When you embroider on towels, do you wash them first? I got some for a wedding next week, don't want to mess them up with shrinkage. Do you use tearaway stabilizer? I know WSS on top. Thanks, M

I want to do towels but not sure.........hate to ruin a good towel. Is it hard????

1 comment

by michele921 08 Jun 2009

no it is really easy just make sure to use WSS on top the first time I didn't have any so used a different type and boy that was hard to get out LOL

Great Answers!
*4 Everyone!

Boy Marji, you have alot of help with this one - so I will just give you a *.

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the first time I did towels I did not wash them I gave them as a wedding gift too. now I have been doing hooded towels for the kids in my family and I always wash them you will find that the pile tends to lift after washing. I use WSS on top and a tear away on bottom I never hoop them though I always pin them much easier. I had hooped the first ones I did what a pain trying to get them to line up and get the hoop on much easier to pin around the edges. I just did 2 for my nephews yesterday. here is a pic of one I did a couple of monthe ago

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by lindaavolio 08 Jun 2009

Michele...these are adorable!!!!!!!!!!!

by michele921 08 Jun 2009

Thank you. My nephew loved them this was the very first set I did now everyone wants them LOL so it's sew sew sew I go LOL

i embroider allot of towels and i don't wash them before and i use tearaway stabilizer and i have nobody that have been complaining about shrinking,gr connie

I have found for me that using a sticky tearaway rather than hooping works best for me..hooping thick towel can be quite a task in itself..I use a basting stitch around the design to be embroidered to give it even more stability from being moved or knocked out of alignment when sewing the design..I either float the wss on top or give it a quick shot of sulky adhesive spray.. So far I have had no problems with shrinkage on any of the towels I have done..I have used applique designs as well but you should iron the area in which the design is placed first...Had a few boo boo's the first time as the applique fabric came out of the design area as it was stitching due to the loft of terry..

I don't wash them first and use always WSS on top.but sometimes I wash a towel of the same kind first to see if it shrinks.

Thanks for your help, everyone! What would you think of the Firebird "L" from here on light rust towels? Dramatic? Do you think people would mind if there were cutaway on the back of their towel? Maybe the soft mesh kind? Opinions? Thanks loads, Marji

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by mops 07 Jun 2009

Dramatic, but very beautiful! I like the autumnal colours they used for this alpha, would be great to go with light rust.

by marjialexa 07 Jun 2009

Thanks, Martine, I thought the colors would be very striking, and I might even think of doing metallic on one over the color. It won't go with anything they have, but then they are totally disorganized and don't have a 'color scheme' anyway, hee hee hee. They are my best friends and I love them dearly, disorganized or not!! Hugs, Marji

I always wash before in case of shrinkage. I find waffle weaves usually shrink alot. Best to try one and see. If it shrinks after you put the design on it will pucker and not sit flat. Found this out with personal experience.

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by marjialexa 07 Jun 2009

Well, this is just 2, so they both get treated the same, hee hee hee.

Thanks--I've been wondering the same thing! Thought I was going to have to do a bunch of research--but great answers here!

Thank you for asking these questions. I alway wonder if I am doing the right thing.

I've done quite a few towels and so far so good, I use wss on top (of course) and tearaway under, if you want the design the same on both sides use the same color thread in your bobbin as on top and use wss on both sides. have fun......

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by marjialexa 07 Jun 2009

Thanks, I don't know what design yet, or maybe just an initial. Appreciate the help. Hugs, Marji

Towels can be a challenge. The Embroidery Library link is very helpful. Since towels are available in various degrees of quality, try stitching one completely then washing and drying it. Then, you'll know.
I tend to stick with the same brand (stocking up when they're on sale) instead of buying whatever's on sale at the time. I usually buy cream color towels and then vary the monogram style and thread color.

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by daisy530 07 Jun 2009

Same brand is great tip. Thanks.

by marjialexa 07 Jun 2009

Thanks, this will probably be first & last time for towels, lol. Hugs, Marji

I looked it up, here's the link.

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by tippi 07 Jun 2009

Thank you for the info

There's a tutorial on Emblibrary where they used different stabiisers and washed the towels 6 times. Given the results they recommend washing first, cutaway stabiliser and wss on top. I have not tried that out for myself yet - did it for presents -, but the ones I had made in the past need a bit of careful stretching and even ironing to stay in perfect shape.

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by marjialexa 07 Jun 2009

Thanks, Martine, I didn't know they had a tutorial on towels, too, guess I didn't look very well. Hugs, Marji

by clawton 07 Jun 2009

They have tutorials on almost everything. I have found them very useful.