Tote bags are a fun, fast and easy projects that can be made in many shapes, sizes, and materials for carrying all sorts of things. Reusable grocery bags have been a popular item for the past several years. Even more fun is incorporating MACHINE EMBROIDERY with your regular SEWING MACHINE!  With NATIONAL EMBROIDERY MONTH being in February we have just listed a new In The Hoop Tote Bag on our website Embroidery by EdytheAnne at InTheHoopEmbroideryDesigns.com. Knowing which fabrics to use is one of the decisions necessary for any project. We have given you below some ideas for those fabrics to use. You can find many of these fabrics at your local fabric store, but we have also included a link to the Online Fabric Store, of which we are an affiliate, for you to peruse if looking for one that you can’t find locally.

Sturdy fabrics such as 

• canvas, 
• denim, 
• twill,  are a good choice for tote bags.
• Faux leather vinyl is another more durable option.

Cotton fabrics are a the best choice for the tote bag lining. Choose a

• sturdy, all purpose muslin,
• a colorful broadcloth,
• or an attractive cotton print.

It’s often a good idea to use an interfacing or stabilizer to provide more structure depending on the bag fabric and style. A lightweight fabric needs a stiffer interfacing than a heavier fabric. Some styles do well with the stiff fusible stabilizers. Try  fleece interfacing for a softer feel.

ou can make handles out of the same fabric as the bag, use webbing or even CORK FABRIC! If using the new fabrics of Cork make sure you are using the fabric type and not actually regular cork.