Trick or Treat Tote + Pattern
I wanted to have a little bag for Brice for Trick or Treating this year, and I knew I wanted to make it myself. I also knew that I wanted to do something with a pumpkin on linen so I combined the two. I’m not sure when I decided I wanted to do some embroidery, but I started sketching things out and came up with the above design. It’s absolutely fitting as Brice LOVES his “meows”.
I stared with the cat and added the pumpkin, but kept thinking it needed something else. Hence the tree. But it was no easy matter trying to draw a tree that said “fall” but was still fun and cartoonish like the cat and pumpkin. With my moms advice I finally decided on the tree in the design.
I found the dots at Joann’s along with the lining fabric some months back. I had thoughts of making them into a trick or treat bag for Brice, but this wasn’t what I was originally thinking, but that’s just fine by me.
I have had the idea of doing a pumpkin appliqué on a bag since my apple bags. I made it up as I went along, using the sketch from my embroidery for my pattern. As an after thought I decided to embroider on the pumpkin, but knew embroidery for the vine was a perfect choice all along.
He loves this little bag. He gave it a kiss and a hug and happily caries it around on his arm. It’s just the perfect size for treats and will serve us for many years. Not into Trick or Treating? I think it’s the perfect size for a little library tote, too. Now it’s time to go make one for yourself. The free pattern includes instructions for making the bag as well as the embroidery design and pumpkin appliqué template.
Pattern Edit 5/24/2015 – The pattern does not state the lining dimensions to cut. You can either cut two pieces the same size at the exterior (9.5″ x 11.5″), OR cut one long piece that is 9.5″ x 23″ and sew up the sides. Be sure to leave an opening in the side as it states in the directions for flipping right side out after sewing the interior and exterior together.
Comments (36)
Shanna
October 17, 2009 at 9:24 pm
What a cute tote!! I love the kitten! I am so excited about Halloween this year. My girls are finally getting old enough to make it more fun :o)
2ndAvenueStudio-Rachel
October 17, 2009 at 10:01 pm
So cute!!
really adorable!
wishes, true and kind
October 17, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Very cute and special. He’s going to love it!
eriven
October 17, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I love them both, but I’m definitely making the kitty one! Thank you for sharing the pattern :)
Terri
October 17, 2009 at 11:55 pm
super cute idea. We decided not to take sophie trick or treating this year though so maybe we can make one next year.
Tracey
October 18, 2009 at 12:47 am
Thanks for sharing the pattern! This is so cute and your son will always remember having a special ‘Trick or Treat’ bag!
Sahara
October 18, 2009 at 1:27 am
I love this tote! Thank you for sharing!
Anna
October 18, 2009 at 1:30 am
This is so cute, I just posted a trick-or-treat bag for my daughter last night – I like yours better!
http://noodleheads.blogspot.com/2009/10/trick-or-treat-bag.html
ps. Can I ask where you get your linen? I live in a town that doesn’t believe in linen I guess.
The Quilt Buddy
October 18, 2009 at 1:35 am
Hey C!
OMG!…The bag is the perfect size for trick-or-treating….and your stichery design is so stinkin’ CUTE!….I love the cat!
Thank you for taking the time to make the pattern for us. It is well written and the photos are a great help!
You ROCK!
Thimbleanna
October 18, 2009 at 2:59 am
Both of those little bags are adorable! I love that you’ve used linen too!
Kristine Hanson
October 18, 2009 at 3:27 am
c.u.t.e!
Aimee
October 18, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Cute! Thanks for sharing! I can picture a Christmas themed one too tweaking the embroidery and applique patterns!
Suzy D.
October 19, 2009 at 1:50 am
Thanks!
I’m helping a friend learn to sew. this will be a great thing for her to make for her kids. and if it’s not perfect… who will be the wiser?
casserole
October 19, 2009 at 2:33 am
This is so stinkin’ cute!!! I’m a sucker for kitties, and for embroidered linen.
