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Watch the video: DIY Embroidered Hooded Towel Tutorial by a friendly Kiwi creator
If you’ve ever stitched a hooded towel and wrestled with bulky seams or scratchy edges, this method is your new favorite. The video keeps it short and to the point, showing exactly how to attach an embroidered hood to a towel using French seams for a tidy, durable finish. Let’s walk the same path—pin by pin, stitch by stitch.
What you’ll learn
- How to prep a sewn hood with a French seam—no raw edges against skin.
- Simple centering and pinning so your hood sits perfectly on the towel.
- A clean attachment technique: first pass, trim, then a final enclosed seam.
- Practical tips for working with terry cloth and avoiding bulk.
- Where the video is specific—and where it leaves room for your testing and notes.
Introduction to Your Hooded Towel Project The goal is comfort and polish: a hooded towel that’s soft inside and strong outside, with French seams hiding every raw edge. The presenter demonstrates with a pre-embroidered rectangle that becomes the hood, then attaches it across the top of a standard towel for a fast, giftable finish.
Why Choose a French Seam? French seams enclose raw edges, which is ideal for terry cloth and for items used by babies and kids. They also look professional on the inside and outside. In the video, every join—the hood seam, the attachment to the towel—gets that same enclosed treatment for a cohesive, finished look.
Pro tip If you’re coming back to hooded towels after a while, a quick refresher pass can make your muscle memory kick right back in. Viewers noted they revisited this technique and found it the clearest route to a neat finish.
Gathering Your Tools and Materials You don’t need a complex kit for this project—just a reliable setup and a little care.
Essential Equipment
- Sewing machine capable of straight stitching with backstitching to secure starts/ends.
- Scissors (sharp, comfortable pair for controlled trimming).
- Pins (use enough to stop shifting—remove them as you sew).
Materials - A pre-embroidered hood rectangle (about 22 inches by 11 inches).
- A standard towel (the video identifies the non-tag end to center and attach the hood).
- Thread to match or coordinate.
Quick check The video doesn’t specify thread type or needle size. If your towel is extra plush, consider testing different needles on scrap. embroidery sewing machine
Pre-Embroidered Hood Prep The presenter starts with a rectangle about 22 inches by 11 inches—twice as long as it is wide—so folding creates the classic hood shape. She folds, stitches, trims, turns, and stitches again to create a French seam.
Watch out The video uses a 1-inch plate mark as a guide for that first seam, which contributes to a finished hood width of about 10 inches. If your machine doesn’t have the same marking, measure from your needle to create a consistent guide that yields similar results.
Step-by-Step Hood Preparation (French Seam) Folding and First Stitch - Fold the embroidered rectangle with the design facing inwards and raw edges aligned. Keep the center even and the fold smooth.
- On the machine, the presenter aligns to the “1” mark (1 inch) on the plate and stitches a straight line, backstitching at the start and end.
Quick check After sewing the first pass, trim close to the stitching without cutting through. This reduces bulk for the next step.
Trimming and Second Stitch for a Clean Finish - Turn the hood right side out so the design faces outward. The previously stitched edge now sits on the outside.
- Stitch again along that edge to enclose the first seam allowance: this completes the French seam with no raw edges.
- Inspect the seam—inside and out—to confirm full enclosure.
From the comments Several sewists loved how the French seam removes the need for binding—especially on terry cloth—making the finish soft against skin and professionally neat.
Attaching the Hood to Your Towel Centering and Pinning - Find the towel end without the tag. Identify the exact top middle and mark it with a pin.
- Lay the towel so the side that will become the back is facing down; the folded-over part of the towel should face down as you set up.
- Align the hood’s center (the hood’s seam) with the towel’s pin. Pin along the top edge, placing the hood’s edge right to the towel’s edge.
Pro tip Use more pins if your terry is plush or stretchy. Always remove pins before the needle reaches them—viewers noted concern about sewing over pins, and removal as you go keeps your needle safe and your seam straight. magnetic embroidery hoop
Initial Stitching for Security - Place the towel-and-hood assembly under the presser foot with the hood facing up.
- Stitch a straight line across the full width, backstitching at the start and end.
- The presenter points out that she folds the hood’s seam toward the thinner part of the towel to minimize bulk.
Quick check Make sure you’re not catching the back layer of the towel in this seam. Pause frequently and lift to check if needed. sewing and embroidery machine
Finishing Touches: Trimming and Securing the Final Seam Precise Trimming Techniques
- Remove the pins.
- Trim off the excess hood fabric above the stitch line—close to the stitching, but without cutting the towel behind it. The presenter uses a finger to press the towel back while trimming, which is a great tactile guard.
Watch out The center area can feel thicker and harder to cut—go slowly and keep checking you’re only cutting the hood excess.
Creating the Final Enclosed Seam
- Orient the layers so the towel goes one way and the hood goes the other, folding the raw edge under to create a clean channel.
- Keep everything flat and smooth; then stitch along the folded edge, securing the fold and enclosing raw edges—another French seam.
- Clip or tidy any tiny thread tails. The inside and outside should both present neatly.
