Embellished Tea Towel

Designer: Daisi Toegel

Instagram: @daisitoegel

Website: www.flowersew.com

Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/daisiflowersew

Skill level: Beginner

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 Read Daisi's Interview here.

 

For having a cute tea towel always handy, or simply as nice décor, this project is full of possibilities and super easy to make. Tea towels date back to England in the 18th century, these delicate embellished cloths were used to insulate tea pots at tea ceremonies, cover baked goods, and dry fine china. It was common as well to use tea towels to practice embroidery, and gift the final project to friends and family. Nowadays it’s still used all over the globe as it has spread, but more commonly as a décor item.

 

 

Tools:

Fabric requirements:

  • 14”x24” piece of cotton crepe (flour sack), cotton canvas or linen fabric
  • 1 fabric fat quarter (cut a piece measuring 15”x6.5”)

Instructions:

  1. First, start by cutting the fabric to size according to the fabric requirements, for both the towel and for the embellishment part.
  2. After cutting, it’s important to hem the longer sides, and one of the short sides of the towel fabric to prevent fraying. Simply fold 0.5” twice, press and stitch in place.

 

 

  1. With the towel fabric facing right side up, from the bottom to top of the part that was not hemmed, mark a horizontal line 5” above.

 

 

  1. Be careful using directional fabrics , face it down when it’s sewn (if it applies), place the embellishment fabric 1/4” below the line, leaving 0.5” excess on each side of the towel fabric, laying right sides of both fabrics together, pin and stitch across with a 1/4” seam allowance.

 

 

  1. To create enclosed seams, let’s use the “burrito” method. First, roll down the towel fabric close to the embellishment fabric. Second, pull the towel fabric from under the embellishment part to the back of the “burrito”. Third, meet both the towel fabric edge that was pulled back with the embellishment fabric, right sides together, enclosing the burrito, and sew using a 1/4” seam allowance.

 

 

  1. Pull the burrito out, and press the fabrics to set the seams.

 

 

  1. Tuck the sides of the embellishment fabric inside the gap where the “burrito” was pulled from to enclose the sides’ seams. Pin or clip it in place.

 

 

  1. Topstitch as shown in the picture below to finish. Press and you’re done!!!