Tips for Sewing Terrycloth (Everything You Need to Know)

Terrycloth is the fabric used to make your towels. It's characterized by those distinctive uncut loops woven in a plain or twill pattern, which is what gives it that soft, absorbent texture. Most terrycloth is made from cotton or bamboo fibers, and it's commonly used for towels, robes, beach cover-ups, and baby items.

It's a fun fabric to sew with, but it does have a few quirks worth knowing before you start!

A Quick Fabric Shopping Tip

Finding a good variety of terrycloth at the fabric store can be tricky. My workaround? I just buy towels and use those as fabric. You get great quality, plenty of yardage, and a much better color selection than most fabric stores carry.

Preparation and Care

Before cutting into your terrycloth, preshrink it by washing and drying it according to the care instructions on the bolt. A normal cycle without chlorine bleach usually works well.

One thing worth doing before you throw it in the wash: serge the raw edges first. Terrycloth frays easily, and going through the washing machine before the edges are secured can create a serious lint mess. If you don't have a serger yet, at least zigzag the edges before washing.

When pressing seams open during construction, always use a seam roll to avoid leaving impressions on the right side of the fabric.

Layout, Marking, and Cutting Tips

Terrycloth has a nap, so always use the "with nap" layout option in your pattern. Fold your fabric with right sides together, straighten the ends, and check that the tops of all pattern pieces are facing the same direction before cutting.

For marking, skip the chalk and marking pencils. The pile of terrycloth makes them nearly impossible to see or use accurately. Tailor's tacks in a contrasting color thread are your best option here.

When it comes to interfacing, use sew-in interfacing rather than fusible. The pile prevents fusible interfacing from bonding properly to the fabric.

Sewing Machine Setup

You don't need a special sewing machine to sew terrycloth, but getting your settings right makes a noticeable difference.

Sewing Tips

Watch out for catching loops. The small loops on terrycloth can snag on the prongs at the front of your presser foot. Wrapping the prongs with a small piece of tape or a rubber band can help. If you're still having trouble, slow down and sew at a steady, even pace.

Prevent stitches from sinking. Topstitched seams and hems can look beautiful on terrycloth, but the stitching tends to sink into the pile and disappear. Use a longer stitch length to help it show up, or place a strip of water-soluble stabilizer on top of the fabric while you sew. It holds the loops out of the way while you stitch and dissolves completely when wet.

Finish every raw edge. Terrycloth frays heavily and creates a lot of lint. Serge all raw edges or bind them with bias tape or twill tape. Don't skip this step or your seams will unravel quickly and make a mess in the wash.

Be extra careful with buttonholes. Terrycloth is notoriously finicky when it comes to buttonholes. Always make a few test buttonholes on scraps before you attempt them on your actual project. The water-soluble stabilizer trick helps here too. Make sure your buttons have a shank thick enough to account for all the fabric layers at the buttonhole.

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Terrycloth is such a rewarding fabric to work with once you know the tricks. The finished results look really professional and the fabric is so luxuriously soft to wear.

What have you made with terrycloth? I'd love to see pictures in the comments below!

Also read: How to Embroider on Towels: 8 Tips for Success