Table of Contents
Watch the video: “Machine Embroidery on Terry Cloth” by Learn More Embroidery
If you’ve ever stitched a towel and watched your design vanish into the fluff, this tutorial is for you. Terry cloth is thick, lofty, and beautiful—but it asks for particular prep. In the video, the instructor shows how to pre-gauge your hoop, align with a 1:1 template, choose a stabilizer that cleans up beautifully, and float a water-soluble topper for crisp edges.
What you’ll learn
- How terry cloth’s pile changes your hooping tension and topper needs.
- When to choose tear-away wash-away stabilizer and why it leaves a cleaner back.
- A beginner-proof way to center designs using a printed template and a single pin.
- How to float and secure a water-soluble topper (and why not to hoop it).
- Simple cleanup that leaves the back tidy after laundering.
Mastering Terry Cloth Embroidery: A Beginner's Guide Terry cloth is both absorbent and thick—the very pile that makes it soft can swallow stitches and fight your hoop. The video breaks down a friendly, repeatable approach. First, gather your design (printed at 1:1), terry cloth, a hoop sized to your design, threads, and stabilizers. Then, plan for placement so the motif lands straight and centered when the towel hangs.
Understanding Terry Cloth's Unique Challenges The video stresses that terry cloth’s high pile poses two specific challenges: hooping without stretching the nap and keeping stitches sitting on top of the surface. That’s why the demo uses hoop pre-gauging and a water-soluble topper. If you’ve ever struggled with puckering or buried lettering, those two steps will help you immediately.
Essential Materials for Success You’ll see three stabilizer options discussed, including a tear-away with adhesive (handy for floating) and a tear-away wash-away that rinses out over a few launderings for a clean backside. You’ll also need pins, scissors or snips, and painter’s tape to secure the topper. A printed template is your placement superpower when you’re starting out.
Pro tip
- Print your design at actual size with crosshairs. Position it on the towel where it will hang, not just where it lays on your table. This ensures your horizontal line stays truly horizontal in use. magnetic embroidery hoop
Choosing the Right Stabilizer and Topper Tear-Away vs. Wash-Away: The Clean Finish The instructor prefers a tear-away wash-away (sometimes called “tear and rinse”) for towels. During stitching, it supports the design like a standard tear-away. After a couple of washes, any exposed bits that aren’t trapped under bobbin stitches dissolve, leaving little to no visible stabilizer on the back. That matters on towels because anyone holding one will notice the finish.
Watch out
- Adhesive-backed stabilizers can pull on terry loops when removed, disturbing the nap.
- Adhesive can also gum up needles and affect machine performance. The video suggests wiping needles periodically with diaper wipes if you use sprays or tacky products.
Why Water-Soluble Toppers are a Game-Changer A water-soluble topper holds stitches up and away from the pile so text stays legible and satin edges remain crisp. In the demo, the topper is not hooped. Instead, it’s placed on top after the design is centered, then secured at the corners with painter’s tape. This prevents bunching or shifting as the machine moves.
Quick check
- Is the topper floating flat and secured at the corners? If not, it may fold into tight letter shapes or get tugged under by the needle.
Tacky Stabilizers: Pros, Cons, and Needle Care Floating a towel on a sticky tear-away can be convenient, but the video calls out two downsides: it may pull loops when removed, and adhesive can gum the needle. If you choose to go this route, pause between color changes (or every couple thousand stitches) to wipe your needle with a diaper wipe. It’s a simple habit that helps prevent skipped stitches and thread fraying.
From the comments
- Several viewers asked where to buy tear-away rinse-away products. The channel shared a shopping link in replies. If you’re unsure which brand to pick, look for “tear-away wash-away” or “tear and rinse” in the product description. magnetic embroidery frames
Precision Hooping and Design Placement Pre-Gauging Your Hoop for Terry Cloth Rather than cranking your hoop tight (as you might for a tee), the demo shows a looser setting for terry cloth. The instructor visually compares the space between hoop rings to the compressed towel thickness, aiming for just the right “give.” This helps avoid stretching or permanently flattening the nap.
Watch out
- Over-tightening can distort the loops, changing the towel’s appearance. If the fabric looks shiny, stretched, or thinned inside the hoop, you’ve gone too far.
Centering Your Design with Templates and Pins The simplest way to nail placement is to fold the towel to find center, mark it with a pin, and align that pin with the vertical crosshair on your printed template. The instructor pins the paper in place temporarily, checks that the horizontal line stays parallel to the towel’s bottom edge, and confirms the design will hang straight on a rod.
Quick check
- With the template pinned, step back and look at both sides of the towel to ensure it’s centered overall. On thick towels, visual reference beats eyeballing the hoop alone. hoop master station
Securing Your Fabric and Topper The stabilizer is cut to fit the hoop area, then the hoop is gently set so all layers lie smooth—no stretching. The video also shows planning for carriage travel: drape the excess towel away from the machine side that will move under the arm. After loading the hoop, remove the paper template and float the topper with tape at four corners.
