How to Make a Custom Embroidered Halloween Treat Bag (Ricoma EM1010)

Watch the video: “How to Make a Custom Embroidered Halloween Treat Bag” by J. Stewart's Laboratory

A plain tote becomes a glow-in-the-dark conversation starter—fast. Follow along as Jamilla turns a basic canvas bag into a personalized Halloween treat bag using applique embroidery plus heat transfer vinyl on a Ricoma EM1010.

What you’ll learn

• How to hoop a thin canvas tote with tear-away stabilizer for crisp stitches

• The exact machine settings used in the video for applique (including orientation and AM mode)

• The sequence for trace, tack-down, trimming, and final satin stitches with HTV

• How to add a name in HTV without crushing your embroidery

• Safety and troubleshooting checks to keep your stitch-out aligned

Craft a Spooktacular Halloween Bag with Embroidery! If your trick-or-treat plan needs a little extra glow, this project nails it—literally. The star here is glow-in-the-dark vinyl paired with a holographic accent, stitched on a canvas tote for a cute, durable finish. The method is approachable and efficient: hoop well, rotate and set your design, stitch-and-trim your applique layers, and press on a name to finish.

Pro tip

• Use a lint roller before hooping and again before heat-pressing the name to keep the finish clean and professional.

Gather Your Ghastly Gear: Materials & Tools Essential Supplies for Your Project Based on the video, you’ll need:

• Canvas tote bag

• Tear-away stabilizer (two layers)

• Embroidery thread

• Glow-in-the-dark HTV

• Holographic HTV

• Embroidery hoop (7x5 inch)

• Ricoma EM1010 embroidery machine

• Scissors (applique trimming is easier with small curved scissors)

• USB drive (for design transfer)

• Ricoma 15x15 heat press

- Lint roller

Choosing Your Stabilizer and Fabrics The host doubles up tear-away stabilizer inside the tote. This is especially helpful because the canvas is “a little thin.” Two layers keep the fabric taut and reduce shifting and puckering. The applique materials are both vinyls: glow-in-the-dark for the ghost and a holographic for the BOO lettering. If you prefer, you can substitute fabric, but the video specifically showcases HTV.

Watch out

• Keep scissors angled slightly away from the tack-down stitches while trimming to avoid nicking your thread or the bag’s fabric.

Quick check

• After hooping, the fabric should feel drum-tight with no wrinkles.

Note on alternative hooping The video mentions you could do a simple add-on without hooping, using an 8-in-1 frame with sticky stabilizer. That’s optional context for a lighter project. If you’re exploring accessory options for a Ricoma setup, many stitchers also refer to mighty hoops for ricoma em 1010 as a popular magnetic accessory—though this project is shown with a standard hoop.

Step 1: Setting the Stage - Hooping Your Bag The Importance of a Taut Hoop

• Place two sheets of tear-away stabilizer inside the canvas tote.

• Smooth the fabric and stabilizer so nothing bunches.

- Seat the inner hoop inside the bag, then press the outer hoop down to secure.

• Confirm it’s tight—think “drumhead,” not “loose pillowcase.”

Pitfalls and fixes

• Puckering later? Re-hoop now. Loose hooping is one of the most common causes of misshapen satin borders.

• Thin bag? Double up on stabilizer (as shown in the video) for better support.

Safety note

• While this step is low-risk, you’ll use scissors for trimming later. Plan to trim slowly and with good light.

Step 2: Programming Your Ricoma Machine for Applique Load the design, orient it correctly, and set the stop behavior so you can place vinyl and trim at each layer.

- Insert your USB drive and select the design on the machine’s screen.

- Rotate the design from vertical to horizontal in Design Set so it fits the tote correctly.

- Set the machine to AM (Automatic/Manual) mode so it stops between stages for applique placement and trimming.

• Choose your thread sequence as needed.

