Mastering Machine Embroidery: How to Stitch an Embossed Monogram Design on a Towel

The number one thing that can add a luxurious and personalized touch to your bathroom is a Monogrammed Embroidery Towel. Embossed Monogram designs are subtle yet elegant embroidery designs where one or more carefully selected initials seem to rise out of the fabric, encapsulated within a beautiful decorative frame. With the right tools and techniques, achieving this eye-catching look is not only possible but also a good beginner-friendly project for any creative navigating in the machine embroidery world.

To get started on this embroidery project, you will need the materials listed below:

• An embroidery machine
• An embossing monogram design file of your choice (compatible with your embroidery machine software)
• A 90/14 machine embroidery needle
• A good-quality, thick tear-away stabilizer
• A machine embroidery hoop (preferably 4x4 or any hoop that will fit your design)

Optional: Water-soluble stabilizer

You need to make sure that your embossing monogram file is suitable for the project. It should have a thick, wide satin stitch frame that outlines the monogram. The area between the monogram and frame should be blank or filled with cross-stitch or any decorative stitches that act as a knockdown for the design. Normally, the letters of the monogram should be blank with a simple satin border to let the towel pop through, but they can also sometimes be filled with a satin column or a simple stitch fill. 

Before embroidering on the towel, you will want to wash it first to remove any residue capable of interfering with the embroidery process. Some fabrics often shrink while being washed; embroidering on those fabrics before having let them shrink to their natural size could contort the design and even turn certain stitches loose. To take away any uncertainty before beginning the embroidery process, take the time to wash the fabric that you will embroider on. This step will reduce the risk of wasting your time and materials on an embroidery project doomed to fail.

The next step is to choose the right stabilizer. Since most towels are made with thick and fluffy fabrics, it's recommended to use a medium-weight cutaway stabilizer. This step ensures that the final design is well-supported and can withstand multiple washing processes. 

Some embroiderers also add a layer of water-soluble stabilizer on top of the towel to flatten the loops and create cleaner stitches. This step is optional, but it ensures that the design turns out neat without any stitch getting lost in the nap. 

For the needle, I recommend using a 90/14 embroidery needle, which is strong enough to handle thick materials like towels. 

Most embroidery designs include a printable PDF template that shows the design's size and placement. You can print this sheet and place it on the towel to mark the center of your embroidery design and ensure that it aligns perfectly with where you want it embroidered. This step takes the guesswork out and makes hooping a much easier process. 

If your design does not come with a PDF file, you can still mark the center of where you want the monogram to go and approximate the design border limits according to its size.

Before hooping your towel, I usually use some temporary adhesive spray to secure the stabilizer to the back of the towel. The spray will help your hoop the stabilizer and towel more easily, with one of the other shifting during the hooping process. 

Your hooping should be tight and with no slack; it should be as tight as a drum. Take the time to verify your hooping before starting your embroidery machine. Alternatively, you can also use the floating method. 

I have tried both approaches, and each has advantages and disadvantages. The standard hooping method offers more stability for the towel, but regular hoops are sometimes thin and can snap easily if the towel fabric is too thick. On the other hand, the floating method is easier to handle and guarantees no hoop burn; however, your fabric will be less stable, and a strong adhesive must be applied between the fabric and the hooped stabilizer.

Once the hooping is done and everything is in place, you can load your monogram embossing design on your embroidery machine and begin stitching. Keep an eye on your machine regularly to ensure that everything is running smoothly and that there is no thread buildup. 

At the end of the stitching process, you should have a beautiful embossed embroidery towel. All that remains is to remove the hooping, trim the stabilizers, and wash your towel to remove the water-soluble topping. 

Embossed embroidery monograms do not have to be limited to towels. Those designs can also be used to embellish thick scarves, decorative pillows, custom pouches and bags, throw blankets, and even hoodies. With the right design and setup, everything is possible!