Assemble the Handle and Finish the Bag

1. Gather together and knot on one end of unwound skeins of chartreuse, bright green, and rose embroidery floss. Tie remaining ends together and slip one tied end over a hook or door knob.
2. Insert a pencil or dowel through floss loop at tied end (Diagram 8). Twist pencil in clockwise fashion, keeping floss taut as you twist. Continue twisting until floss is very tightly twisted. Remove from hook.
3. Holding twisted floss at center, bring ends together and allow floss to twist back on itself. Tie together and trim each end to make a 72-inch-long cord.

Place center of cord 5/8 inch from edge of open pocket side of bag rectangle; let 6 inches of cord extend below bag bottom on each side. Using a zipper foot, stitch down center of cord with a straight stitch starting at zipper and ending 5/8 inch from the bottom. Repeat with remaining side edge.

1. Fold bag rectangle in half, placing the zipper at the top of the bag. Sew together side and bottom edges, keeping cord ends free.
2. Clip corners of seam allowances and trim excess zipper tape. Serge or zigzag-stitch the seam allowances.
3. Turn bag right side out. Slip bead on each cord end and tie a knot at end of cord to secure bead. If desired, sew decorative frog on bag front.

If the thought of sewing a zipper causes you to break out in a sweat, consider using wash-away basting tape or a water-soluble glue stick (available at quilt shops and fabric stores) to hold the zipper in place. Then, when you stitch the zipper, use a zipper foot to better control the position of your stitching line.