Consumer Advice > General AdviceAugust 19, 2009

Towels Bunch at Hemline

What causes towels to "bunch" along the decorative stitching near the hemlines. Can this be fixed? I have many towels in good condition except for the "bunching".

By Cyndi D. from NJ

Answers

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By
08/23/2009

That's right. It could also be that the trim is poly and the towel cotton which shrinks at a different rate, while the trim doesn't shrink at all, or vice versa?

It seems to be the difference between the better quality expensive towels, although a few of those do the same occasionally.

The mfgrs. know this will happen, and often put them on great bargain/sales. Only experience will teach you what to watch for. Added trimmings are unpredictable. The industry had a glut of it since no one sews much anymore and they used to add tirm to everything, like competition.

The trims were mostly imported until the sewing machines could make the trim for you instead. Now they feel they want consumers to pay for their bad quality trims and greed for profit. It's like buying a towel that stretches out of shape, as well. Both the sellers and the mfgrs know this will happen, but don't care if they can dump them onto the unsuspecting trusting public.

By
08/23/2009

Ditto OliveOyl. We usually line dry, but when needed we dry our towels on PermaPress setting, taking them out when still very slightly damp. All the lint you see in the dryer's filter trap is your clothes and towels being worn out. I know that towels can be scratchy when line dried, but as they are used they soften up again. Towels usually last me about 5 years.

By
08/19/2009

Very likely the thread or stitching at the hemline has shrunk. I'll bet you dry them in the dryer. Over-drying causes this problem, too. Try stretching them back to shape when they are wet, then let them air dry.

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