Sew Practical - Decorator Dishtowels

About a week ago I told you about the terrycloth I bought that just didn't make the grade for my baby burp cloths in my Etsy store.  I already made some simple dish cloths, but I really wanted to try some dish towels.  You can find plenty of DIYs on dishtowels, but I had only a few simple requirements - a generous size of about 15" x 26"; and because of the quality of the terrycloth, finished edges to prevent fraying.

For each towel you will need:

Terrycloth  15" x 26"
Cotton Fabric  6" x 18"
Contrasting fabric for bias tape.  I used a home decorator fabric, which is slightly heavier weight.

Position the cotton fabric on top of the terrycloth about 4" from the bottom.  The cotton piece should extend beyond the edges of the terrycloth 1 1/2" on each side.  Fold the long edges of the cotton piece under 1/2".  Press and pin down.  Topstitch in a contrasting color thread, or use a piece of ric-rac or other trim over the edge or peeking out from under the cotton fabric.

On the short sides of the cotton piece, fold 1/2" under, and then fold a 1" hem to the other side of the terrycloth and sew on the opposite side.  

Next, create the 2 1/2" wide bias tape.  There are many tutorials on creating bias tape, but the main thing you need to know is that cutting fabric on the bias is just cutting on the diagonal.

To combine the bias strips, sew at right angles and then trim:

Apply the bias tape around the perimeter of the dish towel, including over the areas of the cotton fabric.

And there you have it - pretty decorator dish towels!

cindy

DIY Nursing Pillow

Looking for the perfect pillow to feed baby?  How about a little portable travel pillow or neck support on those long car rides?  If you ever wanted to make your own baby pillow, look no further than my new Etsy store, Pretty Home Threads, where I sell this full pattern as an immediate digital download.  This post will also redirect you to my Etsy store if you would like to purchase the pattern if you would rather make your own.

Materials Needed

 Cotton Fabric 

Soft Contrast Fabric 

Polyfill

Sewable Velcro 

Thread

The pattern is a PDF digital download with a full tutorial, including multiple photographs.  You need to know how to sew, and have a sewing machine. The skill level for the pattern is probably Intermediate, especially working with minky fabric.  

If you would like to use your own fabrics and sew a pillow, the pattern is available for immediate download.  You can purchase it for yourself HERE  

Whether it's for your baby or a gift for someone else, baby pillows are pretty AND practical.  

cindy

Sew Practical - (Very) Simple Dishcloths

One of my favorite fabric places is SAS Fabrics in Phoenix.  I call it the "warehouse o'fabric." It is not much to look at as a store, but the fabrics (and every notion you can imagine) is there.  Recently, I dropped by hoping to find some white terrycloth for the baby burp cloths and wash cloths I make and sell in my Etsy store, Pretty Pretty Cindy.  I did find some terrycloth, but when I brought it home, it just wasn't a high enough quality for my burp cloths.  With several yards of this terrycloth, I decided to make some dish cloths and dish towels.  These aren't fancy, but certainly prettier than rags, right?

I started by cutting the terrycloth in 9" squares.  Because of the quality of the terrycloth, any finished item will require some type of binding along the edges.  I picked a blanket stitch and lengthened and widened the stitch.  If this sounds unfamiliar, this is typically an adjustment you make on your sewing machine.  Play around with the stitch size on scrap fabric until you get what you want.  Using the blanket stitch and some colorful thread, I stitched around the perimeter of the square 5/8" from the edge.

Once you have stitched all the way around, trim the excess right up to the stitch.

And that's it!  If you want more color on each cloth, you can use a different color in the bobbin.  I used this opportunity to finish some thread I had leftover on bobbins from different projects.

They aren't fancy, but I really like the cute pop of color on these little dish cloths.  I still have more terrycloth, so next I'm turning my attention to some dish towels.

cindy