How to Personalize Your Reusable Grocery Tote

Pin It

Jennifer Stern, contributor

1 user recommends

The embroidered reusable tote from Whole Foods.

Jen Stern

The front view of Whole Foods' reusable tote.

Jen Stern

Program the letters on your embroidery machine.

Jen Stern

The embroidered reusable tote from Whole Foods.

Photo: Jen Stern

Add Comment
Print

Put the hoop on the embroidery machine. Take a minute to be certain the embroidery design is oriented on the screen in the direction that you hooped your tote bag. Notice that my lettering on the screen is vertical and going from top to bottom. My tote is hooped sideways with the top edge running along the right edge of the hoop. "Gail's Groceries" will embroider right-side up along the top edge of the tote. (It's always a good idea to check; I can't tell you how many times I've embroidered a design going in the wrong direction!)

I positioned the tote so that the majority of the fabric is off to the left and not stuck between the needle and the machine.

Basting in the hoop is especially helpful when you're embroidering a tote bag. Those stitches around the embroidery area will help support the fabric in the hoop so your letters stitch out nicely.

Use the basting stitches to see if the lettering is centered and straight.

Embroider your message. When you're done, take the hoop off your machine. Trim the threads on the top and bottom of the hoop. Carefully trim the cutaway stabilizer away from the edge of the lettering. This is one step that I take my time doing. It looks a lot nicer if the stabilizer is trimmed away neatly.

Embroider your personalized name or message.

Add Comment Print

Bend to Conquer: How to Make a Beautiful Paper Lantern  

Back to List

How to Make Cold Porcelain

Comments (2)

MeredithP writes: This is a great idea. Have you done any embroidery on the "polyester" mesh (or they look like colored pellon) type of bags that some stores offer? I guess a low density design would be OK, because it wouldn't "cut" the material as much.
Posted: 7:17 pm on February 22nd

kenandbarbie writes: You go girl!!!
BarbLange
Posted: 6:50 pm on July 31st

You must be logged in to post comments. Click here to login.