Free And Easy Pattern For Sewing Kitchen Tea Towels

Sharing is caring!

Tea towels are kitchen essentials that have been around for centuries. They are used to dry dishes, wipe counters, and clean up spills. This post has a free and easy pattern for sewing kitchen tea towels. Get ready for a super fun project! But first, let’s talk about where tea towels came from.

The history of tea towels is a long and winding one. The first tea towels were likely made in China in the 16th century. They were made of hemp or linen and were used to dry teacups. Tea towels soon made their way to Europe, where they were used for many purposes, including drying dishes, using as a pot holder, and wiping hands.

In the 18th century, tea towels began to be mass-produced in factories. This made them more affordable and accessible to people of all income levels. Tea towels also became more decorative during this time, with patterns and designs being added to them.

Today, tea towels are still an essential kitchen item. They are available in a variety of colors, patterns, and sizes. Tea towels are also used for a variety of purposes, including drying dishes, wiping counters, and cleaning up spills.

Here are some interesting facts about tea towels:

• The average American household owns 12 tea towels.
• The most popular color for tea towels is white.
• Tea towels are made from a variety of materials, including cotton, linen, and bamboo.
• Tea towels can be machine-washed and dried.
• Tea towels can be used to make a variety of crafts, such as potholders and placemats.

So next time you use a tea towel, take a moment to appreciate its long and storied history.

What You Need For The Free And Easy Pattern To Sew Kitchen Tea Towels

Fabric

First, you will need some fabric for these wonderful dish towels. I recommend using natural fibers such as cotton fabric, linen blend, cotton canvas, or a combination of these. These materials absorb moisture, dry well and survive a lot of laundry cycles. Cotton canvas is the fabric I usually opt for – it has decent strength and comes in some beautiful colors and patterns.

At my local fabric shop, they have large (54″) reams of discounted cotton canvas. If you buy only 26 inches of the fabric, you can make three (3) kitchen towels from it. Cut 18-inch sections for each.  That is less than one yard for 3 towels. If you don’t need three towels of the same print, they make great gifts! Or use one for the bathroom or laundry room. Be sure to ask for a longer piece if your desired length is greater than 24 inches. 

Other Supplies

Thread – a good quality cotton blend thread is essential for sewing anything that will be going into the wash regularly. 

Sewing Machine

Scissors to cut fabric and thread

Rotary Cutter (optional)

Cutting Mat

Purple Thang – yes, thang. It makes it so easy to feed the fabric into the presser foot. It is one of my favorite tools.

Instruction For Sewing Kitchen Tea Towels

1. Cut the selected fabric into a rectangle that measures 18×24 inches.

2. Lay your fabric with the wrong side facing up and make a double fold. This can be pinned in place or ironed to keep it in position. (I usually just fold as I sew – but I have made a lot of these.)

3. Use a 1/2-1 inch seam allowance. It really doesn’t matter just be consistent. 

4. Thread your sewing machine and bobbin with thread and set your machine to stitch a zigzag stitch (3.0 width and 1.4 length on my machine).

5. Start at one corner and stitch close to the inside of the fold. Back-stitching at each end/ corner, sew down the long side of the fabric until about three (3) inches from the bottom of the towel.

6. Make a corner by double folding the bottom of the fabric up towards your pressure foot and stitch it in place. 

7. Lift up the pressure foot (with the needle down) and pivot your work a quarter turn so you are now stitching down the next side. Repeat on all of the sides. 

8. At the remaining edge, fold up your last corner and backstitch to secure. And that is it! Your hanging kitchen towel is finished. 

Tips For Sewing Kitchen Tea Towels

• Using a cutting mat and a large ruler works great at getting lines straight. 
• Cut with scissors or a rotary cutter.
• To make a double fold –  (fold over and then fold over again to hide the raw edge of the towel).
• When sewing corners, go slowly. That is a lot of material and you don’t want to damage the sewing needle or alignment.  
• Use a Purple Thang (or something to push with) to guide the fabric through the feed dogs. 

• No need to top stitch – this is already created when you sew the folds. 
• Press with a hot iron to make it look really professional.
• You can change the size of the towel but I find this measurement to be the perfect size for my kitchen. 

