Christmas is all about giving.
And the most treasured gifts are the ones you make yourself.
Soooo. . . how does quick and easy sound to you?
It doesn’t get much quicker and easier than these adorable hanging hand towels. . .
and the bonus is. . . you can whip up several in less than an hour!
Requirements:
(Makes 2 hanging hand towels)
1 hand towel or thick tea towel,
2 fat quarters in matching fabrics,
Iron on medium weight interfacing,
2 large buttons,
Velcro (optional),
Sewing machine and normal sewing supplies.
Download my pattern template HERE
Let’s make hand towels!
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Print off your pattern template.
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Iron interfacing onto the back of one fabric.
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Cut 2 templates from both of the fabrics.
I used a different fabric on both sides of my hand towel, but you could use matching fabrics. The fabric pieces are only 17 cm x 25 cm, so a great way to use up those fabric scraps too!
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Pin 2 fabric pieces together with right sides facing and sew around the perimeter, leaving the bottom open.
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Clip the corners and turn right side out. I like to use a chopstick to push the tight corners out so they are neat.
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Press with iron. Turn the hem up on the bottom edge and press.
See how super quick this is coming together!
The pattern makes 2 hand towels. . . so I whipped up the other fabric component before moving onto the next step.
Then I made a cuppa and gobbled up the last of the cookies from the weekend cookie exchange.
On to the last steps now.
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Cut your hand towel in half. . . I used a big fluffy tea towel for these ones, so my towel needed a bit more gathering. If you prefer less gathering, a hand towel is usually narrower.
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Gather the towel along the edge you have just cut, so that it is the same width as your opening on the bottom of your fabric piece.
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Insert the gathered edge of the towel about 1/2” into the handle. Pin in place.
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Using a matching thread, sew a seam across the fabric hemline to secure the towel. . . then zip another seam back over those stitches to REALLY make sure that towel is secured.
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Flip your handle over to make a hanging tab (shown above).
We need to secure this and there are several options here. I’ve made a few of these hanging hand towels in the past, both with buttons and Velcro. . . and I have to tell you that I prefer the Velcro. One, because it is simpler than mucking around making button holes and two. . . well in all honesty, I just find it quicker to attach it to my oven.
Here’s the thing. . . I like the little button on the outside, so I make a Velcro closure on the inside and sew a pretty button on the outside.
Done!!
So quick and easy and what about all the colour and fabric possibilities!
And everyone needs one of these in their kitchen and laundry, right.
Happy crafting!
Hugs
♥
Kerryanne
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Thanks for the pattern and tutorial! These are awesome. Love the fabric!
I’ve made these for gifts previously but mine were more functional looking and in darker colours as they were for men. Better to have a “blokes” handtowel in their shed than have them ‘borrowing’ your pretty ones from the house :). Especially if they look as pretty as yours.
These are so cute. Thanks for the tutorial, I am going to try and make these for presents..
I like it. Christmas season is coming and I’m pretty sure this is one of the best gift that you can give to your love one. Thanks.
I love my hanging kitchen towels, however at this stage Mum is still crotcheting the tops for me, but this pattern will come in very handy for some gifts I am giving this year. Thank you.
Super idea, I can see some little stocking fillers coming up.
Very good idea 🙂
Hi Kerry Anne, I love this idea. I want to make some for myself. 🙂 My mum always gives me the crochet top Christmas ones every year, despite my protests, and a kitten calendar. Grrr….
Lovely gift idea or even a way to bring your home decor scheme together for the Holidays – love it.
Thank you for sharing Kerryanne.
Toni xx
looove thw fabric you have used..and thankyou so much for sharing with us the tutorial,cheers Vickie
ME ENCANTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AHORA MISMO VOY A HACER EL MIO, GRACIASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Love the fabrics that you used. Thanks for the excellent tutorial.
These are very pretty, Kerryanne! What a great gift they would be.
I made a pattern very similar to this last year and made them up for some friends as gifts, they were such a hit! I love the fact they don’t fall off the cooker everytime you go near them! Perhaps I should get around to making some for me haha!
