Two roomy pockets make this tote extra handy, and the sweet ruffled trim and elegant applique monogram make it feminine and fantastic.

You'll never leave home without it on your arm. It's roomy enough to hold everything that you need.

Supplies needed:

• 3/4 yard of heavy corduroy fabric

• 1 yard of ruffled trim

• 2-5/8 yards of 1-inch wide strapping

• Fat quarter or scrap of applique fabric

Embroidery Designs from Embroidery Library:

• Friendship Square Applique Alphabet - medium size

Instructions:

From the corduroy fabric, cut out a rectangle that is 29 inches wide by 19 inches high.

On the remainder of the corduroy fabric, embroider the applique monogram twice. Make sure that you have at least 2 inches of extra fabric on all sides around the outer edges of the applique.

Narrow hem the top of each pocket.

Fold the bottom edge up 1/2 inch to the wrong side of the fabric and press into place.

The center of the large rectangle will be the bottom of the bag.  Center the pocket pieces on the large rectangle, 4 inches apart, with the bottoms toward the center.  Stitch the sides and bottom of the pockets to the large rectangle. There is no need to finish the sides of the pockets; they will be covered by the strapping in the next step.
 

Lay out the strapping, starting at the center of the rectangle.  make a large oval with the strapping, laying it out so that it covers the unfinished sides of the pockets. The loops coming out from each side of the rectangle will form the handles of the tote, and they are about 24 inches long. Pin the strapping into place, then stitch it down. Stop stitching one inch from each edge of the rectangle to allow for the top hem.

Fold the rectangle in half, with right sides together. The handles should be meeting.  Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance to sew a seam up each side to join the two sides of the tote together. Finish the seam. Hem the top of the tote.

At the corner of each seam, flatten the side to the bottom of the bag, until you have four inches of fabric across.

Stitch seams across the corner at the 4-inch-wide points. Trim the excess fabric away and finish the seams.

Stitch the ruffled trim to the top hem of the tote.

Fill the pockets, stuff the inner compartment, and be on your way. The soft, fuzzy corduroy will look and feel great all winter long.