Front Flap Purse (In-the-Hoop)

Craft a fashionable bohemian look with unique in-the-hoop purse embroidery designs! Stitch the front and back separately to add light, intricate decoration to each, then assemble in-the-hoop. These step-by-step instructions will show you how!

To make your purse, the first thing you need to do is cut out the straps. The straps need to be cut out first, so you can use the full width of the fabric to make them.

Using a straight edge and a rotary cutter, cut two straps 3/4" wide (UTZ2801), 1" wide (UTZ2800), or 1 1/4" wide (UTZ2799) by 40"-55" long.

To determine the length, use a tape measure and hang it over your shoulder in the same way you'd wear the purse straps would, and then add 4" to the length that feels comfortable to you.

Then take the printed dieline for the front fabric piece, spray the back side of the paper with temporary adhesive, and smooth it onto the wrong side of the pleather or leather.

Placing it on the wrong side of the fabric will prevent the sticky residue from building up on the right side of the pleather or leather.

Cut around the shape, and repeat to cut out all the other dieline piece.

Make sure to print each dieline twice, and cut one pleather piece and one lining piece out of the front and back dielines. Also make sure to cut out two strap attachments (the small rectangle) out of the pleather.

Next take the two strap attachments, and slide a D-ring onto both of them. UTZ22801 uses a 3/4" D-ring, UTZ2800 uses a 1" D-ring, and UTZ2799 uses a 1 1/4" D-ring.

Make sure the D-ring rests in the center of each strap attachment.

Then wind a bobbin with the same thread as you'll be using in the top needle, so the strap attachment looks nice from either side.

For best results, simply use the same thread as you'll be using in the embroidery, so all the stitching will match. Then this bobbin can be used on the straps and the embroidery as well.

Fold the strap attachment in half with the D-ring in the center. Use a sewing machine to sew about 3/8" away from the D-ring, and make sure to use the matching bobbin.

For best results, spray a little bit of temporary adhesive on the wrong side of the pleather to hold the fold in place while sewing. Then repeat for the second strap attachment.

Then take one of the two straps, and spray the wrong side with temporary adhesive. Carefully lay the other strap on top of it with wrong sides together. Make sure to match up the edges.

Using a matching bobbin and a sewing machine, sew 1/4" seam along both sides to bind the two straps together. This will create a finished strap that looks nice on both sides.

Now that the strap attachments and straps are all ready to go, it's time to embroider the purse. Hoop a piece of tearaway stabilizer, and load the front piece embroidery file (labeled with an "a") onto the machine.

The first thing to embroider is the dieline which shows you where to place the front pleather piece.

Spray the back side of the front pleather piece with temporary adhesive, and carefully smooth it in place within the shape.

Then continue to embroider the tackdown for the front piece.

Continue to embroider all the inner details, and follow the color change sheet.

 Make sure to stop before sewing the "lining tackdown" step.

Before sewing the "lining tackdown" step, remove the hoop from the machine, and flip it over so the back side is facing up. Then spray the back side on the front lining piece with temporary adhesive, and smooth it in place inside of the first sewn dieline.

Using a bobbin wound with the same thread that's used in the top thread, place the hoop onto the machine, and embroider the "lining tackdown" and the "top edge detail" steps.

Once the embroidery is finished, unhoop the front piece, and tear away the excess stabilizer from around the edges of the pleather. The dieline stitches will also be torn away from the edges.

Then hoop another piece of tearaway stabilizer, and load the back piece embroidery file (labeled with a "b") onto machine. The dieline step will sew first.

Spray the wrong side of the leather piece, and smooth it into place. Then continue to sew the decorative details.

Then embroider the "strap dielines", and stop the machine before sewing the "strap tackdown" step. The strap dielines show where to place small strap attachments that were sewn together earlier with the D-rings.

Take both strap attachments, and place them over the dielines so the edges line up with the small arms extending from the sewn square.

Make sure the D-rings are facing up towards the top of the purse, and tape them in place.

For best results, tape right over where they are going to be embroidered, so they don't shift at all or get bumped out of place by the embroidery foot

Then embroider the "strap tackdown" step.

Stop the machine again before sewing the "lining and pocket tackdown."

Remove all the tape from the straps before continuing. Using the point of a seam ripper to pull up the edges of the tape makes it easier.

Next, turn the hoop over so the backside is facing up. Spray the backside of the back lining piece with temporary adhesive, and smooth it into place inside the original dieline.

Then take the front piece that was embroidered first. Spray only along the edges of the two sides and bottom to prevent the inside of the pocket from being super sticky. Carefully line up the edges, and smooth it into place over the lining.

Place the matching bobbin back into the machine, and then place the hoop back onto the machine. Embroider the "lining and pocket tackdowns" as well as the "finishing seam" step.

Once the embroidery is finished, tear away all the excess stabilizer from around the design.

Take the finished strap that was made earlier, and loop one end through one D-ring.

Fold the end up around the D-ring about 1", and sew it in place using a matching bobbin and sewing machine.

Before sewing the other end on the other D-ring, simply slide it through the D-ring, and then check and make sure the strap isn't twisted at all as this will make it uncomfortable to wear. Then repeat, and sew the other end.

Add on a snap, magnet, or other closure to complete the purse.

Using one that sews or glues on will work best as it won't stab through the flap of the purse, and be seen on the front side of the flap.

You could also add a button on the front and a little leather loop on the edge of the flap for a closure as well.