Handy Homemade Kitchen Towels

These hand towels attach to a handle or a knob in the kitchen. By attaching ornamental fabric to a hand towel, you’ll not only make your kitchen towels more functional, but also more beautiful. Look for fabric that matches your kitchen design, and tell your friends to do the same.

They’re easy to remove from the knob or handle they’re attached to if you need them somewhere else, like to pick up a hot pot. But when you need to wipe your hands, you’ll know exactly where to reach.

Step 1: Matching Colors
Everyone should decide what color and pattern of fabric they want to use and go out and buy it. That way, everyone can decide what would go well in her own kitchen. Two square feet of fabric per person should do it.

Designate one person to go on a shopping trip for the other supplies. Ask your friends to bring their sewing machines if they have them to make the sewing go faster.

Step 2: Cutting
Have everyone cut two triangles out of their patterned fabric. Cut the triangle sides to measure seven inches on two of the sides and five inches on the third side, which will be the bottom that attaches to the dishtowels. You might want to have precut cardboard triangles around to make cutting easier for everyone.

Depending on the size of your dishtowels, you may want to cut them in half lengthwise. If you do this, make sure you sew a seam into the side you just cut. Fold the side over twice, then sew the fold down.

Step 3: A Ribbon To Hang On
If the kitchen towel will go on a knob, follow these directions to create a loop of ribbon to hold it there. If it won’t go on a knob, skip to the next step.

You’re going to place a ribbon on each piece of fabric, which you’ll then sew into place when you sew the two pieces of fabric together in the next step. The length of the ribbon depends on the size of the knob. Most knobs will call for a 5 inch piece of ribbon, but a larger one, like a door handle, could need up to 10”.

Fold the topmost half-inch of each triangle over into the wrong side of the fabric. Take your ribbon and place a half-inch of it onto this folded piece of fabric, with the end of the ribbon meeting the point of the folded-over tip. Sew it in place. Place the other end of the ribbon on the folded-over tip of the other fabric triangle and sew it in place. You’ll have two triangles connected at their tops by a length of ribbon.

Step 4: Sewing 1
With a ribbon: Take the two pieces of fabric and place the right sides together, with the ribbon between them. Sew the two pieces of fabric together along two of the sides, with a half-inch seam allowance. Leave the shorter side (the bottom) open. Turn the triangle right side out, then use an iron to press the seams together. When you finish the rest of the towel, the loop will be ready to go.

Without a ribbon: If the towel will go over a handle, take the two pieces of fabric and place the right sides together. Sew them together along the two longer sides, with a half-inch seam allowance. Leave the shorter side open. Turn the triangle right side out, then use an iron to press the seams together.

Step 5: Sewing 2
Lay the fabric cone you created in the previous step aside for the next two steps. Lay your towel flat on your workspace. Take any trim and fringe you’d like to add, and sew them on the bottom edge of the towel.

Step 6: Pleating
Bunch up the end of the towel so that it will fit inside the open end of the fabric cone. Holding the two pieces together, lay them flat, and arrange the folds of the towel in appropriately spaced pleats.

Step 7: Sewing 3
Once you are pleased with the pleats, fold an inch of the fabric under and then sew the towel to the fabric. Iron the seam once you’ve attached the pieces together.

Step 8: Knob or Handle?
If the towel will go on a knob, you created the loop you need in Step 3.

If it will go on a handle, your dishtowel will need to loop over the handle. To do this, apply fabric hook-and-loop fastener tape to the top of the triangle, and at the bottom of the fabric triangle above the towel. Loop the top of the fabric over your handle, attach the two parts of the fastener to each other and you’re ready to go!

Your kitchen towels are now ready to debut in your kitchen. Try making more of these towels with seasonal fabrics and trim. They’ll add plenty of personality, as well as convenience.

Clean-Up:
Picking up little snips of thread and fabric can be very frustrating, but Swiffer ^® makes picking them up easier. Swiffer CarpetFlick™ will get the little bits from your carpet, and the Swiffer Sweeper will get them off of hard surfaces.