Thursday, February 23, 2012

Bridal Shower Towels

This has been without a doubt one of the busiest weeks ever. Sometimes I just wish my life was my own when this happens.

I have a double bridal shower tonight and so I personalized these towels. I used the Accuquilt Go House die.


Judy from "Sew Fun Quilt" and I were talking yesterday....this was a light bulb moment for me.
She was talking about if you have too many stitches with your embroidery machine on towels that they will shrink (bunch) up. Immediately I thought of these that I did for the shower tonight.
Oh my goodness....all that work!!!

So I got another towel and did a rooster on it, washed it, dried it, and yep.....it bunches up. Not that I questioned you Judy but a gal has to see for her self (rather, hope it is not so). I would show you but I used the towel last night and now it is in the wash. You can iron it out, that is a plus but who wants to iron their towels?

That is when I got the idea to do those personalized towels. I am still going to give these towels to them....my whole theme is relying on these towels.

Live and learn....and I like to learn the hard way. Next time my son says that to me I won't get so upset.



The winner of the rooster was posted below. Also Linny, if you are reading this, you are a no reply so I can not send you the table top pattern.

20 comments:

Needled Mom said...

Have you tried a different stabilizer?

Shakerwood said...

Don't you just wish there was just one day that we could do what we wanted without anyone asking for something or an obligation on someone else's part? I'm still waiting for that day to show up .....

Twisted Quilts said...

You are way too smart!

Snoodles said...

So sorry that your first towels didn't make the team...love 'em all, tho. The little houses and trees are way cute! Take time to breathe, OK? LOL
Congrats to the lucky winners!

Betty said...

They are all so lovely. They will be lucky to get them from such a wonderful Lady.

Bev S said...

Those are so cute. But on another subject. You posted about using a mug for you serger thread. Well I tried it and love the ideal. Thanks.

suemac said...

I have had that experience too. A looser weave means more bunching.

Unknown said...

I love your towels! How frustrating to have that problem, though. So . . . is there something that can be done so the design won't "bunch up?" I have an embroidery module that came with my machine but I don't know how to use it yet . . . :/

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Caaaute Towels. Do not kick yourself, I would not have thought of that either. They will love these! Cute die set too!

Joanna said...

That's a nice idea for shower gifts. I'm sure the brides will love them, even if they do bunch up.

JustCindy said...

I didn't know about the towels bunching up. There has to be a solution. The towels you made for gifts are so cute1

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Your towels look great! I was wondering about using a different stabilizer too. I don't know much about embroidering on towels so I am of no help.

Betsy said...

Great gift towels. I iron my embroidery towels because I display them. Often times you can skip some of the embroidery steps that are not really necessary so there is not slot of bunching up.

Gene Black said...

Proper stabilizing is the trick...or so we were told in the Floriani class. You need a tearaway on the back (hooped) as well as a washaway on the top (hooped) (one that completely dissolves!) and then you "float" another piece of tearaway UNDER the hoop. (just slide it up under there so it covers where you will be putting the design. It seems like overkill, but it does make it come out nicer.

SewCalGal said...

I'm certainly not an expert on this issue of "blanks' bunching up with Machine Embroidery and causing wrinkles, but I have found, where possible, it is worth it to pre-wash your blanks to shrink the before you do ME, as well as to use a heavy stablizer. And, when uncertain, try to select a low stitch count me design (e.g. redwork) for items you can't pre-shrink. Still I'm curious what others do to minimize this potential risk.

As an FYI, I just gave a dense ME design on a lightweight tea towel, as part of a hostess gift basket. I saw the tea towel get washed and with a good "shaking" it really didn't need pressing after being washed. So, while some designs do curl when the blanks are shrunk you can often hand stretch them and they'll be ok. Still, I prefer to wash & pre-shrink my blanks where I can get away with it.

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

JJ said...

Your towels turned out very cute. You will have to let me know how the gift was received. I bet they will be excited.

Anonymous said...

All the towels are wonderful, and so what if they shrink up a little? It wouldn't bother me. On the other hand, I'd probably never know, because I would be using them as decoratives in the kitchen!

hetty said...

I always have to learn the hard way too. I would simply iron those towels. My iron is always set up in my sewing room. And I wouldn't use anything so nice for everyday use. But if I ever do any machine embroidery, I will use Gene's stabilizer method.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Adorable towels!

Miri said...

I don't know Barb, those towels are so adorable I'd be willing to iron them! I like your new plan towels too.