1. Cut three 18" strands of Rose ribbon. Cut four 18" strands of Cream ribbon. Use 3 strands of floss to whipstitch the selvage of a Cream ribbon along the selvage of a Rose ribbon, wrong sides facing. Alternate Rose and Cream ribbons. Press flat.

2. Draw a straight line down each end of the assembled ribbons about 1/2" from each end. Machine stitch along drawn lines. Trim away excess so ribbons measure 17" long. Fold ribbons in half, aligning trimmed edges. Mark each side 4 3/4" up from fold.

3. Cut two 20 pieces of Cream ribbon. Lay one aside. Machine gather stitch in a slant across 1" at the end of one piece, stitch across other selvage edge to within 1" of other end, slant stitches across the other ribbon end.

Gather ribbon to measure 91/2" long. Use thread to sew gathered edge to selvage of ribbon at one side of purse between marks.

Repeat along other side of purse with remaining strand of Cream ribbon.

4. Make a dahlia petal with 2" of Cream ribbon for leaf. Make a gathered rose using 7" of Pale Pink ribbon. Fold purse in half again. Mark the center Rose panel 11/2" above the fold. Use thread to stitch leaf then rose at mark.

5. With purse folded, whipstitch outer edges of gathered Cream ribbons together at each side of purse.

6. Leave a 3/8" opening above the ends of the gathered ribbons at each side of the purse for a drawstring. Use floss to whipstitch remaining edges of outer ribbons together up to top along each side of purse.

7. Fold the top of the bag to the inside a little more than 11/4" so the trimmed edge rests just below the drawstring opening. Machine stitch this edge in place. Stitch another seam around the bag at the top of the drawstring opening to form a casing.

8. Cut the remaining strand of Pale Pink ribbon in half. Insert one end of one piece through the casing from the right side of the bag. Thread that same end through the casing on the other side to come out on the right side of the bag. Knot ribbon ends together. Repeat with other strand to thread ribbon through casing from left side of bag. Pull ribbon knots to close bag.

9. Gather stitch folded bag bottom with machine. Begin at one edge of center Rose panel of bag to stitch to corner. Pull stitches as tight as possible, secure thread ends, trim. Repeat to gather stitch across the bottom of purse on the other side of the center panel.

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