Hi everyone, I am going to bite the bullet and have a go at embroidering on a hand towel (first attempt at towelling) can you tell me if I have to sew the design twice so it stands out on the towel or is once enough ?

check out apexembdesigns.com for a tutorial on using the foam. It is under the 3D puffy designs.

Not a problem, just do it. I've done it on all sorts of towels. Just be sure to put WSS on the top of the design. That holds the loops down. Why not try a small sample design on a wash cloth? Build up your concordance.

I first look at a design to see if it is suitable for towels. Light designs will sink into the towel and you won't be able to see it well. I look to see if the design has good underlay. If it doesn't have any underlay, it won't have much dimension. If the towel is quite heavy, I use tulle on top and wss on back. The tulle will tear away. If it is a medium weight towel, I use a med weight tearaway on top and bottom. If it is a light weight towel, I avoid very light weight towels, but use wss on top and bottom when I do. Also, if doing monograms, I use the same thread in the top and bobbin. Otherwise, I use a color that matches the towel in the bobbin.

Hi Trish - you have received some excellent tips. Embroidering on towels is my favorite. I never hoop towels as I am frightened that it might break my hoops. Just go for it and I am sure you will be delighted with the results. Good luck. Sarah

Hi Trish, you have received good advise below. I have a cheap 2nds towel as my tester it's getting covered with trial designs so I can tell if I'' use that font or design.. it's great to see what it will look like after a few washes also.. Have lots of fun and as the girls have said it's not as scary as you think.. Marian /Sydney

Welcome (belatedly) to Cute from me, a State south :) Have you got, or can you get some of the washaway stabiliser which most would use as a topper on towels? If you can't (as you say the shop is closed), there is probably an alternative you can use just to stop the loops coming through in your design. Pref something really thin that can be snipped close or pulled away at the edges of your design. I wouldn't like to slow you down when your idea to get into it is *hot*!

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by Trish56 03 Feb 2015

I was able to get some washaway stabiliser, I bought a beginners pack off the internet, a company called echidna, their product seems to be working well . one of the cuties (Chris) gave me an idea of using GLAD freezer go between as well, so will try that too, thanks for your advice

Try embroidering using the puff foam especially for monograms.

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by Trish56 03 Feb 2015

I don't know this one ?

by hart 03 Feb 2015

It is a thin piece of foam you can by packets of it at Joanns or other craft stores even a the Dollar store it is used in kids crafts. After you embroider it just tears away real easy around the embroidery, it just gives a solid base for stitches and elevates the design some. I have used on T-shirts with designs that are dense. It comes in different colors, sheets are 5x7 or 8x11.

by Trish56 03 Feb 2015

thank you for that, I will look out for it and give it a try

Be brave and confident you can do it. I dont hoop my towels I use a basting stitch to baste to the hooped water soluble stabilizer. Then i baste another sheet of the same on top. As suggested choose a design that wont "get lost" . Wishing you well and looking forward to seeing your project. Ps where in Aussie land are you ??

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by Trish56 03 Feb 2015

Scone NSW, in the Upper Hunter.... The lady that I bought my machine from here doesn`t operate here anymore, the closest place for me to learn the machine is Newcastle, 2.5hrs drive each way, so I am bluffing a lot and following this site heaps, crossing everything and I mean everything ! taking what everyone says and then I GO FOR IT !

Will await your result with anticipation. Don't do it twice, your needle won't like it! Embossed is best,' wash-away' on the top helps to stop the foot getting tangled in the towel [this you do not want] cheers from South Australia

Have fun and show us what you made. If you have a problem someone will advise but I'm sure you'll do fine. Don't foget to use tear away in hoop and WSS on top. WSS is water soluble Stablizer - good luck Toogie

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by Trish56 03 Feb 2015

thanks for your encouragement

The embossed alphabets on the Cute websites are wonderful designs to start with because they cover the loops well. You have been given great advice so just bite the bullet as you said and have fun. It is not as difficult as you fear and much more fun than you realize. Enjoy stitching them out.

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by Trish56 03 Feb 2015

I found one called petite fleur at cute alphabets

I agree with the other 2 posts. Choose your design correctly. Sometimes if the design has fine lines they can get lost in the toweling (Such as redwork as an example). Have fun. Towels seem to be all I do these days. There is a new baby in the family so it might be all I need to give me a jump-start to get back to the machine. LOL. Hugs Marg

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by toogie 02 Feb 2015

Congratulations Marg, on the new baby in the family. Have fun making new little things .

by mranderson 02 Feb 2015

Thanks. The new baby is my brothers GGchild. My brother is only 16mths older than me. So we are close (hit him and my nose will bleed) LOL. Hugs Marg

Once you do one towel you will be makeing lots of gifts!! asterixsew gave you the right answer, I would add for your first go if you have an old towel or face cloth you might want to do a trial run. I use Solvy brand clear wash away on top but there are several other brands just find one you like. You do need to stabilize the back also, I use tear away, medium weight. It seems to help if you can, slow down the speed on your machine and I usually use a 14 size needle. Good luck and have fun.

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by Trish56 03 Feb 2015

great to know, I wouldn`t have put the stabilizer on the back, but it makes sense to, was wondering how the loops didn't get caught up on the teeth thanks

Trish once will be enough but it produces a better quality sew out if you put some stabiliser on the top. The wash out variety of stabilliser.

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by asterixsew 02 Feb 2015

Forgot to say goodluck and have fun

by Trish56 02 Feb 2015

OK thanks for that, I am a bit excited also a bit nervous about doing these as I don't want to mess them up, I got some handtowels at the bargin store $AU1.50 each, so if I mess them up it wont be too bad. :)