Table of Contents
Video reference: “Towel Topper Tutorial | In the hoop machine embroidery design | Stitch Delig” by Stitch Delight
A charming towel topper changes a simple hand towel into a polished, giftable accent for your kitchen or bath. This guide shows you exactly how to stitch a quilted topper in the hoop, attach a decorative embroidered border with lace, and finish with snaps and a button—quickly and neatly.
What you’ll learn
- How to hoop cutaway stabilizer and optionally add thin batting for a quilted topper
- Clean trim-turn-press techniques for sharp corners and edges
- How to position and stitch an embroidered border panel and lace
- How to fold and stitch the towel top for snaps, then align and set the snaps
- The finishing touch: sewing on a decorative button
Introduction to Your Handmade Towel Topper Why a Towel Topper? A towel topper adds structure and a beautiful focal point at the top of a hand or kitchen towel. With snap fasteners, you can swap towels in seconds, clip onto an oven rail or over a pipe, and mix seasonal designs without remaking the topper.
Quick & Easy Project Overview This project is beginner-friendly and moves fast. You’ll complete an in-the-hoop (ITH) quilted topper, attach your pre-embroidered border strip to the towel with lace accents, then add snaps to both the topper and towel for a snug, reusable pairing.
Pro tip: If your feature fabric is sturdy, consider skipping batting to keep the topper thinner. If you love a lightly padded quilt effect, add thin batting.
Gathering Your Crafting Essentials Fabric & Embroidery Designs
- Towel: hand towel or kitchen towel.
- Embroidered border panel: stitched on canvas or 100% cotton, trimmed about half an inch along the top, and slightly wider than the towel so you can square it to fit.
- Topper fabrics: two pieces (front and back). The example uses a printed Panama cotton for the front.
- Optional batting: very thin quilt batting for a soft, quilted topper texture.
Notions & Tools
- Four sets of snaps (the example uses cute heart snaps).
- One large white button and thread for hand-sewing.
- Cutaway stabilizer (one layer hooped).
- Pinking shears and small scissors.
- Pins.
- Iron and ironing board.
- Sewing machine.
- Fabric glue stick that dries clear (demonstrated glue goes on yellow, presses clear, and holds through washes).
- Snap press (plus the correct dies for your snaps).
Watch out: When trimming close to embroidery, be careful not to cut through stitches.
Quick check (before moving on)
- Border panel is wider than the towel.
- You’ve got four snap sets and a button ready.
- Cutaway stabilizer is on hand and your topper fabrics are chosen.
Creating the Quilted Topper Piece Hooping & Batting Basics 1) Hoop the stabilizer Hoop one layer of cutaway stabilizer. Stitch the first placement step directly onto the stabilizer to outline where the topper will sit.
2) Add optional batting Float a thin layer of batting over the placement. Stitch the next step to secure it. Trim the batting back to the stitch line so no bulk lands in the seam allowance.
Pro tip: A small spritz of temporary adhesive or a couple of pins at the edges can help prevent slippage during quilting if you’re concerned about shifting. embroidery magnetic hoops
3) Add the top fabric and quilt Place your feature fabric face up over the hoop. Stitch the quilting step to secure layers and create that subtle texture you’ll see on the finished topper.
Stitching & Finishing the Topper Shape 4) Add the backing and stitch the outline Place the second fabric piece face down over the hooped area to cover the topper completely. Stitch the final outline; it leaves an opening at the bottom for turning.
5) Trim and notch Remove from hoop. Using pinking shears, trim neatly around the outline. Leave a small tail at the opening to make turning easier. If corners feel bulky, add tiny notches without crossing stitches.
6) Press, turn, and press again Give the piece a quick press to set stitches, then turn right side out through the opening. Use a blunt, pointed tool to gently push out corners and curves. Press again so the seams roll to the edge.
7) Close the opening Fold raw edges inward and close the opening. You can hand-stitch, use a clear-drying fabric glue, or machine-stitch (stitching all the way around gives a tidy frame). The example uses a glue stick that goes on yellow, then dries clear with a press—and it holds through washes.
Quick check (topper complete)
- Quilting looks even and smooth.
- Corners are crisp and curves are smooth.
- Opening is cleanly closed and pressed flat.
Embellishing Your Towel: Border & Lace Attaching the Embroidered Panel 1) Placement is personal Lay the towel flat and position your embroidered border panel where you want it. There’s no rule here—you can place it low, centered, or higher. The example leaves a slim red edge of towel showing above the panel as a design accent.
2) Pin and stitch the first side Pin one long edge, keeping the pins through the towel only (not the panel’s face). Stitch close to the edge from the towel side to control that visible red edge.
3) Fold, press, and stitch the opposite edge Fold the panel over, press it flat, lift the towel and pin from underneath. Stitch down the second long edge, keeping lines straight.
Adding a Decorative Lace Trim 4) Fit the lace (top edge first) Fold one raw lace end under about half an inch. Align the lace along the panel’s top edge with the towel’s red edge still peeking. Trim excess; fold the far end under. Pin in place.
5) Stitch lace on three sides Stitch along the lace’s top, bottom, and side edges for a secure finish. Repeat for the bottom lace piece.
Pro tip: Matching thread on lace makes the stitch lines disappear. hoop master embroidery hooping station
Quick check (border and lace)
- Border sits straight and evenly.
- Red edge (if you chose it) is consistently visible.
- Lace ends are turned under and secured; no fraying.
Preparing the Towel for Snaps Folding Techniques for a Secure Fit 1) Create structure with folds Fold one side of the towel inward about 1.5 to 2 inches; press. Repeat on the opposite side so both edges mirror each other.