Rotating Your Design The design initially appeared vertical. In the video, the host rotates it to horizontal. It’s a small button press, but it prevents an entire redo. If you’re experimenting with different accessories, note that some users enjoy 8 in 1 hoop ricoma when they’re working on items where standard hooping is awkward; still, this tutorial demonstrates standard hooping and on-screen rotation.

The Crucial 'AM' (Automatic/Manual) Setting Set AM mode for applique. Without AM, the machine won’t pause to let you add or trim vinyl after the trace and tack-down stitches. That pause is the difference between clean applique and chaos.

Quick check

• Confirm two settings before you press start: orientation is horizontal, and AM mode is active.

Pro tip

• If you plan to use accessories beyond a standard hoop for other projects, many Ricoma users explore ricoma hoops and magnetic options—but this particular stitch-out is done exactly as shown with a standard hoop and AM stops.

Step 3: The Magic of Applique - Stitch, Place, Trim, Repeat This is where your tote turns from plain to playful. You’ll run a placement stitch, cover it with HTV, tack it down, trim, and repeat. Then you’ll let the machine complete satin borders and details.

Executing the Trace and Tack-Down Stitches - First, let the machine sew the trace stitch (also called placement stitch). It outlines exactly where your first applique piece goes.

- Place your glow-in-the-dark HTV over the trace outline. The host removes the plastic carrier and puts the bare HTV down on the bag.

- Run the tack-down stitch to hold the vinyl. Then remove the hoop if needed (carefully) and trim away the excess vinyl close to the stitch.

Tips for Precision Trimming

• Keep the tips of your scissors slightly tilted away from the tack-down line so you don’t cut the stitches or the bag.

• Work slowly around curves and corners.

- Repeat the trace–place–tack–trim sequence for the holographic vinyl (used for the BOO lettering in the video).

Watch out

• After trimming and before resuming, make absolutely sure you push the hoop all the way back onto the machine arms until it clicks into place. The host caught a slight misalignment early because the hoop wasn’t fully seated.

Quick check

• Your HTV should fully cover the trace outline, with no gaps.

Once all applique pieces are trimmed, change the machine from AM to Automatic so it can complete the final satin stitches and any remaining details.

From the comments

• Viewers called the project “adorable” and shared love for the finished look—proof that the glow plus holographic combo delivers a crowd-pleasing result.

Accessory side note

• If you frequently stitch totes, magnetic options can speed setup. Stitchers often compare ricoma embroidery hoops and third-party magnetic choices; however, the video demonstrates standard hooping, so follow that for this project if you want to replicate results.

Safety reminders during applique

• When trimming near stitches, go slow to avoid cutting the base fabric or the tack-down line.

• Keep your fingers clear when the machine resumes. If you removed the hoop to trim, reseat it firmly with an audible click.

Troubleshooting

• Misaligned section after trimming? Stop immediately. Remove the hoop, reseat it fully, and back up a few stitches if your machine allows. The host caught a minor misalignment and corrected it by ensuring the hoop clicked into place.

• Frayed vinyl edge? Trim again with sharper scissors right up to the tack-down stitch—clean edges help the satin stitch cover perfectly.

Step 4: Adding a Personal Touch with HTV Applying a Name with Your Heat Press After the embroidery is complete, remove the bag from the hoop and tear away stabilizer from the inside. Clean off loose threads with a lint roller. Position your pre-cut HTV name under the embroidery, then press according to the vinyl’s specific instructions. The host uses a 15x15 Ricoma heat press and repeats the holographic vibe of the BOO lettering for a cohesive look.

Watch out

• Don’t place raised embroidery directly on a hot platen; thread can flatten or scorch. If needed, use a pressing pillow inside the bag to raise the target area and protect the stitches.

Quick check

• After pressing, edges should be fully adhered with no lifting. Let the item cool as recommended by your HTV before peeling the carrier.

Pro tip

• If you love the convenience of magnetic accessories for future tote runs, many users discuss mighty hoops for ricoma as an option. For this tutorial, the standard hoop and careful pressing achieved the neat, durable result you see.

