👜 DIY Guide: How to Sew an Embroidered Tote Bag

✂️ Materials Needed

• Heavy cotton or linen fabric (220–280 g/m²) – 0.7–1 m

• Lining fabric (optional) – 0.5 m

• Sewing thread + embroidery thread

• Stabilizer:

  • Tear-away (50–60 g/m²) for medium fabric

  • Cut-away (80 g/m²) for lighter fabrics

• Sewing machine + embroidery machine

• Iron

• Basic tools: scissors, pins, ruler

• Sleeping Jaguar Cub embroidery design

📐 Pattern Pieces (Universal Tote Bag)

• Front & Back panels: 2 rectangles 40 × 45 cm (16 × 18 in)

• Bottom panel (optional, for boxy bag): 1 rectangle 10 × 40 cm (4 × 16 in)

• Side panels (if boxy style): 2 rectangles 10 × 45 cm (4 × 18 in)

• Handles: 2 strips 8 × 65 cm (3 × 25 in)

👉 If you want a flat tote, just cut the front, back, and handles.

🪡 Sewing Steps

1. Prepare the Fabric

• Press the fabric.

• Stabilize the area where the embroidery will be placed.

2. Embroidery

• Hoop the stabilizer and fabric together.

• Stitch your chosen design (for example, the Sleeping Jaguar Cub embroidery design) in the center of the front panel.

• Remove excess stabilizer.

• Press gently from the wrong side.

✨ Pro embroidery tips:

• Use a size 75/11 embroidery needle.

• Machine speed: 600–700 SPM.

• One stabilizer layer is enough for sketch-style designs.

3. Assemble the Bag

• Place front and back panels right sides together. Sew sides and bottom edge.

• If adding bottom + sides, attach them individually to create a boxy tote.

• Overlock/zigzag raw edges to prevent fraying.

4. Make the Handles

• Fold each strip lengthwise, sew along the edge, turn right side out.

• Press flat, topstitch for durability.

• Attach handles to the top edge of the tote, about 10 cm (4 in) from each side.

5. Lining (Optional)

• Sew the lining the same way as the outer bag.

• Insert it inside, wrong sides together.

• Stitch around the top edge to secure.

✅ Finished!

Now you have a stylish embroidered tote bag, durable, eco-friendly, and unique 🌿✨