Make Your Own DIY Football Appliqué Tailgate Towels

How to embroider a custom football appliqué on your kitchen towels

Football season has kicked off, and it’s time to bring your A-game—not just to the stadium but to your tailgate setup! 🏈! Whether you’re hosting a crew or showing support at the local game, this DIY project will have everyone cheering.

Today, I’ll show you how to embroider festive football appliqué towels that combine functionality and flair. Appliqué may sound like a sewing challenge, but don’t worry—I promise it’s beginner-friendly. Appliqué is a technique where fabric patches are sewn on a fabric foundation. The machine covers the raw edges of the patches with a decorative topstitch.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started!

Supplies:

• Brother Sewing and Embroidery Machine
• Kitchen towels (plain or in your team’s colors)
• Football-themed appliqué embroidery design
• Decorative fabric (think greens, browns, or your team’s colors!)
• Embroidery thread (contrasting or complimentary)
• Medium-weight tear-away adhesive stabilizer
• Fusible interfacing
• Fabric adhesive (optional)
• Fabric scissors and appliqué scissors
• Rotary cutter and straight edge (optional)
• Measuring tape
• Iron and ironing board

9 steps to create fun Football Appliqué Towels

1. Cut and prep your fabric

Cut your decorative fabric a bit larger than the appliqué design. Iron fusible interfacing to the back of the fabric following package directions. Set it aside.

2. Hoop your stabilizer

Hoop the tear-away adhesive stabilizer with the sticky side facing up and peel off the top coating, exposing the adhesive.

3. Position the towel on the hooped stabilizer

Determine where you want the appliqué design, then lay the towel over the hoop and on top of the adhesive. Press it into place.

4. Set up appliqué design on the sewing and embroidery machine

Set up the football-themed appliqué design on your sewing and embroidery machine. Import the file you are using and determine the placement and size.

5. Stitch the placement line

Press the start button and let the machine do the work. First, the machine will stitch a placement line. This will show you where to position the appliqué fabric.

6. Secure the fabric and stitch

Place the prepared appliqué fabric over the outline stitch.

To secure it, use a small amount of fabric adhesive or hold it with light fingertip pressure until the first few stitches are sewn. Lower the presser foot and continue the embroidery. The machine will sew a tack down stitch to hold the appliqué fabric in place.

7. Trim the excess fabric

Remove the hoop from the machine but do not take the project out of the hoop. Use small appliqué scissors to carefully trim the excess fabric around the edge of the stitch line.

Keep the hoop on a flat surface and be sure not to cut the stitches.

8. Complete the satin stitch

Reattach the hoop to the embroidery machine and resume embroidery. The machine will do the covering or satin stitching to complete the design. Change thread colors as needed.

For layered appliqué designs, repeat the same steps for each section.

9. Remove the stabilizer and finish

Remove the towel from the hoop and gently peel off the stabilizer for a perfect game-day finish.

10. Get game-day ready!

Appliqués are fun and easy, and you really can create beautiful designs with minimal effort. This is a beginner design idea that will get you hooked on the appliqué process. Create festive football towels for your tailgate party to last all season long …. maybe even to the big game!!

FAQs

Q: I’m new to sewing. Is appliqué hard to learn?
A: Not at all! Appliqué is perfect for beginners. By following the steps above, like preparing your fabric, stitching outlines, and trimming edges, you’ll feel more confident with practice. Start with basic designs and work your way up as you grow more comfortable. Here are a few helpful sewing projects with appliqué:

Q: Do I need an embroidery machine for appliqué?
A: While it's possible to appliqué by hand or with a regular sewing machine, an embroidery machine makes the process faster and produces a more professional finish, especially for detailed designs.

Q: Can I use any fabric for appliqué?
A: Most fabrics will work, but thinner fabrics like quilt weight cotton are easier for beginners to manage. Always choose a fabric with a tight weave and pre-wash it to prevent shrinking. For example, you can use an old sweater for an ugly holiday sweater DIY project or upcycle an old cotton shirt.

Q: What’s the best way to care for appliquéd towels?
A: Wash your appliquéd towels on a gentle cycle in cold or lukewarm water. Air drying or low heat in the dryer will help maintain the quality of the stitching.

Step up your tailgate game with these custom towels

Creating DIY football-themed appliqué towels is a simple yet impactful way to add charm to your next tailgate party. With the right supplies and step-by-step guidance, you’ll be embroidering like a pro in no time. Plus, once you master this beginner-friendly project, the possibilities for your appliqué creations are endless!

Get creative, have fun, and bring a personalized touch to every game day. Try sewing these football placements or embroider these football coasters for your next football game.

Want to explore more crafting ideas or learn about advanced sewing techniques? Stay tuned to our blog for more inspiration!