How To Make A Hanging Kitchen Hand Towel
After you make this hanging kitchen hand towel, you’ll be asking yourself why you didn’t do it sooner!
I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of kitchen hand towels.
Some are kept in a drawer, but many of them just sit (or hang) around or near the counters.
For years now, I have even been making custom flour sack towels.
To do that, I either find a design I can download using something like Creative Fabrica,* or I create something of my own like the sassy teapot below.
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But then I drape them over the dishwasher handle and they either slip off or I step on them when putting the door back up.
So next, I set them on the counter, which is highly inefficient and they end up in an ugly pile.
This DIY hanging kitchen hand towel solves all of those issues.
Plus not only do they stay put on the dishwasher or oven handle, but also add a nice little design element.
I am confident you’ll add this sewing project to your ‘last minute easy handmade gift’ options.
DIY Hanging Kitchen Hand Towel
The first time you make this hanging kitchen towel, you’ll want to pay close attention to each step.
No one part is difficult but there are some steps that may seem “extra” that aren’t.
So once you see the why behind the sequence it will become second nature the next time you make this project.
Video Tutorial
Step-by-Step Tutorial With Pictures
DIY Hanging Kitchen Hand Towel
Materials
- 1 hand towel that measures approximately 18" x 28"
- 1 piece of cotton fabric that measures 7" x 15"
- 1 piece of cotton fabric that measures 7.5" x 8"
Tools
- Rotary cutter and mat or scissors
- Sewing clips or pins
- Sewing machine
Instructions
- Gather your materials.
- Cut your towel in half across the center.
- Open up the towel completely then fold it in half using the short edges to find the center point and mark it with a sewing clip.
- Unfold the towel and measure the length of the towel. It should be around 18" but some are a little short.
- Measure 4" out from the center point marked with a clip, pinch the towel at the 4" mark and fold it to the marked center., Clip to secure.
- Repeat step 5 on the opposite side.
- Measure 2" from the end of the first fold, pinch and fold that toward the center. Clip to secure.
- Repeat step 7 on the opposite side.
- Check to make sure the completed folds measure 6" across the top.
- Use a 1/4" seam allowance to secure the folds.
- Take the small square of fabric and fold the 8" side in half.
- Open up the fold then take each edge and fold it toward the crease.
- Fold the piece in half again. The whole piece should measure 2" H x 7.5" L.
- Top stitch around the whole piece.
- Take the large rectangle of fabric and fold it in half, lining up the short edges to find the center point.
- Finger press then snip a tiny bit off the folded end for a visual cue to mark the center of the piece.
- Open up the fabric and place right side up.
- Take the small rectangle of fabric and line up the top edge with the folded crease and the small notches.
- Line the small rectangle's edges up with the large rectangle and clip. The extra give is necessary as part of the towel's function.
- Use a 1/4" seam allowance to attach the small rectangle to the larger piece.
- Fold the large part of the rectangle over the small rectangle, right sides together and short edges lined up The crease of the fold should tight up against the edge of the fabric strip. Clip the small section near the crease to prepare for sewing.
- Use a 1/2" seam allowance to sew the three layers of fabric together. Sew about 1/2 past the sandwiched strip of fabric.
- Open of the fabric sandwich.
- Line up the top of the towel with one of the short edges and clip to keep in place.
- Roll the bottom of the towel toward the top of towel.
- Take the bottom edge, line it up with the top edge and clip to prepare for sewing. The towel will be sandwiched between the two pieces of fabric.
- Sew the layers together using a 1/2" seam allowance.
- Take the side edges of the pouch near the seam you just made and fold them to the center. Clip to secure.
- Use a 1/2" seam allowance to tack down the seam allowance. You should sew about an inch down from the top.
- Pull the towel out of the pouch to turn everything right sides out.
- Finger press the edges and clip to prepare for closing the holes.
- Top stitch from the bottom edge of the fabric strip to the towel to close the holes and finish the look.
- Have fun admiring your handiwork!
Notes
- If your towel measures less than 18" across then decrease the second fold to 1" instead of 2.
- It's easier to use a fabric that doesn't have a direction so you don't have to pay close attention to a pattern's direction when sewing.
Where Can I Donate Hanging Hand Towels?
Once you start making these hanging hand towels, you’ll see how easy it is to customize them along with all the places where they would be helpful.
Because it’s not just for hanging from a dishwasher in the kitchen.
These hand towels can be hung from any towel bar, or even the grab handle in a car.
And since the purpose of Create To Donate is to showcase places that want your handmade beauties, here are some ideas on where to donate hanging towels:
- Women and family shelters
- Tiny house charities and communities (e.g., Community First! Village)
- Senior centers and nursing homes
Try These Sewing Projects Too!
After making some hanging hand towels, you may as well try some additional projects since your sewing machine and skills are in the zone!
Here are some other sewing projects to make and donate:
- sew a reversible fleece neck gaiter
- sew an easy fleece hat you can make in 10 minutes
- sew an adult bib
