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    Home » Sewing

    Simple Hanging Tea Towel Pattern

    Last Updated: Nov 1, 2023 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · Leave a Comment

    Two tea towels hanging on a peg rack with text over photo

    Use our free tutorial to create this simple tea towel which can be made with a Fat Quarter of fabric. It features a looped edge making it easy to hang on a hook or cabinet door in your kitchen.

    For the last few weeks I’ve been trying to brainstorm a few simple Christmas gifts that can be sewn quickly. It seems every year that I’m always in need of a “quick sew” project to use for a last-minute gift.

    Table of Contents
    • About the DIY Tea Towels
    • Binding the Edges
    • More Kitchen Sewing Projects

    About the DIY Tea Towels

    I made these tea towels using fabric yardage, but you can also use a Fat Quarter of fabric. How cute would a whole stack of these towels be all stitched up from various fabrics in a fat quarter pack?

    tea towels on white table

    The towel features a simple loop on one corner which allows it to hang on a hook or a cabinet knob in a kitchen. You can also fold it to hang it over the handle of a kitchen appliance.

    tea towels on white table

    Even though these towels are sewn from Christmas fabrics, you can use this tutorial all year! Just swap out the fabrics for other holidays or seasons.

    Binding the Edges

    My towels are made with 100% cotton webbing as the trim to bind the edges. You can also use ribbon or seam tape. Whichever one you use, make sure that you can iron it. Many ribbons made from synthetic fabrics will melt when ironed.

    tea towels on white table

    Normally, I don’t prewash my fabrics. However, I would prewash and dry your fabrics for this project since they will likely be washed frequently. This will ensure that if the fabric does shrink, the edges will not distort (since they are bound with seam tape, which most likely will not shrink).

    Two holiday tea towels on white table

    Hanging Tea Towel Pattern

    Melissa Mortenson
    Stitch up a simple hanging tea towel (or dish towel) using our free sewing pattern.
    5 from 4 votes
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    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Active Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

    Equipment

    • Sewing Machine (I recommend BERNINA or Bernette)
    • Basic Sewing Tools
    • Rotary Cutter
    • Cutting Mat
    • Small Sharp Scissors
    • Quilt Ruler
    • Hera Tool
    • Iron

    supplies

    • ½ Yard Fabric OR 1 Fat Quarter ½ yard of fabric will yield 2 towels
    • 2 ½ Yards ½" Wide Thin Cotton Webbing You can also use grosgrain ribbon or twill tape.
    • 2-3 scraps Fabric for applique
    • 1 piece Paper Backed Fusible Web I like to use Heat N Bond Lite

    Instructions
     

    Cutting

    • Cut a piece of fabric 18" x 22" – this is your towel piece.

    Prep

    • Using a hera marker and your quilt ruler, score a line in the towel ½" in from the edge on all four sides.
      Note: The photo shows to do this with the right side of the fabric up, but after making a few towels I believe it's better to score the fabric wrong side up. This makes it easier to fold the edges when ironing.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat

    Press

    • Using your iron press all 4 sides of the fabric along the line you scored in the fabric. When finished all 4 sides of the fabric should be folded and pressed with a ½" seam allowance.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat

    Press the Corners

    • To miter the corners. Open up the seam on one corner of the fabric. Then fold the point of the fabric down. Press.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat
    • Next, while keeping the corner folded down, fold the two sides back down.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat
    • Press well.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat

    Add Webbing

    • Lay the webbing along the raw edge of the fabric. Pin in place. When you get to the corner, stop pinning and stitch the webbing to the towel. Sew the webbing to this point. You will be stitching down one side of the webbing very close to the edge.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat
    • At the first corner, create a loop in the webbing that is about 3" long. Then keep pinning the webbing down the next side of the towel. Continue stitching.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat
    • When you get to the next corner, fold the webbing back, then fold it over at a 45-degree angle and keep pinning down the next side of the towel.
      hand folding fabric on white cutting mat
    • When you get back to where you started, cut it so that it overlaps the start point by about 1" and put a bit of fray check on the webbing. Stitch it in place.
    • Go back and stitch the webbing down on the other edge of the webbing around the entire towel.

    Add Applique

    • To add an applique shape to your towel, iron a piece of paper backed fusible web to the wrong side of your applique piece. Cut it out.
      triangle christmas tree on fabric on cutting mat
    • For one of my towels, I simply cut a triangle from green fabric to make a tree and used a scrap of brown fabric to make a stump.
    • For the other towel, I just cut out a shape from a panel of fabric. You can use any fabric that has a large image or illustration.
      piece of fabric with candy cane illustration
    • Remove the paper backing from the applique shape and iron the shape onto the towel. Stitch around the edge of the shape to secure it to the towel.
      triangle christmas tree on fabric on cutting mat
    • Give the towel another good pressing with the iron and you're done!
      tea towels on white table
    PRINT
    Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram

    More Kitchen Sewing Projects

    Round pot holders on white table

    Looking to turn these towels into a fun gift set? Stitch up a set of potholders to match!

    Also check out:

    Hanging Kitchen Towel Tutorial

    Hexagon Tea Towel Tutorial

    Childs Apron Tutorial

    How to Make an Apron

    Two tea towels hanging on a peg rack with text over photo

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      Quilted Santa Hat Sewing Pattern; the Snowbound Hat
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      Four Ways to Finish the Edge of a Pillow

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

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    Hello! It’s nice to meet you.

    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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