Lady Bug, Lady Bug Accessory Purse How To

Finished size 4-3/4" wide x 6-1/4" high

Materials Needed

Water soluble stabilizer of your choice for two separate 5"x7" hoopings. I prefer clear and normally use Badgemaster, but I did the first hooping with a solid variety so you can see the difference.

Heavy stabilizer for the back and front sides of the purse. I used Pellon Thermolam®, fusible

1/4 yard of black cotton fabric

1 piece of red fabric 7" x 8" - I used red with white pin dot fabric

Black ribbon 3/8" wide - Cut to desired length to tie or loop. (You can make your purse either with ties or a loop of any size. For example, you may want a loop to go around the neck or a small loop to use for hanging. Shown is a tie.)

5"   3/4" Wide Black Fusible Velcro®

Black embroidery thread

Embroidery Adhesive Spray

Masking tape

Optional: Steam-A-Seam 1/2 strips or similar product

On one long side, fold in 1" and press. As you can see in the picture, this will be slightly larger than your Velcro®.

Use Steam-A-Seam® (or similar type of product) strips to secure the folded sides of the strap. Follow package directions.

Shown is the Velcro® with the fabric so you can see where the fold in the fabric should be. You want the strap to be slightly wider than the Velcro®, about 1" total.

Trim any excess fabric along the long edge. Secure with a Steam-A-Seam® strip, if desired.

Set the rough hook piece aside for later use.

Lay the soft, loop side of the Velcro®, sticky side down, to fit on the back of the fabric strap. Press with your fingers to temporarily secure.

Press with the iron to permanently secure according to the directions on the Velcro® package.

Cut 1 Piece of red fabric 7" wide x 8" high.

Cut 2 pieces of heavy stabilizer (I used Pellon Thermolam®, fusible) 7" wide x 8" high.

Fuse the stabilizer onto the wrong sides of one piece of the black fabric and the red fabric according to stabilizer directions (or use embroidery adhesive spray for non-fusible.)

You should now have two pieces of prepared fabric:

The top piece will consist of red fabric, stabilizer and black fabric, right sides facing out on top and bottom. You will use this piece in the first hooping.

The bottom piece will consist of black fabric, stabilizer and black fabric, right sides facing out on top and bottom. You will use this piece in the second hooping.

Wind a bobbin with black embroidery thread and insert into your machine

Thread the machine with the black embroidery thread. You will not change the thread color throughout the design.

Use a size 14 embroidery needle

As noted above, you can use either clear or solid water soluble stabilizer for hooping. I prefer clear because it does not have to be cut away when finished, but I used the solid variety in the first hooping and clear in the second hooping to allow you to see the difference. Use at least a 5"x7" hoop.

Load the Lady Bug First Hooping design into your machine

Position the prepared red sandwich fabric top piece, with the red fabric up, to cover the placement line.

Hold in place as you embroider the tack down line

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not remove the design from the hoop.

Trim very close to the tack down stitching through all layers of fabric. 

Return the hoop to the machine.

Cut 2 pieces of ribbon to the desired length.

Place the ribbon with about 1" extending below the placement lines.

The ribbon will tie best if there is a slight inward angle going upward.

Use masking tape above and below the stitching line to hold the ribbon in place.

Cut your ribbon to the desired loop size and position one raw edge over one placement line and the other raw edge over the second placement line.

Allow about 1" to extend below the placement lines and secure with masking tape as shown. Continue as with a tie.

Trim the excess ribbon off below the stitching line and remove the ribbon and tape below the stitching line.

Place the prepared strap, Velcro side down, so the raw edge extends about 1" below the placement line.

Secure it with masking tape above and below the stitching line.

6. Embroider the Velcro® strap tack down line.

Leave the masking tape in place above the line.

Either hold the fabric in place with your fingers or use embroidery adhesive spray on the wrong side of the fabric to keep it in place as the machine sews.

8. Embroider the head tack down line.

Trim very close to the tack down stitching.

Return the hoop to the machine.

Clip jump threads and trim close to the tack down stitching around each spot.

Return the hoop to the machine.

Then use a soft, clean cloth to dissolve the remaining stabilizer left behind. You will need to let the piece dry out completely before proceeding to the second hooping.

With clear water soluble stabilizer, you simply pull away the stabilizer at about a 45 degree angle. There is little stabilizer to wash away and a soft, clean wet cloth will quickly do the job. Let any wet spots dry  before proceeding to the second hooping.

The solid variety of water soluble stabilizer can be used, if desired, and I wanted you to see both varieties.

Load the Lady Bug Second Hooping design into your machine. Use at least a 5"x7" hoop.

Hoop water soluble stabilizer. Shown is clear Badgemaster.

Remove the back plastic piece, exposing the adhesive.

Use a scrap of the clear stabilizer to cover the back and so it extends at least 1" on either side of the strip.

Position the Velcro® piece to fit within the placement line.

Using masking tape, secure the piece in place on either side of the Velcro® piece.

Hold the Velcro® piece down and gently pull up the masking tape from the sides.

Pull away the excess stabilizer from from around the outside edge of the Velcro ® . This works best at a 45 degree angle.

Hold with your fingers or use embroidery adhesive spray to hold in place while embroidering the tack down stitching line.

Trim away the excess fabric, through all layers, very close to the stitching line.

Replace the hoop on the machine.

Hold in place with your fingers and/or use embroidery adhesive spray to make sure edges stay aligned as the tack down stitching embroiders.

This will hold the Lady Bug in place while the cover stitching embroiders.

Design is now finished.

Remove the hoop from the machine and the design from the hoop.

If you used solid water soluble stabilizer, you will need to carefully trim it away as you did in the first hooping.

Remove the clear stabilizer from all areas or trim away for solid water soluble stabilizer.

Use a soft, clean wet cloth to dab away any excess stabilizer remaining on the purse.

What will fit?

Cell phones are an obvious fit for the accessory purse. Other items that work well are gift cards, small bags of candy (think special occasions and holidays such as Easter, birthdays, Christmas.)  Jewelry, including the small sized boxes, for gifts, movie passes, and other such gift items. I use my lady bug for outings where I want my camera right with me, easy to access, but safe.


This design has obvious girl appeal. The purse will tie easily onto back packs and belt loops or purse straps.

A Razr phone will work as will a Trio. The Trio did not work with a leather cover, but fit fine without.

Items slip easily in the pocket. Adjustable strap makes sure items stay put.

A side view. The strap is adjustable.

MP3 players work great, including small ear phones that usually come with them.