Make a tropical bag

1. Press a 25cm piece of flamingo print cotton and place over a square of felt, right sides facing outwards. Fit both layers tightly into an embroidery hoop and, using coordinating embroidery thread, backstitch around the printed motifs, working through both layers at once to give a quilted effect.

2. Pick out and embellish areas of the print (flowers, birds,scenery) with tiny glass beads, hand stitched closely together. Sew a selection of randomly scattered beads in other background areas to add texture and interest.

3. Remove the fabric from the frame and tack a line of stitches around the picture, using the indent left by the frame as a guide. Turn over and trim the felt layer close to the line. Cut the printed fabric into a circle, 2cm bigger than the tacked line. Fold the edges of the cotton over the felt and sew down, to make a neat circular panel.

4. Locate the template on page 83 and use it to cut the bag front and back pieces from brightly-patterned