Pre-Wash Your Fabric When Possible

* One year I gave embroidered cotton kitchen towels as Christmas gifts, and found out later that they had shrunk, leaving the designs puckered and unsightly. I have, on the other hand, embroidered bath towels without pre-washing, and they washed up beautifully, with no distortion to the design.

When possible, pre-wash your fabric before stitching out your designs.