I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-embroidered-trick-or-treat-tote/2009/10/18/
–Anne
jennbenn
October 19, 2009 at 3:22 am
So cute!!!!!
Really really cute! Even better how much your son loves it!
jenn
Heather
October 19, 2009 at 5:18 am
So very sweet! I have supplies to make mine, though I’m going with a pre-made bag and some felt. I do appreciate all your work though!
Katie
October 19, 2009 at 7:01 am
So cute! I am about to try my hand at my own pattern. Thanks for some motivation/inspiration.
Katie @ makingthishome.com
October 19, 2009 at 8:01 am
Oh how I love your project! Martin and I are in Germany now (brought my new Bernina over on the airplane), and now I’m trying to figure out how to buy fabric around here. Sewing is almost like a niche thing, which is frustrating.
Brice will have the cutest trick-or-treat bag of all. Wow!
Alisa
October 19, 2009 at 3:53 pm
It’s a beautiful bag. Great job on the tutorial. Thanks!
[email protected]
October 19, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Ths is so fantastic! I love this so, so much! Cutest tote ever! Thanks tons, I’ll be linking.
Katie
October 20, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Thank you so much for sharing! Your pattern is beautiful! Thank you! Thank you! :) Have a wonderful day!
Katie
October 20, 2009 at 5:18 pm
P.S. I am adding a link to this post on my blog so my friends can see it. It is just too cute to miss! :)
http://notesfromaveryredkitchen.blogspot.com/
Sew Create It – Jane
October 21, 2009 at 9:46 am
Great tutorial!! It’s adorable!
Amy
October 21, 2009 at 10:09 am
What is it that makes linen so perfect?
Ariane
October 22, 2009 at 1:32 am
I love it! It’s so cute. Thanks for sharing.
NickiMierz
October 25, 2009 at 6:23 pm
What a great idea. Too late to make it for my kids so I’ll file it away for future grandkids.
Crafty Girls Workshop
October 25, 2009 at 6:54 pm
That pattern is so adorable. I used your drawings as a template to make a cute card. I hope you don’t mind. Please stop by my blog and see a picture of it, if you have time. Thanks for sharing that pattern and instructions. I can’t wait to stitch it up!
Anna
Maureen F.
September 9, 2010 at 1:09 am
These are so cute – love them !!!!
Diane
October 13, 2010 at 12:15 pm
This is just too cute! I think I have to make one for each of my grands. Thanks so much!
Teresa
July 16, 2011 at 6:59 am
I love this bag too – England is just beginning to catch on to the idea of Halloween as a party season – although as a child I remember going out dressed up as a witch and knocking on doors…it was a way of boosting my pocket money and sweet store! Thank you for the pattern, I will be using it. I have just started sewing and am looking for lots of ideas – this is an excellent one :)
Rachel@AllFreeHolidayCrafts
August 17, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Hi Christina, this is so adorable! I’ve linked to your tutorial on my site. Hope that’s okay! Let me know!
http://www.allfreeholidaycrafts.com/Halloween-Candy-Bags/Embroidered-Pumpkin-Treat-Tote
Thanks!
Rachel
Mardi
October 11, 2012 at 2:10 am
Sweet and simple. Want to make an adult tote just for me
chantal
February 24, 2014 at 7:08 am
Merci beaucoup.
Bonne journée
Chantal
Jessica
May 23, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Maybe I’m just missing it but I can’t find dimensions/fabric requirements for the lining insert? I would assume two pieces cut to the same size as Fabric A backing 9.5″x11.5″, hopefully I’m not way off base?
Christina
May 24, 2015 at 9:25 pm
In all these years, no one has mentioned the lining dimensions were missing! You’re right, it’s not stated. Cut two pieces the same size at the exterior just as you assumed (9.5″ x 11.5″), OR cut one long piece that is 9.5″ x 23″ and sew up the sides. Be sure to leave the opening as it states in the directions for flipping right side out after sewing the interior and exterior together.
Barbara
August 31, 2016 at 9:30 pm
Super cute…