Machine Embroidery Designs at Embroidery Library!

On-the-Edge Tote Bag (Applique Design)

Sweet Animals on the Edge designs give this homemade tote bag an extra-special look! Step-by-step instructions demonstrate how to position the design, plus tips for applique, too. Pick a peeking animal to fit a holiday, party theme, or simply choose your favorite little critter!

Project Needs & Notes

- 1/2 yard solid-colored lightweight canvas (for outer shell)
- 1/2 yard print quilter's cotton (for inner lining)
- 1/4 yard print lightweight canvas (for handles)
- Small piece of flannel (for applique piece)
- Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)

The designs used in this tutorial include Y3994, Peeking Bunny (Applique). Any of the Animals on the Edge (Applique) designs will work well with this project.

Finished Size: 12" x 12"

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

Using an air-erase pen, mark a 13" x 13" square on the solid-colored lightweight canvas. This will be the front of the outer shell of the tote.

Then, measure and mark 1/2" up along each side edge starting at each bottom corner. Draw a line connecting the marks.

A template, or printout of a design, is an excellent tool to help with placement.

Print a template of the design from your embroidery software.
If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is
a free program to use.

Trim the template; leave an inch around the top and sides, but cut the bottom right along the edge.

Place the template on the bottom of the square, and extend it a tiny bit (about 1/16 of an inch) over the edge.

Use an air-erase pen to mark the center point, and the axis lines.

Remove the templates and draw lines connecting the marks.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

When you download an one-the-edge applique design, you'll find multiple files.

One is the embroidery file, and the others are dieline files, marked with the letters DL. Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the right shape and size.

Open the dieline files with embroidery software and print them.

If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is
a free program to use.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top.

Spray the backside of the front piece dieline with temporary spray adhesive and smooth onto the fabric.

Cut out the shapes and remove the paper.

Attach the hoop to the machine and embroider the design.

The first thing to sew will be a dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer for the front fabric piece.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

Spray the backside of the front felt piece with adhesive.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Place the fabric piece right inside the sewn dieline.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

Reattach the hoop onto the machine and continue with the design -- a zigzag stitch tack down will sew next.

This binds the fabric piece to the stabilizer.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

All of the inner elements will sew next, followed by a satin-stitch border.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.

Cut out the shape.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

To prepare the back of the outer shell, lay the embroidered piece on top of a second piece of canvas, right sides together.

Pin in place, and trim the fabric following the shape of the front piece.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

Sew a 1/2" seam along the side and bottom edges, sewing right along the bottom edge of the design on the bottom edge of the fabric.

Turn the outer shell right side out and press the seams with an iron.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

To prepare the handles, cut two pieces of print canvas to 22" long x 3" high.

Fold the long side edges in 1/2" to the wrong side and press.

Then, fold the fabric again to the wrong sides aligning the folded edges together as shown; press.

Sew 1/8" seams along both side edges of the handles.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

Add the handles to the outer shell about 2 1/2" in from each top corner of the outer shell, allowing the raw ends of the handles to extend out about 1/2" from the top edges of the fabric.

Pin in place.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

To prepare the inner lining, cut two pieces of print quilter's cotton to 13" x 13".

Sew the pieces together just as you did for the outer shell (1/2" seams along the side and bottom edges).

Insert the outer shell inside the inner lining, right sides together. Align the top raw edges and side seams; pin in place.

Sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge leaving about 4" open between the handles on the back of the tote.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

Turn the fabric right side out and insert the inner lining inside the outer shell.

Fold the fabric of the opening in 1/2", press, and pin in place.

Press the top seam, then top-stitch a 1/8" seam along the entire outer top edge of the tote.

Free project instructions to embroider an on-the-edge tote bag.

This adorable tote is perfect to use as an everyday carryall, Easter basket alternative, or Christmas gift bag! Simply choose a different applique animal to change the entire look.

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