Does anyone have a good suggestion on how best to hem thick terrycloth? I was given a full bolt of the heavy weight terry, that has the loops on one side and the velvety texture on the other. It would make very plush towels if I could figure out a way to get it hemmed. I've tried my serger (overlocker), but it comes out after a few washes. The terry is too thick to fold in to thirds and put under my sewing machine foot. I have 10 yards of it, so there is plenty to make all the towels I would need. How would YOU finish the edges? It is white if that helps with ideas. Thank you!

I have an old Singer 401 that handles even 12 layers of flannel and corduroy, where my embroidery machine can't even lower the machine foot on such a project. If you have an older machine or maybe a friend with one, I would follow rescuer's advice for turning and stitching after the serge being sure to enclose several inches of serge tails to prevent the stitching from coming out. I'd also add a strip of embroidery on a separate material and sew those about 8 inches in from either end prior to the edge stitching.

If that is not an option, then choosing a material to bind the edges like you do with your quilts . I would not have a problem with all four sides bound with a coordinating color but if you think that may look "off" then bind your edges with a double fold white fabric and then have a strip of embroidery on either end of each towel plus on both sides, like you would normally see on towels. The ends of the embroidered fabric strips would then be encased in the double fold binding when you sewed it onto the towel. If you decide to add any embroidery directly onto the towel, be sure to use a wash away stabilizer on the top of the towel so the embroidery stitches do not get lost in the thick loops of terry cloth.

Hope you will post picture on what method you decide to use and any embroidery you decide on using.

What an awesome gift to have received!

How about serging the edge, then use a double needle to hem it. The backside creates a zig-zag looking stitch that will cover any loopy serger threads, but the front side will show only two even stitched rows. Also very easy to lock the edges with backstitches to keep it from coming out.

I would serge the edge and then turn the serged edge in and sew along the top.

Are you pulling the ends of the serger thread back into the stitched area? I have serged thick towels and then after pulling the tails (at least 2 -3 inches) back through I turn the serged edge and stitch with a 3 point zigzag and then finish with a straight stitch to prevent the inner edge from pealing back in places.

I would go with binding...you could also add a strip of the binding fabric across the towel and add some embroidery too!

I would bind it. Have used this technique when I have cut towels down for hand towels. Would also use the fabric double in the binding like you do when binding a quilt. Hope this helps, Lyn

looks like my ideas are already taken.. good luck

Is it too thick to put a binding around?

1 comment

by justonlyme 17 Nov 2014

No, it isn't. That just might be the answer I need. Do you think that having a binding around all of the edges would look odd? I do quilt bindings all the time, so that would be a piece of cake. Thank you.

Try turning up the hem one time after the edge is serged. That may work as you have it stitched twice.

1 comment

by justonlyme 17 Nov 2014

Hmm, that might work. I'll have to try it on a washcloth sized piece or something and see how it holds up. Thank you.