I did a set with Mickey Mouse a couple years ago. I did wash away on both sides, double thickness. Yes, it is a little costly, but my embroidery still looks good. I do not embroider a lot, to me it is boring and most times I just use what I have and have even been know to use sewing stabilizer....

I will try and post a pic in a minute. My computer is not being very friendly to me at the moment....

Go to embroidery library and view the tutorial on embroidering towels.

http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/ELProje...oductid=PR1256

Here are my towels. I would reduce the size next time I do them. These are about 2 1/2 years old with at least 100 washes.

I have done towels, with no stabilizer! After repeated washing, they still look fine. However, like the others have mentioned, a wash-away on top will help to keep your thread from getting lost in the nap.

I use a wash away stabilizer when I embroidery on towels. I put it in the hoop on the underneath side and also on top to help control the loops in the terry cloth. This is my "experience" tip for you...use TWO threads of the same color thru one needle on top and stitch thru all the layers of the stabilizer front and back and the towel. The 2 threads has much better coverage than one and will stitch as one thread because you are running them thru the same needle. It really makes a big difference in the way the thread covers the terry cloth. I did monagramed towels last year for my kids and they turned out really well.

I just did towels for my GKs. I experimented a bit... The wash away on top is the way to go. It is doable without it, but is smoother and looks nicer with it. I have seen mention of using " glad" press and seal, instead of the wash away... I believe I would try this. It will pull away once stitched.
I used tear away on some and cut away on others on the back... I couldn't tell much difference. I studied a number of tutorials before starting this project. All tutorials recommended tear away. They discouraged wash away on the back. stating the emb would not hold up well. (Thanks to CQ for showing us towels after many washings-- they look like they held up to me) I used white bobbin as recoommended....my towels were colored and it definately shows on the back side.. Next time I think I would try to use the same color as the towel. Would certainly make it look much nicer. The best thing I learned from my research was to use "sticky" stabilizer.. instead of trying to hoop the towel. I did hoop one practice towel, with difficulty( it was a lighter wt towel , than my project towels.) I loved the " Sticky" I will definately use it on otehr projects...

This was a great post! I used wash away on top and tear away on bottom. Going to try wash away on top and bottom next time. My sisters loved their monogramed towels last year.

I agree great subject. I have a mega hoop so hooping towels and other items are a lot easier. Hooping was the one thing that really turned me off of embroidery but with the mega hoop it a doable project. I going to use the wash away on top and bottom next time. As for the bobbin I used white on bottom and blue on top and you couldn't even see the white on bottom, it blended in with the blue and it looked like I used the same color. Again thanks for the information and the pictures. See something done and reading about it makes all the difference in the world.

I have a 2009 Phaff Creative Visions. It is a great machine with lots of GOODIES! Maybe, just MAYBE, I'll learn how to use them all in MY lifetime....

Thanks to all who have given me numerous TIPS on monagramming towels. Lots of good information. You all have given me COURAGE.. Hope this has also helped others too!...