Tutorial Tuesday - Fancy Pants Hand Towels for Under $2!

I have new towels for my kitchen!

Maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal, but I can never find anything that I like that matches my kitchen. First of all, it's cherry red {already painted when we moved in} with kind of a hodge-podge of mismatched appliances, and ugly cabinets to top it off... so I have trouble accessorizing. Secondly, truth be told - I'm picky. It can get ridiculous at times. I still don't have a matching set of bath/hand/wash towels for the master bath because nothing I've come across speaks to my splishy-splashy side. 

Eh, all in good time I guess. HAHA!

I'm getting off topic, sorry! 

So I'm excited about my little kitchen towels! 

There's only one thing that could make this whole scenario better, and that's if I had made them. 

Oh wait! I DID! Yay me!

P.S. The whole project cost under $2 to make {that's less than $1 per towel!!} 

Now that's a winner in my book!

And because I love you all so much I whipped up a little tutorial so you can make your own fancy pants towels using a couple of scraps and your pocket change. Let's get started!

~ Dressed Up Hand Towels ~

Wal*Mart, 2 pack, $1.68. 

SCORE!

My fabric was a little scrap left over from a jelly roll, ribbon was a scrap from my white felt wreath, and the lace stuff a scrap from a ribbon scrap pack I bought at Hobby Lobby ages ago. You don't need much of anything to do this project, these particular towels are only 15" wide to give you an idea.

First, lay your pieces out across the short side of your towel to make sure they are long enough with a bit leftover at each end to fold under and hem. I left about an inch on each end.

I started with my fabric since I knew I wanted it on the bottom. I planned to sew the ribbon and the lace over the top of the raw edges of the fabric so I wouldn't have to do any more hemming than necessary.

I folded under and pinned the edges down first, then used the wonky little zig-zag stitch 

to attach it to the towel. Clean edges, pretty little ziggy zaggy.

Next, I pinned and basted down the long edges. I know I'm going to be attaching the ribbon and lace 

over the fabric, so I mostly just need it to stay down and in place. The real reinforcing will come later.

Now more pinning for the lace...

{what is that stuff? Seriously, I have no idea what to call it, so I'm just going with lace for now.}

And again with the wonky zig zag stitch to make sure this stays in place and can be machine washed.

I did the same thing for the ribbon on top that I did for the fabric: 

Pinned and basted on both the top and bottom long edge. 

Somehow I managed to miss taking the pic on this one so you'll just have to use your imagination, haha!

Iron out any wrinkles, and ta-da! Pretty little dish towel!

They're SO easy, and you already have an extra towel, so why not make it two?

 Two is better than one anyway, I think. :)

Since I made these two, I've been digging around in my scrap box for other coordinating colors to make more. I could seriously solve my entire house-wide towel problem with what I find in my scrap box. :) 

But wouldn't they make great gifts? Housewarming parties, hostess gifts, wedding shower... 

Now let's see what you've been working on this week! I'm excited that our little linky party is growing, thanks to you all for participating and spreading the word. Don't forget, once we have at least 10 link ups I'll do a Saturday post featuring my favorites from that week. 

Grab yourself a button if you're linking up this week, and you can find all the parties I'll be linking up to this week up top under the "linky parties!" tab. There's lots of great spots on that list so definitely go check them out, and let me know if you have a party that I can add to my list!

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XOXO