Towel Making Tutorial

I know I have been MIA a lot lately but I promise you I have been productive! 

 Some of you asked for a tutorial on how I made the towels that I gave for the wedding shower 

so I thought I would share that with you. 

 It could NOT be simpler. 

 It seriously took me longer to find a towel I could use than to make them! 

 I used terry cloth towels for this one but you can just as easily use the linen type too. 

 I have made these using both kinds of towels, it just matters what I can put my hands on the quickest!  Ready?

First purchase a couple of towels (I like to make them in pairs).

I try to get them to match the strip of fabric I intend to use.  

Measure the width of the towel so you know how big to make your strip. 

 Be sure to add a turn under amount. 

 I would suggest 1/4"-1/2" on both ends. 

 So for instance my towel was 17" so I cut my strip length to 18" 

so I had a half inch on each side to turn under

I had this in my stash so decided to use it for these towels. 

 I cut the bee hive part off and decided to use the cats.  

Again be careful to leave at least a 1/4" edge to press under.

You can use a border strip like I did or regular fabric cut to the desired width.

So with this strip fabric I had a wide strip and a narrow one.  

You could use either or both.

Companion towels if you will.

Now take your cut strip to the ironing board and press the top and bottom edge under. 

 Then turn the side edges and press them under too. 

I found this easier, even thought I measured, to have to towel close by

 to make sure I turned under the correct amount so that the side edges were even with the sides of the towel. 

I also looked at my design and decided where I wanted the side to end up.  

I didn't want to cut my cat in half! 

Once you have the fabric all pressed such that you have no raw edges exposed pin it in place on the towel.

Once you have it pinned in place choose a color thread that will blend and

 carefully topstitch all the way around the edges of the fabric on all 4 sides.

And voila!  Easy peasy, 2 brand new snazzy kitchen towels!  

Want to try your hand at making one too?

  Leave me a comment telling me favorite new fabric line over at the Fat Quarter Shop for a chance

 to win the last 2 strips of the fabric I used to make my towels!

More of what I have been doing to follow soon!

~XOP~