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Radiant Home Studio | Sewing Patterns & Surface Design

Radiant Home Studio

September 10, 2015 ·

Autumn Running Stitch {Tote Bag Upgrade}

Sewing· Tutorials

I love how a simple embroidery stitch can make a plain tote bag feel like a special gift. This tote bag upgrade is quick and easy, yet your friends will feel appreciated and loved when they see the care you put into to making a hand-stitched gift. (It makes a great gift, but you can definitely make one for yourself too!)

running stitch tote bag-4

I chose autumn-colored embroidery floss, but any colors will look nice. I can imagine rainbow-colored stripes would be fun, or for a more subtle look, you could try an ombre effect.

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag | Radiant Home Studio

Materials (includes materials needed for pocket and straps):

• canvas tote bag
• 6 skeins of embroidery floss & embroidery needle

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag Tutorial:

Mark your bag using a water soluble fabric marker or chalk pencil. Starting at about 2″ from the side, make 6 vertical lines about 1/4″ apart. About 2″ from the top, make 6 horizontal lines about 1/4″ apart.

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag | Radiant Home Studio

Organize your threads in the order desired and begin stitching across the lines.

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag | Radiant Home Studio

You can make several stitches at a time if you use a long needle, as you can see in the photo below. (I used a sashiko needle, which is longer than a traditional embroidery needle.) Make the stitches about 1/4″ long with equal length spaces. You can eyeball the length or try Mollie’s method for neat, even stitches.

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag | Radiant Home Studio

To get the stitches at the overlapping section to look interwoven, stitch under the first intersection, over the next, under the next, and so on, as though you are weaving. Start the second row of stitching so that is opposite the first. Push the needle down through the fabric where you went up on the first row. and start weaving under and over the intersections opposite the first row. It sounds complicated, but you’ll catch on easily if you study the photos closely!

When you stitch the perpendicular rows, just weave in and out of the open spaces.

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag | Radiant Home Studio

I was able to stitch this in less than an hour. It’s very easy. If you are one of those people that like to keep your hands busy during a movie or in the car, this is a great project for idle hands. It could also be a fun project for kids that are learning to embroider. Wonky looking stitches will just add character. (See my comments regarding crooked stitches on the Kantha tote bag pocket post!)

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag | Radiant Home Studio

I’m hoping to add some leather straps to this bag, so watch for another tote bag upgrade tutorial for adding leather straps with rivets! And if you would like to add a lining, check out this post.

Autumn Running Stitch Tote Bag | Radiant Home Studio

Previous Post: « Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter
Next Post: Buffalo Baby Clothes »

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Comments

  1. Sophia says

    September 11, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    This is very simple, but so effective! I love the design and I will definitely make one for myself:) Have a nice day, Sophia
    http://www.littlesewingmachine.blogspot.de

    • Sara Curtis says

      September 14, 2015 at 7:32 am

      Thank you Sophia!

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Welcome! I’m Sara. I share modern home & accessory sewing patterns, and I create surface designs for licensing. I hope you are encouraged to see beauty in small things and are inspired to try new creative projects!

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