. Cut the embroidered end into a point to make the tab closure for the bag. Fold the 2” bias strip in half lengthwise, and press. Matching the raw edges, sew the bias strip to the tab closure with a 1/4” seam, mitering the corners. Fold the bias to the wrong side, covering the line of stitching, and hand stitch in place.

Complete the assembly of the City Bag, following the instructions included with the bag template, with the following exception. To finish the upper edge of the bag, press under the upper edge of the bag and the bag lining 1/4”. Insert the lining into the bag, Fold the tab closure into place, and mark the placement for the socket side of the magnetic purse clasp. Attach the clasp at this mark. Match the edges of the bag and bag lining, and edge stitch together to complete the bag,

This bag lends itself to so many custom touches! Add pockets for cell phone, mirror. etc with embroidered names or monograms. Using the same technique suggested for the monogram tab, create a matching monogrammed key ring.

Sources:
City Bag Trace & Create Bag Template
Portfolio Bag w/3” bottom
Clover Item # CL9501
12 x 15 ¾ finished size

Monogram:
Created with DigitizerPro Ver 3
Gaelic Font, Motif Run Line Outlines DES4 & DES011
Janome America, Inc