Going to attempt my first set of towels, do you have any recommendations? I'm doing a dense design for the school christmas hamper, the school theme is sunflowers. I know I have to use wss on top but do I need anything on the bottom and do you use bobbin thread or change the colors to be the same on both sides. Thanks in advance... Lucy

I'm still quite new an so far I have done 3 towels. Hmm not a real expert I can say, but what I have learned so far : Tearaway at the back; wash away at the top. Play also a bit with the size of the design. Sometimes it does look better a bit smaller or even larger. Depens on how big your towel is.

1 comment

by loosie 22 Oct 2011

Thank you!

Hi Lucy - I embroider a lot of towels. I hoop very thin tearaway. Spray with a small amount of adhesive. Pin towel in corners to the tearaway. WSS on top and I have never had a failure. I think with something like this it is a personal thing and we all do thing differently. Good luck and enjoy.

1 comment

by loosie 22 Oct 2011

Thank you!

I tinkered with an idea last night and it worked beautifully. I saw it done on high end towels, so figured that it was probably a sound idea. I stitched a dense design out on organza, with a layer of WSS to go with it. Then, after the design was done, and before the WSS was rinsed out, I sewed the organza design on to the towel. It worked great, and now I don't have to deal with the pokies of the towel or the stiffness or what do do with the back of the towel. I used invisible thread to attach it. I also tried the same technique with tulle. Worked great as well. I think you will be very pleased with the results. And then, if you have lots to do, you can do them all in one hoop and not have to worry about hoop burn, etc. Do a sample on a rag or something to get it down first. Good luck.

3 comments

by loosie 21 Oct 2011

Oh that sounds interesting, Thanks!

by justonlyme 21 Oct 2011

I forgot to add that you should leave just a little bit of the organza or tulle around the edges for the attachment.

by bumblebee 21 Oct 2011

Sounds like a great idea -I will try this.
I've also seen organza topped coverlet with hand ribbon embroidery that was gorgeous.
Sounds really good for guest towels-I had some with tassels-just for looks really

I use WSS in the hoop, two layers at right angles to each other, and pin the towel to that.
I use the same colour thread, top and bobbin, and WSS film on top. The film is finer than my normal WSS.

The first towels I did I used tearaway and it worked well but the monograms were still quite stiff for a long time.

More experienced stitchers will have different ideas.
AlmaG.

1 comment

by loosie 21 Oct 2011

Thanks, and flowers for all!

Embroidery Library Has some terrific tutorials - Check there. MK

1 comment

by loosie 21 Oct 2011

Thanks!