A template is a printout of the design, and it's an excellent tool for planning where to stitch. Print a template of the design from your embroidery software. If you do not have embroidery software to print templates, try Wilcom's TrueSizer, a free program. Place the design template so the bottom corner of the design will be 3" from the bottom corner of the towel. Mark the center point as well as the vertical and horizontal axis lines.

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Hoop the towel with a piece of cutaway stabilizer, lining up the marks on the towel with the marks on the hoop. Note that not all of the towel will be hooped, but hoop as much as possible.

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Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design.  Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the towel.  Embroider the design.

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After embroidering, trim the excess stabilizer away from the back of the towel.

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Next, prepare the fabric for the top of the towel. Cut a piece of print cotton 8" x 8". Place the fabric wrong side up. Fold the edges over 1/2" and press. Start with one edge, then press the opposite edge. Then fold and press the remaining two edges.

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Lay the towel wrong side up.  Align the print cotton piece with the upper corner and pin in place.

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Sew a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edge of the cotton fabric.

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Next, add the buttonhole.  Make a mark 1 1/2" in from the top corner of the print cotton.

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Sew a button hole on the mark.

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Next, make the angled hole that forms the loop of the towel. Measure and mark 1" down from the bottom of the buttonhole. Draw lines 3" out from the mark. Make the lines parallel to the outer edges of the towel.

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Sew a zigzag stitch (set at 0.50mm) on both sides of the lines. Leave 1/16" space between the zigzag stitched lines.

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Use a craft knife and cutting pad to cut in between the stitches of the buttonhole and the angled lines.

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Lay the towel with the embroidered side up.  Sew the button 6" from the top edge of the design along the center line.

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To hang the towel, lay it flat with the print fabric side up and fold in the side corners as shown. Wrap the corner around a towel bar or stove handle and then insert the bottom embroidered corner through the hole. Button the flap in place.

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Thanks to its unique style, this towel will never fall off its rack! Use different fabric and embroidery designs to create holiday towels, or to match your kitchen decor.

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Donna sent in a photo of her spicy variation of the Topsy Towel to the Stitchers Showcase. The colors coordinate with the drapery in her kitchen at home. Donna used the Herb and Spice Medley design on her towel.

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Carina stitched this black-and-white towel for a friend's 30th birthday and paired it with a matching wine bag, and napkin. She used the Wild Butterfly (Zebra) design on her towel. Read more about this project in the Stitchers Showcase here.

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