Embroidering Towels

[craftluv45]

I want to do towels for my grand daughter's Christmas gifts, but have no idea how to do this and attach them in the hoop... or to line up the designs as they are so bumpy to 'write' on! Can someone tell me how to handle towels in the hoop? I've already bought the towels I want to use and am scaredto ruin them with mistakes! Thanks, Trina M.

[Beth]

Towels are hard to hoop because they are soo thick. You will need to buy "solvy" (not sure the name of it) to put on top of the towel to prevent the loops from peeking through. It is like a clear plastic that disolves in water. Hope this answered your question.

[StitchinGrandma]

Beth is right that you want to use a topping stabilizer to prevent the design from sinking into the towel and the loops coming through the design.

As far as hooping the towel - you don't. You would instead hoop tearaway stabilizer in the hoop. then put the towel over top of that and the topping stabilizer on top of that and then do a basting stitch around where the design would be so it holds the towel down to the stabilizer to enable you to do the design.

It's not hard and once you do a few you'll love doing towels.

[northern34ca]

Depending on your machine, I would stick to hand towels or light weight bath towels. anything of weight must be supported around the hoop with stacks of phone books, old encyclopedia's etc. I would also suggest to attach the towel to the stablizer by using a temporary adhesive spray 505 for example. You and also pin the towel to the stablizer outside of the hooped area. Then use a WSS washable stablizer on top of the towel. the stablizer under the towel should be cut away.

[dana]

I would also suggest to attach the towel to the stablizer by using a temporary adhesive spray 505 for example. You and also pin the towel to the stablizer outside of the hooped area. Then use a WSS washable stablizer on top of the towel. the stablizer under the towel should be cut away.

This is how I do my towels. You definitely want to use a topper washable stabilizer- because you will lose your threads in the loop of the towel. Unless it is a thin dish towel I never hoop them.

Good luck!:D

[crumbear]

I don't have much else to say that hasn't already been said here, but I do have one comment. Regarding the stabilizer on top, everyone is recommending the dissolve away. I used to use this predominantly as well, but then I switched to an iron away stabilizer, like Clear N' Melt. Since it doesn't dissolve in water, it remains under the stitching and helps keep the stitches out of the nap of the fabric. The dissolve away works well, but the stitches will eventually go back into the nap of the towel.

[Yeffie]

Crum--
Where do you get the Clear N' Melt? I am interested in that- because I hate the solvy. If your hands are damp, or lotioned, :lol, it dissolves while you try to work with it.

[gingerale]

Oh boy am I glad to hear that someone ELSE is where I was about 6 months ago! I was so scared and didn't want to ruin them. THe best thing to do is, practice on a bath towel of your own you're not too worried about. And, DON'T forget to wash the new towel before you embroider it! :rolleyes:

[kurthco]

Just make sure the hoop is tight and that you use stabilizer.
Not using tear away or cut away was my first mistake.
You can use the plastic wrap stabilizer on the front too just to make sure the pills don't come through the stiches.
Good Luck and cross your fingers!

[MackandMorgan's Mom]

Just a side note...I love these towels that Target has...they have a band on the bottom (with a square pattern on it)...they come in really fun colors and the band is so easy to monogram on! I don't use a stabilizer with these and you don't have to use the topper! I hoop them also...just measure for center of the towel and line your hoop up with that mark! ( my girls have the hot pink towels with their names in yellow and for the boys I do blue towels with their names in red).

[mary schwartzsews]

Can someone suggest a font that I should use to embroider a phrase on a dishtowel? I am new at this. I have practiced with several and I don't like the way they turn out.

[dana]

Just a side note...I love these towels that Target has...they have a band on the bottom (with a square pattern on it)...they come in really fun colors and the band is so easy to monogram on! .


These are the towels I get too! I love them! I look for sales or clearance all the time, when I am at target. I love all the bright colors.

(I have more towels than I need- but I want to make certain I have one in an emergency should I need a gift).

I tried walmart towels- they were plush but after washing they finish funky- they are not smoothe-
I used these for my first trial, and the pile has swallowed my design. Good thing it was for my family so no one got disappointed.

[bwg]

Linens N Things has a great towel....called Genesis..it's thick and substantial and usually is on sale. Excellent for gift-giving!

[Sew Nana]

Hey, where did you buy the iron away stablizer! I did see that on a quilting show (I think), but I would really like to try that when making patches for my grandchildren. Thanks

[StitchinGrandma]

Crum--
Where do you get the Clear N' Melt? I am interested in that- because I hate the solvy. If your hands are damp, or lotioned, :lol, it dissolves while you try to work with it.
I've gotten mine although it had a different name from my Viking dealer. Anywhere that has an extensive line of stabilizers should have some of this type of stabilizer.

Can someone suggest a font that I should use to embroider a phrase on a dishtowel? I am new at this. I have practiced with several and I don't like the way they turn out.
It really depends on what you like but, there are usually some very nice fonts built right into your sewing machine or the software you use for your machine. I'd check there first if you haven't and you might be surprised to find one there that you just love.

Hey, where did you buy the iron away stablizer! I did see that on a quilting show (I think), but I would really like to try that when making patches for my grandchildren. Thanks
Check with any sewing store since this is a fairly common stabilizer and I'm sure you'll be able to find it easily. As I said above, I buy mine from my Viking dealer and I'm sure wherever you bought your machine will also have it in stock.