Why embroider dish towels
Dish towels are a practical, inexpensive base for embroidery. They are quick to decorate, useful as gifts, and flat enough to hoop easily. Patterns for towels range from traditional hand-embroidery designs to digital files for embroidery machines. This article focuses on hand embroidery. If you are new to the craft, our overview of hand embroidery patterns covers the basics.
Choosing a towel
Not every towel stitches equally well. Look for:
- Flat, plain weave. Flour sack towels, linen or cotton tea towels are common choices because the weave is smooth. Check that your needle passes through easily.
- Light colours. White, cream or pale towels show stitches and markings clearly.
- Limited texture. Terry cloth and waffle weave are harder to stitch and may need extra stabiliser.
- Pre-washed fabric. Washing the towel first removes sizing and reduces shrinkage after you finish.
Pattern ideas for dish towels
Popular themes include:
- Food and baking. Cookies, pies, coffee cups, bread and fruit.
- Farmhouse and animals. Chickens, cows, rabbits and bees.
- Florals. A row of wildflowers along the hem, or a single bloom in a corner. See flower embroidery patterns.
- Days of the week. A set of seven towels, each with a small motif.
- Seasonal sets. Swap in Christmas or Halloween designs for holiday kitchens.
- Lettering and recipes. Short kitchen phrases or a favourite recipe name.
- Redwork outlines. A single-colour fruit or kitchen utensil design is quick and traditional.
Where to place the design
Towels are often folded or hung, so think about where the design will show. Common placements are centred above the bottom hem, in one lower corner, or along the border. Leave some margin so the design is not hidden by a hanger loop or fold.
Stabilisers and transferring the design
Towels are looser than many embroidery fabrics, so a stabiliser can help keep stitches from sinking or puckering.
- Water-soluble stabiliser. You trace or stick the pattern onto the stabiliser, stitch through both layers, and rinse away. This is a handy method for textured towels.
- Tracing. On light, smooth towels, a window or light box and a water-soluble pen is often enough.
- Cut-away or tear-away stabiliser. Sometimes used on the back for denser designs.
Whichever method you pick, test it on a corner first.
Stitches that work well
Simple stitches hold up best on items that will be washed:
- Backstitch for outlines.
- Satin stitch for small filled shapes, kept short so threads do not snag.
- Stem stitch for curved lines.
- Fill with seed stitch or long and short stitch for larger areas.
Long loose stitches may catch in daily use, so keep them short. Using all six strands for outlines can produce a bold look, while two or three strands suit finer details.
Thread choice
Cotton floss is generally a good option for towels, since it can be washed. Check the label for colourfastness and follow the care instructions. Some bright reds and dark colours may bleed, so washing a small swatch first can save a project.
Washing and caring for embroidered towels
Care advice varies by thread and fabric, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions where available. General guidelines that many stitchers follow:
- Wash gently, in cool or warm water, and with similar colours.
- Avoid harsh bleach near embroidery.
- Press from the back on a soft towel so the stitches stay raised.
- Air-dry or use low heat.
Tips for beginners
- Start with a small design before covering a whole towel.
- Hoop the area you are stitching, but remove the hoop between sessions.
- Finish thread ends securely, since towels get washed often.
- Check the pattern licence if you plan to sell finished items.
- If you enjoy textured work, you could try a looped design in punch needle, although that is better suited to decor than to towels used for drying.