From the comments
- A viewer noted they didn’t realize stabilizer doesn’t need to extend beyond the towel. The demo shows using enough to cover the hoop area—no more is required for this project, as presented in the video. dime snap hoop
The Embroidery Process: From Machine to Masterpiece Setting Up Your Machine for Terry Cloth Mount the hooped towel so the bulk drapes freely and won’t catch the carriage. The instructor aligns the needle to center-center, removes the template, and confirms the topper is secure. Then: green light, go. Keep an eye on the topper in the first minute to confirm nothing shifts.
Monitoring the Stitching Process As the design runs, let the towel’s weight fall off the table or support it lightly so it doesn’t drag against the hoop. The video highlights that if you used adhesive products, periodic needle wiping keeps your stitch quality consistent.
Pro tip
- If you’re experimenting with accessories beyond a standard hoop, many stitchers like exploring magnetic options or specialized fixtures to handle towel bulk. Choose what matches your machine and comfort; the video’s approach works with a standard hoop. mighty hoops
Finishing Touches: Cleaning Up Your Embroidery Trimming Threads and Removing Excess Stabilizer While the towel is still hooped, trim jump threads on the front. Then peel off the tape and remove the topper, lifting away larger pieces. For tiny bits in letters like O or E, the video mentions a “tennis ball tip” to help lift stray topper fragments. After unhooping, remove remaining stabilizer from the back; small remnants will dissolve in the first couple of washes.
Achieving a Professional Backside Finish This is where the tear-away wash-away shines. After laundering, exposed stabilizer dissolves, leaving the back tidy—no crunchy hand and no halo of stabilizer around your stitching. The instructor even jokes about inspecting towels in friends’ bathrooms; with this method, yours will pass the test.
From the comments
- A viewer asked about the tennis ball trick; the channel linked a short tutorial showing how to use it to remove tiny topper bits in tight spaces. magnetic hoops for brother embroidery machines
Advanced Tips for Flawless Terry Cloth Embroidery
- Template confidence: If you’re new, keep printing templates. As you gain experience, you may not need them every time, but they’re the fastest route to accurate placement.
- Bulk management: Decide which direction your towel will hang from the hoop so the moving arm won’t fight the fabric. Rolling and clipping the excess can help keep things clear of the carriage (the video shows thoughtful draping).
- Adhesive caution: If you opt for a sticky stabilizer or spray, plan on needle maintenance mid-stitch. Diaper wipes work quickly; the instructor calls this out as a simple, effective habit.
- Topper security: The topper is light and airy. Tape at all four corners to prevent shifting or crumpling into stitching paths.
- Hooping feel: For terry cloth, a slightly looser hoop is better than a drum-tight one, which can flatten and distort the pile.
Watch out
- The video doesn’t specify particular machine settings (like numeric tensions). If you need exact numbers, test a small scrap of the same towel with your chosen stabilizer and topper first. babylock magnetic hoops
From the comments: common questions answered
- “How do I print a template?” Viewers and the channel note most digitizing programs include a print template at 1:1 scale with crosshairs. Ensure your printer is set to print actual size (100%).
- “Where can I buy tear-away wash-away?” The channel shared a shopping link in replies; look for the term “tear-away wash-away” or “tear and rinse.”
- “Thread keeps breaking and the spool feeds in spurts.” The video doesn’t cover thread break troubleshooting. Consider checking basics on your own: thread path, spool cap orientation, and needle condition with a small test, but note this is outside the video’s scope.
- “What about alternative hoops?” The video uses a standard hoop; magnetic or specialty hoops weren’t demonstrated here. Choose what’s compatible with your machine and your comfort level. baby lock magnetic hoops
FAQ What is the best stabilizer for embroidering on terry cloth?
- As shown in the video, a tear-away wash-away stabilizer supports stitching during embroidery and dissolves from exposed areas after a few washes, leaving a clean back.
Do I need a water-soluble topper?
- Yes. The topper keeps stitches from sinking into the pile so fonts and satin edges stay crisp.
Should I hoop terry cloth tightly?
- No. The instructor shows pre-gauging the hoop looser than a shirt or sweatshirt to avoid stretching the nap.
How do I ensure perfect placement?
- Print a 1:1 template of your design, fold the towel to find center, mark with a pin, align the template’s crosshair to that pin, and pin the paper in place before hooping.
Quick checklist
- 1:1 template printed and pinned straight to the towel’s bottom edge.
- Hoop pre-gauged with a little “give” to protect the pile.
- Tear-away wash-away stabilizer cut to the hoop area.
- Topper floated and taped at all four corners.
- Excess towel draped away from the carriage. dime snap hoop
From the comments: beginner encouragement Viewers shared that these tips were game-changers and that clear placement and cleanup boosted their confidence. If you’re brand-new, try one towel start-to-finish following the video’s sequence—template, pre-gauged hoop, tear-away wash-away, topper—and evaluate your results after the first wash. magnetic hoops for brother
Final thoughts Embroidering terry cloth feels advanced until you set up the right way. With a printed template, a sensibly loose hoop, tear-away wash-away stabilizer, and a floated water-soluble topper, towels stitch cleanly and finish beautifully. Keep your needle wiped if you use adhesives, tape your topper, and let laundering remove the rest. You’ll be proud to show both sides of your towel.