Machine Embroidery on a Towel

One of the machines I have is a combo embroidery/sewing machine.  I LOVE embroidery.  I haven’t been doing enough of it lately! I needed to make a few hooded towels (remember how I love them?) and add names to a couple of them. The fabric I used to embellish the hood is a print from the new line Oh Boy! by David Walker. I think it’s super cute!!!!

Embroidery on a towel can be a little bit tricky because the terry is plush – which makes the stitches sink into the fabric and hide.  Also the terry is too thick to hoop like you typically do.  So I thought I’d show you how I embroider on a towel!

 

You’ll need to have a bottom stabilizer as well as a topper (to keep the stitches from sinking).  I typically use a brand called Floriani, but I went and found the Sulky products that are similar because I know they sell these in JoAnn’s and Hancocks.  (We don’t have a Hobby Lobby, so I don’t know if they sell them there!)  If you have a local sewing machine shop, they might have a company they use and trust.    The key is to get products that can wash away!  The sulky items I found  are called  Fabri-Solvy and Super-Solvy.  Since you won’t be able to hoop the towel, you’ll also want spray adhesive.  I use Sulky KK2000.  (Obviously you’ll also need embroidery thread and bobbin – if you need tips on those, let me know!)

Now that you have the supplies the process is fast.      Start by hooping the Fabri-Solvy. Then spray generously with the KK200.

 

Next I put the hoop on the machine and place the area of the towel to be embroidered on top of the fabri-solvy.

Place the clear super-solvy on top of the towel and start the embroidery machine. I hold it in place for the first couple stitches.

When your embroidery machine is done, clip the jump stitches and simply tear away the super-solvy. Any that is left behind (like in the center of the letters) and easily be removed with a little bit of water.

Remove the hoop and cut the fabri-solvy close to the design. This will be washed away once the item is washed.

And now you’re done!  I was only putting a name onto the towel, but it’d work the same way with a larger design.  Have fun.