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Decorative Seashell Guest Towels Embroidery Project

By Ramona Baird on May 11, 2016

PROJECT DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

TIME REQUIRED

04:30

Description

Use a sea shell lei as a decorative trim to add a special touch to embroidered seashell towels.

Project Preview Video

Materials

2 white fingertip towels

Embroidery thread as stated in design sequence

Tearaway stabilizer

Water soluble stabilizer

2 seashell leis (these were purchased in the party section of the store)

Sewing thread to match towel color (to couch on trim)

Designs used in this project

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/Ann-The-Gran/1/ATG833

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/Ann-The-Gran/1/ATG829C

Final Product: What You Will Create

Preface:

Finger tip towels are stitched with the embroidery designs and then the lei of seashells is couched on by hand to add a special element and accent to each towel.

Step 1:

Gather the materials and read through the instructions before beginning. Choose thread colors as stated in the design sequence or adjust the colors to coordinate with guest bath colors. The leis were purchased in a party store - they are also available in party section of department stores and online. Print out the paper template of each of the templates.

Step 2:

Fold the towel in half lengthwise and place a pin at the center mark above the band.

Step 3:

Cut out the paper template around the design. Position the template as desired above the band at the center of the towel.

Step 4:

For this project, the center of the design was placed 2 ¾” above the top of the band. Lay the lei on the middle of the band and check to make sure the design will be stitched as you like with the lei.

Step 5:

Hoop the towel with one layer of tearaway stabilizer.

Step 6:

Load the embroidery design “Star Fish Swirl” on the machine. Align the needle to the center of the template.

Step 7:

Remove the paper template and place a piece of water soluble stabilizer on top of the towel. Stitch the design following the color sequence.

Step 8:

After the design has finished stitching, remove the fabric from the hoop and set the towel aside.

Step 9:

Follow steps 2 through 7 to stitch the second towel with the embroidery design “Decorative Shells”.

Step 10:

Stitch the design following the color sequence. When the design has finished stitching remove the towel from the hoop.

Step 11:

Remove the excess tearaway and water soluble stabilizers. Fold the towel in half lengthwise and place a pin in the center of the band area of the towel.

Step 12:

Place the center of one lei at the pin. Determine the length of the lei to trim the band. Find the knot that holds all the shells on the nylon string. Cut the knot and remove all the un-needed shells from the strand; the shells just slide off the nylon string (save the shells for another project).

Step 13:

Pin the lei in place along the center of the towel band. To secure the ends of the lei to the edges of the towel, use a large-eyed needle and thread the ends of the nylon string through the needle. Take several stitches at the end of the towel with the nylon thread. Secure the nylon thread to the underside of the edge of the towel and trim the excess nylon string. Repeat for the other end.

Step 14:

Thread the needle with sewing thread to match the towel color. Couch the lei onto the center of the towel band by bringing the needle up and down between each shell. Do this the entire length of the lei.

Step 15:

Repeat the same steps for removing the extra shells and sewing on the lei for the second towel.

Step 16:

Fold the towels and display them on a rack or basket for a delightful housewarming gift.

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Meet the Author: Ramona Baird

Ramona Baird has been in the embroidery industry for over 23 years. She and her husband owned a commercial and retail embroidery store in Arizona for many years. She is an experienced digitizer having been mentored by award-winners Pat Williams and Lindee Goodall. Ramona is a contributor to “Creative Machine Embroidery” magazine having 5 covers to her credit. Ramona has worked for Wilcom America and served many years as Education Director for the American Sewing Guild. With a degree in fashion design, she is able to design and execute patterns which Pat Williams says are “out of the box” in creativity and application. Ramona likes to challenge the boundaries of embroidery and bring new and exciting designs, ideas, and projects to EmbroideryDesigns.com. She wants embroiderers of all levels to increase their skills and enjoyment in using their embroidery machine for gift-making and personal pleasure.