These are so cute. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party and would love to have you share this with everyone. Here is the link to the party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/11/wednesday-adorned-from-above-link-party.html
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Thank you for the idea and pattern Kerryanne,they are lovely.Shirley
So cut! Thanks for the tutorial. Great for gift giving.
What a great blog site! My passion is and always will be handmade and homemade toys, decor, household items. I would love to promote your blog on my site as well. I welcome a community where we can share topics like toddler toys, and handmade gifts.
Oh, I love these towels, Keryanne! I was JUST saying to my sister that I need some hanging towels like that (we used to have them with crochet tops when we were kids). My twins are always pulling the towel off the oven bar & sink and they’re missing when I need them. I will definitely make some. Thanks for saving me time with the pattern template. Featuring tonight. xo Jami
These are gorgeous!!
I’ve just been asked to make some crochet hand towels for our school fete, but these look much nicer.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Hi ok kits March and I am paying a visit. My new rule in life is “if I visit a blog, make a comment” I am so disheartened at the moment re blogging as have minimal comments but a good number of visitors. I know how a much effort I put in and assume others do the same .
Ok why Ia am writing is because I will be be making these for my daughter. I have made previously using an iron shaped template. They worked well enough but your idea is so much neater .
Bye for now will be back soon
Thank´s for this tut, this is so something I´m going to make 🙂
Very cute and easy pattern to follow. One question, what seam allowance did you use?
Thank you Diane. I used a 1/4″ seam allowance. Hope you enjoy making one of the hanging hand towels. 🙂
Hi Kerry Anne Ijust made a hand towel & it was pretty easy following your instructions but I found it very hard to sew the towel onto the handle & it looks really messy do you have any suggestions as to how to sew this bulky part I would like to make them as gifys.
Tash, I used a cotton tea towel, so it wasn’t bulky. If you want to use towelling, perhaps tack the gathers in place before sewing the final seam across the handle. They do make great gifts!!
Thank you for your tutorial and the pattern! I love this type of towel and could not find a pattern for the top. Yours are beautiful!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. My mom and I are novice sewists, and I think this will be our next project.
Love these! Thanks for the tutorial. Do you remember what fabric line you used?
Thanks!!
My grandmother made these back in the early 1970’s. My mom & I crocheted the tops on the towels.
Thank you very much for the pattern, I will treasure it forever.
I could not find the pattern for “Hanging Tea Towels”. Is it still available?
Hi Lynn,
The hanging tea towels pattern is still available and listed here on this tutorial. Click the link for ‘Download Pattern’ in the requirements section and it will open up on a pattern page. The Tea Towel pattern is listed under the heading 2012 & 2013. I hope you enjoy making them as much as I did 🙂
I just love these dish towels ,i want to make to
them for christmas presants but i do not have a printer,can i buy the pattern?
just love your patterns, they are so easy to use and understand….thank you very much getting Christmas gifts done early…have given me more ideas …
My sister in law was asking if I knew how to crochet last Christmas because she wanted some hanging kitchen towels. Now I can surprise her this Christmas with this tutorial! Many, many thanks.
I do love this pattern but I’m having a little problem with the stitching. I turn the edge under and press, insert the towel, and then when I try to stitch it down, the stitching doesn’t come out even on the back even though the edges were even to begin with. Any idea what I’m doing wrong?
Hi Pat, I’m not sure what is happening there, but I’d try tacking the piece first, before you top sew. Hope this suggestion helps 🙂
Your hand towels are fab! Thank you for the tutorial! will make them for Christmas coming up for my sisters and maybe my adult kids if they want them. Lol
I’ve made these as gifts and also for myself. I find the Velcro ends up losing it’s ‘stick’ after a few washes so now I use a large press stud. Make great gifts. I have also started using a thicker fabric so I don’t have to use the interfacing.
Love them, so handy, pardon the pun!!
That’s a good idea Laura, although I’ve never had an issue with the velcro. They do make great hostess gifts!!