Needle felting is the latest trend in creating custom textures, and Janome's Xpression needle felting machine and 1/4" WOOL strips from Marcus equals fun, texture, color and movement. It all comes together in this unique handbag design by Janome educator, Annie Moody. One-side features bold swirls of color, highlighted with Angelina novelty fibers, the other side features needled appliqué leaves and branches for a quieter look. Add a whole new dimension to your creativity with Janome sewing machines and fabrics by Marcus!

1. Center 7" x 9" piece of Heat 'n Bond Light onto 8" x 10" wool and iron on per manufacturer's instructions.
2. Take three 1/4" wool strips and tightly roll together to form a circle that is approximately 2" in diameter.
3. Place wool circle onto the Heat 'n Bond side of wool. Flip upside down on ironing board and press the wool to adhere the circle to the wool.
4. Adjust presser foot on the Xpression to allow enough clearance for the purse front so you can easily move it around. Tighten screw.
5. Place purse front under presser foot and lower foot. Needle felt the circle, moving the wool slowly and the needle fast.
6. Roll strips of wool to form circles of various sizes, adhere with the iron and needle felt into place until the 7' x 9' space is filled.
7. Add small amounts of Angelina fiber between circles using the Xpression to needle felt in place.

1. Cut 3 strips of wool 8" x 1/2" for stems. Taper one end to measure 1/4" side.
2. Cut 6 to 8 simple leaf shapes.
3. Place 1st stem on bag as shown in the photo above and needle felt in place.
4. Add a leaf to both sides of stem and needle felt in place.
5. Add remaining stems and leaves and needle felt in place.

1. Thread sewing machine with coordinating thread in the needle and the bobbin. Place zipper foot on machine.
2. Cut 3" x 10" wool in half lengthwise.
3. Place zipper right side up, lay wool along the edge of the zipper teeth and pin in place.
4. Stitch first side of zipper in place.
5. Pin second piece of wool to zipper and stitch in place.
6. Place F foot on machine.
7. To make a bartack stitch select Zigzag stitch. Adjust stitch width to 7.0 and length to 0.
8. Sew bartack at bottom of zipper 1/4" inside edge of wool.
9. Unzip about halfway and scotch tape zipper teeth together at zipper top.
10. Bartack at the top 1/4" in from edge of wool.

1. Take three 1/2" x 15" wool strips and lay on top each other. Stitch the short end in place 1/4" from end.
2. Braid strips and stitch the other end closed 1/4" from end.

1. Place O foot on machine.
2. Pin together purse front to top wrong sides together. (Raw edge seams will be to the outside of the bag.) Sew together using the guide on the 1/4" foot for a perfect quarter inch seam.
3. Take a piece of 3" x 8" wool and with wrong sides together sew 8" side to one side of the purse front.
4. Sew the other piece of 3" x 8" wool to the other side of the purse front.
5. Sew the 3" x 10" piece for the bottom to the purse front.
6. Sew the purse back to the purse top.
7. Sew each side to the purse back.
8. Sew the bottom closed and sew the seams at either end of the zipper on the top of bag.