You don't have to be an especially crafty individual to personalize all your favorite home goods. With a monogramming machine, you can customize virtually anything in an elegant—or cheeky—way. If you're unsure about how to get started, here's a handy guide for beginners.

What Can You Monogram?

Look around your home. Regardless of which room you're in, there are probably a dozen or more items that can be enhanced with monogramming. From pillows and throws in the living room to hand towels and potholders in the kitchen, you can adorn all kinds of home goods with your initials, your family crest, or even a funny phrase. Other items that were made for monogramming include pajamas, loafers, and luggage. 

How to Choose a Monogram 

When you purchase a monogramming machine, you have total control over what you put on every item. While you're encouraged to use creative freedom, there are a few standards worth considering. If you like the look of single initials, it's advisable to use the first letter of your surname. Two-letter monograms, on the other hand, generally use the first and last initials. 

As for three-letter monograms, the norm is to put the initials in order if they're all the same size. If the middle letter is larger than the outside letters, though, it should be the initial of the surname. 

When it comes to the actual layout of the initials, the choices are endless. Placing them in a straight line will yield a classic look, while a block arrangement—the first two letters are minimized and stacked on top of each other, and the third letter follows in standard size—will produce a more casual final product. Shaping the initials into a diamond, oval, or circle and framing them with a bold line is another popular layout. On fancier items, like cloth napkins or a handkerchief, interlocked cursive letters are ideal. 

Every personalized project starts with a high-quality monogramming machine. To stock up on equipment and supplies for customizing your items, head to Dothan Sewing Center. For nearly 50 years, they've been supplying crafters throughout Southeastern Alabama with sewing and monogramming machines, fabric, thread, and adhesive vinyl. To learn more about their vast inventory of products, visit their website. To learn which devices they have in stock, call (334) 794-3177 today.