How To Make

Step-by-Step: In-the-Hoop Cat Towel Topper Tutorial

In-The-Hoop Towel Hanging Holes Tutorial

A finished towel with a decorative, cat-themed embroidered hanging hole at the top.

This guide walks you through a simple in-the-hoop process for creating towel-hanging holes. Please follow the steps carefully and do not unhoop your project at any point unless instructed. This project is made using both the front and back sides of the hoop.

NOTE: You will need to remove the hoop from the machine at certain steps, but please do not unhoop your project! The pocket and backing fabric are taped behind the hoop.

Stitching Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Hoop

Hoop two pieces of tear-away stabilizer together and attach the hoop to the machine.

Two layers of tear-away stabilizer secured in an embroidery hoop.

Embroider Color #1 directly onto the stabilizer. This will be a guideline showing where to place the towel.

A placement outline stitched onto the stabilizer.

Step 2: Attach and Appliqué the Towel

Stop the machine, do not unhoop, and lay the towel right inside the stitched shape.

A towel placed inside the stitched outline on the stabilizer.

It is helpful to use tape to keep the fabric smooth and flat while stitching.

The towel taped securely in place within the hoop.

The towel tack-down seam will be next. After it stitches, stop the machine, do not unhoop, and carefully trim the excess towel fabric from the center of the design.

Color #3 will stitch the placement line for the white base fabric. Color #4 is the tack-down seam for the white fabric. Note that this is just a base layer, not the main cat body appliqué.

A white base fabric layer stitched on top of the towel.

Stop the machine, do not unhoop, and do not trim the white fabric yet.

Proceed with Colors #5 and #6, which are the appliqué position and tack-down seams for the cat body. After the tack-down, embroider the nose and ears. Then, stop the machine (do not unhoop), trim only the cat body appliqué fabric, and continue with Color #8.

The cat body appliqué stitched and trimmed, with facial features embroidered.

Step 3: Add the Backing

Take the hoop off the machine, but do not unhoop it. This entire project is completed in one hooping. Turn the hoop over to the back side.

The back of the embroidery hoop, showing the stabilizer and stitches.

Attach the lining or backing fabric to the back of the hoop.

A piece of lining fabric placed over the back of the hoop.

Use tape to secure the lining fabric in place.

The lining fabric taped securely in place on the back.

The lining tack-down seam will stitch next.

The lining tack-down seam stitched on the back of the project.

Step 4: Final Trimming and Satin Stitch

Stop the machine, but do not unhoop. Now, trim the excess white base fabric from the front and the back side of your hoop.

Trimming the white base fabric from the front and back of the design.

Place the hoop back on the machine and continue with the rest of the design. The final step will be the neat satin stitch outline.

The final satin stitch being sewn to finish the edges of the hanging hole.

When the embroidery is finished, remove the tape, unhoop the project, and gently tear away the excess stabilizer.

The completed embroidered hanging hole on the towel.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

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