Towel Tips

Jan 1, 2008

Make sure your customers know that monogrammed or embroidered towels, such as this one from Terry Town Inc., should be washed in warm or cold water using a mild detergent.

When embroidering on towels, there are a few thread properties and washing guidelines to keep in mind. Dark thread colors, such as black, navy and deep red, may be overdyed and could bleed during the first washing. While no thread is immune to bleach, polyester threads hold up better than rayon threads.

It's important to include specific washing instructions with your embroidered items. Recommend that your customers wash monogrammed or embroidered towels in warm or cold water using a mild detergent. Consider also that the towel might shrink during washing while the design size remains the same.

In some cases, as with towels embellished for hotels, it's impossible to follow these care instructions. These terrycloth items must withstand harsh industrial laundering — including hot water, bleach and high-temperature drying. If you know an item will undergo such treatment, use a monochromatic color scheme that matches the thread color to the towel color. For example, using a navy thread with a dark navy towel will not only create a tasteful, tone-on-tone look, but also will make any damage done to the design by heat or chemicals much less noticeable. — From the EMB Archives

8 Tips for Embroidering with Metallics
Think of metallic embroidery thread as the equivalent of the foil effect popular on screen printed T-shirts sold at retail today. It adds a similar trendy look whether used in concert with other apparel decoration applications or alone.
June 09, 2008

Digitizing Designs for Terrycloth
Don't forget these important tips when creating a digital embroidery design file to sew out on towels and other deep-pile fabrics.
Monogramming bath towels and bathrobes can be a lucrative niche for embroiderers. Upscale department stores and linen shops are eager to set up arrangements with embroiderers who can monogram towels as wedding gifts.
May 22, 2008

New Threads Provide Paint for the Embroidery Palette
The latest embroidery threads include unique materials designed to create special eye-catching effects, improve production efficiency and open new markets.
It's easy to marvel at the technical sophistication of today's computerized embroidery machines and overlook the more mundane role of thread in the embroidery process.
April 29, 2008

Embroidery Backings: What Goes Where?
When deciding which stabilizer to use, you also need to consider the material to be embroidered.
Previously, we explained the need for backings or stabilizers behind the fabric while it's being embroidered (see "Stabilizers: The Foundation of Embroidery"). Now we want to focus on the what and the where.

Stabilizers can be broken down into two major categories: cutaways and tearaways. While there are many weights and types of each of these, I recommend keeping the decision of which to use as simple as possible.
April 14, 2008

To Patch or Not to Patch
When a customer requests patches, first determine whether you should handle the order yourself or outsource it.
April 01, 2008