From the comments Many makers returned to this method after trying others, calling this the clearest path to a smooth, professional finish with no raw edges—particularly appreciated for baby gifts and everyday kid gear. magnetic embroidery frames
Your Completed Hooded Towel! After this final pass, you’ll see matching French-seam polish inside and out—on both sides of the hood and across the towel join. The result: a durable, soft, gift-ready hooded towel.
Care Instructions The video doesn’t include care specifics. As with most towels and embroidery, standard machine wash and tumble dry are common, but always defer to your towel fabric and thread recommendations. If you add materials like vinyl or specialty trims, follow those product care directions (not covered in the video).
Creative Variations
- Embroidery: The video starts with an already-embroidered panel and doesn’t cover the actual embroidery process. Add your favorite motif before assembly.
- Color play: Use coordinating or contrasting thread.
- Scale: While the video uses a piece about 22 inches by 11 inches for the hood and a standard towel, it doesn’t provide age-based sizing. If making for different ages, test fit with scrap or a paper pattern first. embroidery machine for beginners
Troubleshooting and FAQs Why does the presenter align to a “1” mark for the first hood seam?
- The machine’s 1-inch plate marking helps maintain a consistent seam allowance and contributes to a finished hood width of about 10 inches. If your machine lacks this mark, measure and tape your own guide at 1 inch from the needle as a repeatable reference. The video does not provide the exact needle-to-mark distance beyond showing the plate’s 1-inch reference.
How do I make sure the hood is centered?
- Find the towel end without the tag, mark the top middle with a pin, then align the hood’s central seam to that pin and continue pinning across the top edge before sewing. The video demonstrates this clearly.
Should I use a straight stitch or zigzag?
- The demonstration shows straight stitching with backstitching at starts and ends. A straight stitch is sufficient for this French seam method.
What are the hood dimensions?
- The presenter cuts the hood about 22 inches by 11 inches and notes that after the first seam guided by the 1-inch mark, the hood finishes around 10 inches wide. Precise needle offsets are not specified; testing on scrap to match the outcome is recommended.
What size towel should I start with?
- The video shows a standard towel and does not specify exact dimensions. It also mentions identifying the non-tag end to center and attach the hood.
Can I sew over pins?
- The video pins generously but best practice is to remove pins before sewing over them to protect your needle and maintain even stitches.
What machine is used?
- A Juki TL-2000Qi is referenced among the tutorial’s associated details. The technique itself is machine-agnostic, as long as you can sew a consistent straight stitch.
How do I adjust for different ages?
- The video does not provide age-based measurements. Start from the demonstrated 22 x 11 inch hood rectangle and standard towel, then test and tweak for your intended wearer.
What about vinyl or applique care?
- The video doesn’t cover vinyl usage or laundering guidance; if you add vinyl or complex applique, follow those product care instructions.
From the comments: What makers loved and learned
- Clarity at speed: Many viewers praised how the method is short, direct, and easy to follow—perfect for a refresher.
- Seam finish wins: The French seam approach earned repeated praise for eliminating raw edges and avoiding binding on terry.
- Family production value: Multiple comments appreciated the close-up filming and helpful angles provided by the videographer.
Watch out Terry cloth can shift or stretch. Pin more densely, keep your layers flat, and support the fabric as you trim. If bulk builds up, orient folds toward thinner sections as the presenter suggests. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines
Skill stretch: Embroidery setup (optional) Although the video doesn’t cover embroidery itself, many readers hoop and stitch their hood panels first. If you’re exploring tools, consider testing different hooping systems on scrap before committing a finished towel. The right hoop for your machine can help maintain alignment and reduce fabric creep. magnetic hoops for embroidery
Project recap
- Prep the hood: Fold, stitch the first pass using a consistent guide, trim close, turn right side out, and stitch again to complete a French seam.
- Center and pin: Mark the towel’s top center (non-tag end) and align the hood seam to that mark; pin along the top edge.
- First attach: Stitch the hood to the towel with the hood facing up.
- Trim: Remove excess hood fabric above the seam—careful not to nick the towel.
- Final enclose: Fold and stitch once more to create the final French seam on the inside.
- Tidy up: Clip any small thread tails and admire your neat, raw-edge-free finish. monogram machine
Checkpoints before you gift
- Are all raw edges enclosed by French seams?
- Does the hood sit centered on the towel?
- Are stitch lines straight, with backstitching at both ends?
- Is the seam allowance consistent along the length?
If something goes sideways
- Uneven folding leads to a crooked hood: Unpick, re-press the fold, and resew.
- Accidentally caught the towel’s back while trimming: Stop, resew the seam if needed, and trim again slowly with your non-dominant hand holding the towel safely away.
- Bulk that won’t cooperate: Nudge the fold toward the thinner section of the towel to flatten the seam path. magnetic hoops for brother embroidery machines
Time savers
- Keep your pins in a small tray by the machine.
- Trim in passes rather than one long snip to maintain control.
- Backstitch just 2–3 stitches at starts/ends; it’s enough security without adding bulk.
From the comments: Final encouragement Sewists returned to this technique years later and still called it their go-to. First-timers also succeeded—some on their first day with a machine—by following the concise sequence: center, pin, stitch, trim, finish. If you stay patient and check each step, this project comes together quickly and beautifully. magnetic embroidery hoops
Credits This guide follows the exact flow and on-machine views provided in the tutorial—special thanks to the clear filming that makes each stitch easy to see.