There Are Many Reasons Why We Love Free And Easy Patterns For Sewing Kitchen Tea Towels- Here Are A Few:

• They are easy to make. Even beginners can sew a simple tea towel with just a few basic sewing skills.
• They are versatile. Tea towels can be used for a variety of purposes, such as drying dishes, wiping up spills, or even as potholders.
• They are affordable. You can make your own tea towels for a fraction of the cost of buying them pre-made.
• They are customizable. You can choose your own fabric and pattern to create tea towels that match your kitchen décor.

• They are eco-friendly. Sewing your own tea towels is a great way to reduce waste and save the environment.
• They are a great way to show your creativity. There are endless possibilities when it comes to designing and sewing tea towels, so you can really let your creativity shine through.

If you’re looking for a fun and easy project to add to your sewing repertoire, I highly recommend trying to sew a free and easy pattern for kitchen tea towels. You’re sure to love them! This is a great beginner sewing project and with this free tutorial, you’ll easily turn pieces of fabric into stylish kitchen tea towels. 

Wrapping Up Free And Easy Patterns For Sewing Kitchen Tea Towels

This free and easy pattern for sewing kitchen tea towels is a simple project that is perfect for anyone with basic sewing skills. Having or giving a homemade hand towel adds so much to your kitchen decor. Hang a new towel on the oven door or a towel holder to show off your beautiful skills. Make a bunch of tea towels and store them for a perfect last-minute gift. They are especially great to give as a Christmas gift. 

Over a decade ago, my mom made me a handful of these kitchen tea towels. I still have them in my kitchen drawer to this day. Every day I pull a fresh one out and launder the other. That is a long time for a towel to last! They still look beautiful and are soft to the touch. Over the years I have added more tea towels to my own kitchen and every morning I get to pick a fun fabric for the day.

If you enjoyed this tutorial please feel free to share my blog post on your social media. This project is great for the beginner sewist! I would love to see your towels – share photos of them with me on our Instagram page.

Cheers,

Sarah

Stay Inspired! (Measure twice cut once…this is always in my head)

Step By Step Guide For Free And Easy Patterns For Sewing Kitchen Tea Towels

Print

Free And Easy Patterns For Sewing Kitchen Tea Towels

If you're looking for a fun and easy project to add to your sewing repertoire, I highly recommend these kitchen tea towels. This is a great beginner sewing project and with this free tutorial, you'll easily turn pieces of fabric into stylish kitchen tea towels. 

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Active Time15 minutes mins

Total Time20 minutes mins

Yield: 1 towel

Author: Sarah

Cost: $3

Equipment

• 1 Sewing Machine
• 1 Pair of Scissors or rotary cutter
• 1 Thread
• 1 Cutting Mat
• 1 Purple Thang

Materials

• 1 18×24 inch Fabric Cotton Canvas

Instructions

• Cut the selected fabric into a rectangle that measures 18×24 inches.
• Lay your fabric with the wrong side facing up and make a double fold. This can be pinned in place or ironed to keep it in position. (I usually just fold as I sew – but I have made a lot of these.)
• Use a 1/2-1 inch seam allowance. It really doesn't matter just be consistent. 
• Thread your sewing machine and bobbin with thread and set your machine to stitch a zigzag stitch (3.0 width and 1.4 length on my machine).
• Start at one corner and stitch close to the inside of the fold. Back-stitching at each end/ corner, sew down the long side of the fabric until about three (3) inches from the bottom of the towel.
• Make a corner by double folding the bottom of the fabric up towards your pressure foot and stitch it in place.
• Lift up the pressure foot (with the needle down) and pivot your work a quarter turn so you are now stitching down the next side. Repeat on all of the sides. 
• At the remaining edge, fold up your last corner and backstitch to secure. And that is it! Your hanging kitchen towel is finished. 

Notes

• • Using a cutting mat and a large ruler works great at getting lines straight. 

• • Cut with scissors or a rotary cutter.

• • To make a double fold –  (fold over and then fold over again to hide the raw edge of the towel).

• • When sewing corners, go slowly. That is a lot of material and you don’t want to damage the sewing needle or alignment.  

• • Use a Purple Thang (or something to push with) to guide the fabric through the feed dogs.

Shop My Favorite Crafting Supplies

Singer Quantum Stylus 9960 https://amzn.to/3GYMPdS

Favorite scissors https://amzn.to/3KW9B7l

Rotary Cutter https://amzn.to/43NXDFH

Cutting mat, rotary cutter, and ruler https://amzn.to/43QiQ1z

Purple Thang https://amzn.to/3Ah64Mg