How to Embroider on Terry Towels and Bathrobes

Terry towels and bathrobes are a great choice for machine embroidery. Terry fabric is thick, stable, and usually made with a high percentage of cotton, making it durable and heat-resistant during hooping. With the right techniques, your embroidery will look professional and last through many washes.

Best Embroidery Designs for Terry Cloth

When choosing a machine embroidery design for towels or robes:

• Use bold satin columns and tatami fills

• Avoid fine linework and thin satin elements—they tend to disappear into the pile of the terry fabric

Tips for Successful Embroidery

1. Use a Topping Film
   Place a layer of water-soluble or heat-removable topping over the fabric before stitching. This prevents the thread from sinking into the loops of the fabric and ensures a clean, raised embroidery.

2. Thread Choice Matters
   Since towels are frequently washed, polyester threads are recommended. They're stronger and more resistant to moisture, heat, and detergents compared to rayon threads.

3. Double-Sided Embroidery (Optional)
   For projects like monogrammed towels where the back is visible, use a bobbin thread that matches the top thread color to make the reverse side look neat.

4. Stabilizer Use
   Terry cloth is thick and doesn’t stretch much, so a bottom stabilizer is often not necessary. However, adding a light cut-away or tear-away backing is optional if you want extra structure.

After Embroidery

Remove the topping: Tear away most of the water-soluble or heat-away film after stitching.

• Clean up gently: Use a piece of clean fabric moistened with warm water to wipe away remaining bits of water-soluble film. If you used a heat-away topping, gently press it with an iron to melt and remove it.

Your Embroidered Towel Is Ready!

Now you can enjoy your personalized towel or robe — soft, stylish, and stitched to perfection.