2) Find the center Mark the center of the towel’s top edge. Fold each side toward that center to create a clean, double-folded front that fits behind the topper’s lower edge.
Stitching for Snap Placement 3) Reinforce with two stitch lines Sew a line of stitching across the top of the folded area. Then sew another line about 1 cm (roughly 1/2 inch) below the first. This creates a flat, reinforced zone to receive the snaps and keeps gathers from shifting.
Quick check (towel ready)
- Folds are even and lie flat.
- Two parallel stitch lines form a tidy snap zone.
- The folded towel width fits comfortably under your topper.
Final Assembly: Snaps & Button Attaching Snaps to Topper and Towel 1) Start with the topper center You’ll need four sets of snaps total. On the topper, place one snap in the middle near the top. This hidden snap is for wrapping over an oven rail or pipe.
2) Add the three lower topper snaps Evenly space three snaps along the topper’s lower curve. Keep your eye on the stitched lines for a balanced look.
3) Mark and set the towel snaps With the topper’s snaps installed, align the topper to the towel’s folded top edge. Mark the towel’s matching positions starting with the center, then the two sides. Set the corresponding snaps on the towel. Test as you go to confirm fit and alignment.
Watch out: Snap orientation matters—match cap/socket to cap/stud correctly, and use the right die each time.
Adding the Decorative Button 4) Stitch the button on top Sew the large white button over the top snap on the topper using regular needle and thread. The button is purely decorative; the snap does the work. Choose thread color to complement the topper or echo a color from the towel.
Quick check (assembly)
- Snaps are firmly set; no wobble.
- Topper snaps cleanly to the towel with the folds tucked neatly behind.
- Button is centered and secure.
Quality Checks
- Topper shape: Edges are smooth, corners crisp, and quilting lines clean.
- Panel alignment: The embroidered border sits straight; if you kept a colored edge peeking, it’s uniform.
- Lace finish: Ends are tucked and stitched; no raw fray visible at corners.
- Snap function: Snaps align and close without strain; the towel hangs flat when snapped.
- Over-the-rail fit: The top snap closes neatly around your intended rail or pipe without pulling.
Results & Handoff Your finished set includes a quilted topper with a hidden top snap, three lower snaps that mate to the towel’s folded top edge, a neat embroidered border, lace trim, and a decorative button. The topper is reusable—stitch additional towels with matching snap spacing to rotate seasonally or for laundry day.
Pro tip: If you plan multiple towels, keep the fold width and snap placement consistent so every towel pairs with your one topper. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines
Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom: Bulky or puckered topper edges
- Likely cause: Batting wasn’t trimmed out of the seam allowance.
- Fix: Trim batting right to the stitch line before adding the backing. Press again after turning.
Symptom: Corners won’t turn sharp
- Likely cause: Notching was too shallow or fabric is heavy.
- Fix: Add small, careful notches near curves; use a blunt point to push corners out; press well.
Symptom: Border panel looks skewed
- Likely cause: Uneven pinning or rushing the first stitch line.
- Fix: Re-pin with the towel lying flat; measure both ends and the center before stitching.
Symptom: Lace ends fray
- Likely cause: Raw ends left unturned.
- Fix: Turn under about 1/2 inch at both ends before stitching; backstitch at corners.
Symptom: Snaps misalign
- Likely cause: Marking after the fact or spacing by eye alone.
- Fix: Always start with the center snap on the topper, align the topper to the towel, then mark the towel’s center mating snap. Test close, then mark the sides.
Symptom: Snaps loosen over time
- Likely cause: Wrong die or incomplete press.
- Fix: Verify you’re using the correct die for cap/socket/stud; re-press firmly on a test scrap to confirm technique.
Quick diagnostic
- If the topper looks perfect off the towel but pulls when snapped, the towel folds may be too wide; re-press narrower folds and keep the double stitch lines about 1 cm apart.
From the comments
- One viewer shared thanks for the clear walkthrough. We love hearing that the step sequencing and close-ups make the process easy to follow! dime snap hoop
Notes on tools and setup The tutorial uses a standard hoop with cutaway stabilizer, a sewing machine for edge stitching, pinking shears for clean trimming, and a snap press for hardware. Readers sometimes explore magnetic accessories or hooping aids for other projects; choose what matches your own machine and preferences. magnetic hoop for brother stellaire
Optional gear readers often ask about
- Some crafters like compact hoop sizes for small projects; pick what fits your machine’s field. mighty hoop 5.5
- If you work on a single-needle domestic machine, check your compatible frames before purchasing accessories. brother se1900 magnetic hoop
- For those who alternate between brands at home, ensure snap-on frames or magnets are designed for your model. magnetic embroidery hoops for babylock
Checklist recap Prep
- Towel, embroidered border panel (wider than towel), topper fabrics
- Cutaway stabilizer hooped; optional thin batting
- Snaps (4 sets), large button, thread
- Pinking shears, pins, iron, sewing machine, fabric glue stick, snap press
Setup
- Placement stitch on stabilizer; optional batting stitched and trimmed
- Top fabric floated and quilted; backing stitched with an opening
Operation
- Trim, press, turn, press; close the opening
- Stitch border panel to towel; add lace top and bottom
- Fold and stitch towel top with two lines
- Set snaps: topper first (center, then sides), then towel to match
- Sew button over the top snap
Pro tip: Planning a batch? Use a simple paper template to mark center and side snap spacing across towels so every one clicks perfectly to your topper. magnetic hoops