When fabric is produced, manufacturers don't anticipate that anything will be added to it. When embroidering onto fabric, we're adding weight and tension of thread and stitches. The fabric needs to be stronger and more "stable" to support the stitches - and that is why stabilizer is used with every embroidery project.
If the fabric isn't stabilized properly, you'll see less-than-stellar results. You might find shifting and gapping, puckering, dimpling, and more. Choosing the right type of design and stabilizer for your fabric is the key to getting great results.
The Fabrics 101 articles are an excellent guide for your stitching projects, and you can find them all here. This chart is a quick reference guide that summarizes those articles. Below you'll find the type of fabric, along with our recommendation for type of design, stabilizer, and needle. To read the full Fabrics 101 article for a type of fabric, click on the fabric name.
| Fabric | Stabilizer/backing | Design | Needle |
| Aida Cloth | Cutaway | Any | 75/11 Sharp needle. An Embroidery needle my also be used. |
| Balsa wood | Cutaway | Choose light designs, such as red work, toile, or vintage | 75/11 embroidery or universal needle. |
| Batiste | Water-soluble or tear-away | Choose light and open designs | 75/11 sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Broadcloth | Cutaway | Chooselight designs, such as toile, vintage, redwork, or designs with light and open areas. | 75/11 sharp needle. An Embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Burlap | Cutaway | Choose solid, stitch filled designs. Avoid light designs (they will get lost in the weave of the burlap. | 75/11 sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Canvas | Cutaway | Any. | 75/11 sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Chamois | Cutaway | Any; but be cautious of running-stitch designs (like redwork) that may get lost in the nap of the fabric. | 75/11 sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Charmeuse | Cutaway | Any, but consider draping (choose open designs for better draping) | 75/11 sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Chiffon | Water-soluble | Open, airy, and light. | 75/11 sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Cloth Diapers | Cutaway | Designs of any complexity will work well. Choose small designs or designs with open areas to avoid leaking. | 75/11 Sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Confetti Dot | Cutaway | If using a large design, choose open, airy, and light; If a small design, solid-filled. | 75/11 Sharp needle (necessary to penetrate the "dots") |
| Corduroy | Cutaway | Any for narrow wale; for wide wale, choose solid-filled designs (avoid running-stitch or Redwork designs) | 75/11 Sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Denim | Cutaway | Any. | 75/1 Sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Faux Fur | Cutaway | Solid-filled designs; avoid Redwork or light designs. | 75/11 Sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Faux Suede | Cutaway in most cases; tear-away with light designs. | Any, but consider draping | 75/11 Sharp needle (necessary for penetrating thicker fabric) |
| Faux Leather | Cutaway | Any, but consider draping (open designs will give the best draping). | 75/11 Sharp needle (necessary for leaving small perforations in the material) |
| Felt | Cutaway | Any. | 75/11 Sharp needle. An Embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Flannel | Cutaway | Any. | 75/11 Sharp needle. An embroidery or universal needle may also be used. |
| Garbadine | Cutaway | Any (but consider draping). | 75/11 Sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Handkerchiefs | Cutaway, tear-away, or water-soluble can be used | Choose light designs, such as redwork, toile, or vintage. | 75/11 Sharp needle. An embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Hemp | Cutaway | Any, but can depend on the weight of the fabric. | 75/11 Sharp needle. Any embroidery needle may also be used. |
| Homespun | Cutaway or tear-away depending on the blend of the fabric | Light and open designs for cotton/poly blends, solid-fill designs for sturdier 100% cotton homespun |
Gather Materials:
The first step is to select your machine embroidery design. Embroidery Library has an embossed machine embroidery design for every project. Look for designs with "embossed" in the product name. These designs have been specifically digitized and tested to work with high-nap fabrics like fleece and terrycloth.
Start Embroidering:
Cut a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer a bit larger than the hoop.
Place the towel on top.
Get Inspired:
There are so many ways to use embossed designs for machine embroidery.
Monogrammed towels make great gifts for showers, wedding and housewarming.