The Final Reveal: A Glow-in-the-Dark Masterpiece It’s time for the lights-out test. In the video, the ghost glows impressively—even charged by a simple ring light. The holographic letters sparkle in normal light, and the name ties it together with a polished finish.

Care and handling

• Allow the HTV to cool and set as your vinyl recommends before heavy use.

• Turn the bag inside out if you need to iron the fabric (avoid direct heat on embroidery and vinyl).

• Spot clean with care around the stitched areas.

Design and material notes

• The source of the embroidery design file isn’t specified in the video.

• Exact heat press temperature, time, and pressure aren’t provided—follow your HTV manufacturer’s instructions.

Why this method works

• Double tear-away stabilizer supports the canvas during stitching, then tears cleanly so the bag stays flexible.

• AM mode gives you controlled pauses for each applique step—trace, place, tack-down, trim—so every layer sits exactly where it should.

• Switching to Automatic at the end lets the machine produce smooth satin borders that cover raw edges.

From the comments

• Viewers praised the result as “adorable” and “love it”—always a good sign when you want a project that delights kids and adults alike.

Planning future projects

• The video briefly shows that simple add-ons could be attempted without traditional hooping by using a frame and sticky stabilizer. If you’re testing attachments for different items (like structured totes or thick seams), many embroiderers explore ricoma em 1010 mighty hoops or other magnetic options to speed repeatable placement. Again, this tutorial itself uses a standard hoop.

Checklist before you stitch

• Stabilizer: Two layers of tear-away inside the bag

• Hooping: Fabric is drum-tight with no wrinkles

• Orientation: Rotated to horizontal on-screen

• Mode: AM set for applique stops

• Trace: Run a trace to confirm placement

• Trim: Use sharp, precise scissors and protect your stitches

• Reseat: Click the hoop fully back into the machine before continuing

Safety recap

• Trimming near stitches demands slow, careful cuts to avoid nicking fabric or threads.

• A heat press runs hot—use caution and keep embroidery lifted off the platen when possible.

Time and difficulty

• The method is intermediate, ideal for crafters with a basic understanding of multi-needle operation, applique flow, and HTV pressing.

• The on-machine portion includes a design upload, rotation, AM toggling, and controlled stitch-outs for two vinyl layers.

Looking for efficiency upgrades?

• Multi-project workflows sometimes benefit from magnetic options. Many stitchers refer to ricoma mighty hoops for repeatable placement or to reduce fabric distortion. It’s not used in the video; consider it a future upgrade path for your toolkit.

FAQ Can I use regular fabric instead of vinyl for the applique?

• Yes, you can. The video showcases HTV, but cotton or felt are workable alternatives. If you go that route, it’s common to apply a fusible backing to reduce fraying and make placement easier before the tack-down stitch.

Why use tear-away instead of cut-away?

• Tear-away supports the stitch-out during embroidery and removes cleanly afterward, keeping the tote flexible. That suits a bag better than a permanent cut-away in most cases.

What happens if I forget AM mode?

• The machine will try to stitch continuously without stopping, and you won’t have the chance to place or trim the applique layers. That will derail the project.

Final thoughts There’s a reason this glow-in-the-dark ghost bag earns so many hearts: it’s simple to set up, satisfying to stitch, and wonderfully dramatic in the dark. Recreate the steps exactly as shown—tight hoop, correct orientation, AM mode for applique, careful trimming, then the name press—and you’ll have a Halloween classic ready for treats in no time.

Gear sidenote for Ricoma users If you’re expanding your setup for varied bag shapes or bulk runs, you’ll see stitchers talk about accessory families like ricoma 8 in 1 device or magnetic options such as mighty hoop ricoma. Keep in mind: this tutorial sticks to standard hooping and proves that a clean, glowing finish is absolutely within reach with basic tools.