Towel embroidery size: dimensions and placement for names and monograms

Typical size	4.5 × 3.5 in (114 × 89 mm)
Width range	3–8 in (76–203 mm)
Height range	2–5 in (51–127 mm)
Smallest hoop	5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm)
Machines that fit it	62 in our guide

Typical size

4.5 × 3.5 in (114 × 89 mm)

Width range

3–8 in (76–203 mm)

Height range

2–5 in (51–127 mm)

Smallest hoop

5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm)

Machines that fit it

62 in our guide

Where to place it

Center the design between the sides and measure from the bottom of the design to the woven border or the plain hem. Starting points from AllStitch, OESD and Sewing Machine Fun: washcloth about 1 to 1.5 in (25 to 38 mm), hand towel about 1.5 to 3 in (38 to 75 mm), bath towel about 2 to 4 in (50 to 100 mm), oversized bath towel about 3 to 4 in (75 to 100 mm), beach towel about 5 in (125 mm). OESD uses the smaller figure above a woven border and the larger above a plain hem, while one source reverses this for bath towels, so hold a paper printout against the towel and fold it the way it will hang. Sewing Machine Fun also says a monogram on a hand or bath towel can sit at the right edge instead of the center.

Size depends on the towel. Washcloths and hand towels take about 2 to 3.5 in (50 to 90 mm) tall, and bath towels take about 3 to 5 in (75 to 125 mm) tall. Add the gap above the border to the design height to be sure there is enough plain terry: a 3 in (75 mm) design with a 1.5 in (38 mm) gap needs about 4.5 in (115 mm) clear above the border. A single large initial fits a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) hoop, a 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) hoop handles most monograms and short names, and long names or wide bath towel designs need a larger hoop, such as 8 × 12 in (200 × 300 mm). These size ranges are common decorator practice, not fixed rules.

Loops hide detail, so go bold. Choose block letters, wide satin fonts and solid fills. Avoid thin script, tiny text, single-line outlines and fine detail, and make the lettering larger than you would on a shirt. On a fluffy towel, a knockdown underlay stitched first flattens the loops so the design sits on top.

Use a water-soluble topping on the surface of every towel so stitches do not sink into the pile, plus a backing underneath. Sewing Machine Fun uses medium tear-away or wash-away as the standard backing and cut-away or no-show mesh for stretchy towels and dense designs. Embroidery Library uses a medium 2.5 oz cut-away and trims it to about 1/2 in (13 mm) around the design. A new 75/11 needle is common; size up for thick towels.

Wash and dry the towel first, because cotton shrinks. Hoop the towel, backing and topping together if it fits. If it is too thick, float it on hooped backing with temporary adhesive and pins placed well away from the needle path, or use a magnetic hoop made for your machine. Sewing Machine Fun advises against sticky self-adhesive stabilizer on towels, because it can pull the loops when removed.

Tips

Wash and dry the towel before stitching so it does not shrink around the design afterward.

Print a template of the design, lay it on the towel and mark the center and the horizontal and vertical lines with a water-soluble pen. Target stickers can shift on loose loops.

Put a water-soluble topping on every towel. Tear off the bulk, then dab the rest with a damp sponge or wash the towel.

Pick wide, thick letters and solid fills, and size them up from what you would use on a shirt.

If the towel is too thick for your hoop, float it on hooped backing with temporary adhesive and pins, or use a magnetic hoop. Expect floating to be a little less exact than hooping.

Machines that can stitch a towel design

These machines hold the typical 4.5 × 3.5 in size in one hooping.

Frequently asked questions

How big should a monogram on a towel be?

About 3 to 5 in (75 to 125 mm) tall is typical for a bath or hand towel monogram or name, and a little smaller for a washcloth. Check the plain terry above the border first, because the gap plus the design height has to fit.

How far above the hem or border should I place a towel monogram?

OESD's chart measures from the bottom of the design: washcloth 1 in (25 mm) above a border, hand towel 1.5 in (38 mm), bath towel 2 in (50 mm), oversized bath towel 3 in (75 mm). Above a plain hem it uses 1.5, 2, 4 and 4 in (38, 50, 100 and 100 mm). AllStitch gives 2 to 3 in (50 to 75 mm) for a hand towel and 4 in (100 mm) for a bath towel. Sources differ, so check with a paper printout.

What hoop do I need for towel embroidery?

A 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) hoop suits one large initial or a short name up to about 3.9 in (99 mm) wide. A 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) hoop handles most monograms. Long names and wide designs need a larger hoop.

Do I need a topping on towels?

Yes, in almost every case. The loops let stitches sink out of sight, and a thin water-soluble topping holds them on the surface. It goes on in addition to a backing, never instead of one.