DIY Yarn Tote Bag with Heat Transfer Vinyl and Hand Embroidery

Make an adorable custom tote bag by combining hand embroidery and heat transfer vinyl.

This fun craft idea combines several of my favorite things… embroidering, using my Silhouette machine, and knitting & crochet! I created this cheery tote bag to hold my yarn when I’m working on a crochet or knitting project.

A few weeks ago, my friends The Pretty Life Girls made an amazing sweatshirt that combined heat transfer vinyl and hand embroidery. I was immediately obsessed and started looking for a project where I could do the same.

Adding a touch of embroidery to a design really ups the wow factor if you ask me. Isn’t it such a fun detail?

Follow this handy tutorial so you can make your own yarn tote.

Step 1: Download the free designs (right below the image preview). I’ve got a knitting and a crochet version and you can make them with or without words. Open the link below and you’ll see all the available options in one folder.

Step 2: Resize the image to fit on your tote bag, then mirror the image. Load a cutting mat with heat transfer vinyl, shiny side down. I used Pink Stripflock HTV from Expressions Vinyl. The fuzzy texture was perfect for this project. Adjust cut settings, then cut!

Step 3: Weed the design, removing all the negative space. Be sure to get all of the little dots too. That’s where you’ll do your embroidering.

Step 4: Place the design on your tote bag and iron it into place. Or if you are a lucky soul who owns a heat press, you could use that too. 😉

Step 5: Wait until the design is completely cool, then peel away the clear carrier sheet. Don’t forget to iron on the knitting needle or crochet hook too. I used  contrasting jade glitter HTV for that part.

Step 6: Now comes my favorite part! Choose a few fun colors of embroidery floss and stitch into the holes in the design.

Step 7: Add a bit of fun and colorful pom pom trim around the top edge and you’re ready to take your yarn along with you in style. I bought my trim at Walmart.