I am a fairly beginning embroiderer.  How does one manage a monagram when the last name is two words like "von Winters" or "Del Toro"?  I am grateful for any advice.  Thank you.

Thank you.  I want to monogram towels for a recently married couple.  I was going to place the first initial of each person on either side of the last name.  My daughter suggested I use the wifes first initial with DT on one towel and the husbands on the other.  That does sound like the simplest idea.  Thanks again.  mm

I have seen the to initials in the middle and the first initials on either side. ex:    

K DT M

with more people choosing to keep their maiden name and also using a hyphen, it would be wise to ask the receipient what their preference is.

Thank you to all who offered ideas.  I found a font in my 3D Embroidery software that was each individual letter within a diamond frame.  Very pretty when I stitched out a test.  I placed the letters with the husbands initial on the left and wifes on the right with the last name letters on top and bottom.  The diamonds fit together to make a larger diamond and the over all effect was good.  I was proud of the result and the couple raved about their towels.  If the situation comes up again, though, I think I will just ask.  It would have saved time and strain on my brain, but I would not have discovered an interesting font.

Thanks again.  mm

Hi Pat! Thank you for your comment on my avatar.  She is a sweet girl, and loves to hang over the edge of the bed(that is where she is in the photo) , her cat tree or where ever she can lean over (anything).  She has a black patch on top of her head that looks like a wig : )                                      Alssweetheart

Two separate monagrams are a good idea.  You could also just use the two last initials.