Ready to transform your everyday tote from blah to breathtaking? Add some embroidery to turn your plain tote bag into something special!
This easy-to-follow guide will walk you through how to embroider a tote bag on a single-needle machine. From choosing the right stabilizer to hooping your bag, you’ll get perfect results every time! No matter your embroidery experience, you’ll be flaunting your custom tote in no time!
Enthusiasts or VIP Embroidery Legacy Design Club members receive a special embroidery cheat sheet PDF. You can save the PDF on your computer or print it as a reference beside your machine. Login to your digitizingmadeeasy.com account and check your “Classroom” tab!
Want a hands-on guide? Watch the video tutorial below while following along with the blog to make this embroidery project even easier!
Embroidery Tote Bag Materials:
- Tote bag
- Embroidery hoop
- Pins
- Threads
- Scissors
- Tearaway stabilizer
- Design template print-off
- Embroidery design – we used our fitting “Forget this bag” embroidery design
- Looking for endless embroidery inspiration? Join our Embroidery Legacy Design Club and gain access to over 30,000 high-quality machine embroidery designs at up to 90% off! Fuel your creativity and start stitching.
Tote Bag Embroidery Tutorial
Step 1: Print out and cut your design template. Use the template to ensure your design fits within your hoop and achieves perfect placement on your tote bag.
Please note: If you want to embroider in the center of your bag, fold your tote bag in half from top to bottom as well as left and right (we find this easiest to measure). A crease will show marking the center of the tote (these wrinkles can be ironed out later).
Step 2: Place your design template in the middle of your bag using the crisscross of your folded lines.
Step 3: Pin your design template in place. Hold up your bag to ensure the template is in the right place. Adjust the placement if needed.
Step 4: Hoop your stabilizer and tote. If you’re using a single-needle embroidery machine, position your top hoop so that the part you attach to your machine faces toward the open part of the bag.
Watch the video above to learn how to gauge and preset your hoop for the best results.
Tip: Tape the stabilizer to your bottom hoop to prevent the stabilizer from moving when you try to hoop. Insert your bottom hoop through the opening of your bag.
Step 5: Because we’re using a flat-head machine, turn your tote almost inside out (very carefully) and create a bowl-like shape to create a flat surface. Remove the small piece of tape from your hoop.
Step 6: Load your embroidery design onto your machine and place your hoop in it. Remove the straps and extra edges away from the center to prevent the possibility of being embroidered (extra tape or clips work well to hold extra fabric as long as they aren’t around the needle).
Center your needle in the center of your design template.
Step 7: Remove your pins and template from your bag and stitch out your embroidery design.
Step 8: After stitching your design is completed, carefully remove the hoop from your machine and your tote bag.
Step 9: Remove the stabilizer by tearing it away. You can trim the excess threads if you like.
Step 10: After your turn your tote back inside out, you can see your design is centered on the bag. You’re ready to use your newly embroidered tote bag!
You’ve now transformed your ordinary canvas tote bag into a personalized tote masterpiece. Whether you’re using it for everyday errands, a trip to the beach, or a special occasion, your embroidered personalized tote bag will turn heads and spark conversations. So grab your supplies and let your creativity shine – your tote bag is your canvas!
Remember to check out all our other high-quality embroidery designs! Want to save up to 90% on designs? Join our exclusive Embroidery Legacy Design Club for great savings and free pocket page PDFs of different embroidery techniques exclusive to our members!
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