Learn how to stitch up the perfect blend of form and function with this easy machine embroidery tutorial! Follow step-by-step instructions to create a custom scour patch towel by appliqueing a scouring pad directly onto a dish cloth. It's a fun and practical project that makes cleaning a little more cheerful — and it's great for gifts too!
Shop great designs for this project here!
Supplies & Materials:
Project Materials or Supplies
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- Dishcloth
- Medium-weight cutaway or tearaway stabilizer
- Scissors
- Temporary spray adhesive (such as Odif 505)
The designs used in this tutorial include:
Gather Materials:
When you download an applique design, you will find multiple files. One will be the embroidery file, and the other is the dieline file marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print the dieline file using embroidery software. If you do not have embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.
We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchases made with this link.)
To prepare the scouring pad applique piece, trim close to the edge of your paper dieline and spray the back with temporary adhesive.
Smooth the paper dieline to your scouring pad and cut out the shape.
P.S. we found scouring pads perfect for this project in fun colors on Amazon. You can get a 24 pack here (this is an affiliate link. We may earn a commision on items purchased via this link).
Cut a piece of medium weight cutaway or tearaway stabilizer slightly larger than your hoop. In this tutorial we are using Sulky Stiffy Tearaway stabilizer, linked in the supplies above. Spray one side with temporary spray adhesive and adhere to the back of your dishcloth where you will place your hoop.
Using a printed template of your design, place the template where you plan to stitch the design. Using a fabric marking tool, like a heat erase pen, mark the center point, horizontal, and vertical axis lines of the design.
Start Embroidering:
Hoop the dishcloth and stabilizer together tightly, lining up the marks on the hoop with the drawn axis lines on the dishcloth. Lining up these marks with the marks on the hoop will ensure that the design will sew where intended and not be crooked.
Load the full embroidery design (not the dieline) onto the machine.
The color change sheet shows the stitching order. The first thing that will embroider is the dieline which traces the shape for the applique piece to be placed in.
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Remove the paper dieline and spray the back of the scouring pad applique piece with temporary adhesive.
Place it in the outline on the dishcloth.
Cut a piece of Solvy Water Soluble stabilizer and lay it on top of the scouring pad, using masking or painters’ tape to secure the edges of the stabilizer. This water-soluble topper keeps the scouring pad in place and prevents the stitches from sinking into the scouring pad.
Continue embroidering the design, the next color change will be a tackdown stitch. Then follow the color change sheet provided for the remaining color changes of the design.
Gently tear off the water-soluble stabilizer and tape from the edges of the front of the design. Tweezers can be helpful for removing smaller pieces.
Unhoop the dishcloth and stabilizer. Gently tear away the stabilizer from the back of the dishcloth and interior of the design.
If using cutaway stabilizer, trim close to the edges of the design.
Place a pressing cloth over your dishcloth, and using a lower heat, press around the edges of your design to remove the heat erase marks, careful to avoid pressing the iron to the scouring pad.
You have finished your scouring pad applique and are ready to start scrubbing!
