These towels are perfect to make to give away as gifts for Christmas (or any other occasion) since they are so quick and easy to make! They are also great DIY farmhouse style kitchen accessories.
Liz from Simple Simon & Co. designed the most genius hanging kitchen towel project. It’s made using a hot pad and a simple kitchen dishtowel. I love that she used towels from the Magnolia kitchen line (as it’s one of my all-time favorites).
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Hi, I am liZ from Simple Simon and Company and I am excited to show you how to make one of my kitchen essentials…an oven hanging dishtowel. I use these all the time and they are super easy to make.
Hanging Farmhouse Style Kitchen Towel Tutorial
All you need to put one of them together is:
Supplies for Hanging Dish Towel Project:
(product sources linked below)
- A dish towel (I used one from the Magnolia line at Target)
- Hot pad (with loop attachment)
- Shank button
What is a Shank Button?
(There are three different buttons pictured here…all with shanks. Shanks are buttons with a “neck” on the back, usually centered on the back of the button with a hole in the middle of the neck that allows the thread to be passed through.)
Construction Steps
Once you have your supplies gathered (which, of course, also include a needle, thread, scissors, pins, and a sewing machine) you can get to work. So let’s get started!
Step One:
First, fold your dish towel in half. Then along that middle fold line run a gathering stitch…and gather!
Gather your dish towel in until it is the same width as your hot pad. (The width of your hot pad from corner to corner on the diagonal.)
Step Two:
Once gathered place your dish towel on top of the hot pad as shown in the picture. (With right sides together and with the middle of the hot pad aligned with the middle of the dish towel.)
Note: Make sure that the hanging tab that is attached to the corner of your hot pad is placed so that it will be at the top of your dishtowel and not along with one of the ends that will be sewn. Pin.
Sew dishcloth and hot pad together. Once sewn flip the hot pad/dish towel combo over in preparation for adding the button. (It should look like the picture above.)
Step Three:
Your dish towel should now drape nicely from the bottom of your hot pad. Fold your hot pad in half once more to find where you should place your button.
This will depend on how long the hanging tab is that came with your hot pad. I placed mine about one inch down from the corner.
Hand sew your button onto your hot pad.
Now you will be able to loop the hot pad tab over your shank button!
Your hanging dish towel is now ready to be placed on your oven bar!
Like I said…so easy and I really do love using them. They come in so handy that I have some in my kitchen at all times!
About the Maker:
We are Elizabeth and Elizabeth, two girls who married brothers and ended up with the exact same name. We are also the same age, both former school teachers, have the same number of children, live in the same county, have dogs rescued from the pound, and share a love for sewing, quilting and the art of homemaking.
Together we blog over at Simple Simon and Company where we get the opportunity to share tips, tricks, tutorials, recipes, and thoughts with our readership.
More Fun Projects by Simple Simon & Co:
Take Flight Baby Quilt Pattern
Cloud with Rainbow Raindrops Pattern
More Kitchen Projects and Tutorials:
Tips for Painting your Kitchen Cabinets
ColleenB.~ Tx. says
Love the hanging dish towel and what great little gifts these would make
Susan says
I agree, what a cute project with a high perceived value. I do believe I know what sewing gift I will make this holiday. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas….
Linda C Johnston says
I just found you! I am going to subscribe so I can hear from you some more! I wanted to tell you that this simple towel idea is a show stopper! It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of that” moments. It is the cutest thing, besides you two, to come along in a long while.
Melissa Mortenson says
Oh thank you!
Kim says
Seems difficult to find pot holders with the tab in the corner. The ones at the store have the tab centered in the middle.
Charlie DiSante says
I had the same problem so I just folded them in half and used them that way, not diagonally.
MiCayla says
How did you do your gathered stitch?
Melissa Mortenson says
Set your sewing machine to a long stitch length. Most machines go up to 5 or 6 then run a line of stitches. Take it off the machine and pull on the stitches that were on the bottom.
Linda K says
This is truly a fantastic way to hang a nice looking towel on the oven door. I’m going to look for coordinating holiday potholder & towel for my first try!
Alma Dirpaul says
What a great idea. For years I’ve used a safety to keep the towel from falling off. Now I want to do this to my towels. I might use a snap if I can’t find potholders with loops. Or make my own potholders
Soly says
What an ingenious idea! I love it and will make some for my daughter and daughter in law for Christmas. Thanks so very much.
Miriam says
Any tips on how to handle the bulk? I couldn’t fit it under the foot even in up position with the towel and pad and ended up breaking my needle into 4 pieces.
Sandra Haverkamp says
Love the idea. Just have one wuestion. Can you use a square hotpad?