How to Sew a Hanging Dish Towel

two hanging dish towels

 

Stephen Gibson / Getty Images

Project Overview
  • Total Time: 1 hr
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $10

Hanging dish towels are a great way to have towels ready wherever you need them. The loop allows you to hang these towels in all sorts of places, including the kitchen and bathroom. Hanging dish towels also are a great gift for almost any holiday, especially when you make them with holiday fabric. Plus, they're versatile gifts for weddings and housewarmings alike. This project is doable for beginner sewers and should take you about an hour to complete.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine
  • Iron and ironing board

Materials

  • Standard dish towel
  • Fabric scraps that complement your dish towel
  • Matching thread
  • Button (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut the Dish Towel and Fabric

    Cut a standard dish towel in the middle, leaving both ends intact.

    Then, use the line on the pattern to lay the pattern on the lengthwise grain of your fabric. Pin it in place. Cut out two of the pattern pieces.

  2. Stitch the Edges of the Fabric

    With the right sides of the fabric together and using 1/2-inch seams, stitch around the curved edges of the pattern, leaving the bottom open. Trim and notch the seam where necessary. Then, turn the right sides out. Press the fabric smooth, so all of the seams are on the edge.

  3. Pleat or Gather the Towel

    For a pleated type of towel, mark in 1 inch from the end of your dish towel. Fold at this mark, and meet in the center. Stitch into place and zigzag or serge the raw edge of the towel.

    For a gathered type of towel, gather the raw edge of the towel, so it will fit the open area at the bottom of the pattern.

  4. Sew the Towel to the Fabric

    Set the towel on one layer of the joined fabric pieces at the bottom opening. Pin it in place between the seams. Then, sew the towel to the fabric using a 1/2-inch seam.

  5. Press and Topstitch

    Press the seam to the inside of the fabric pieces. Press under the other layer of the fabric. Topstitch the fabric through all the layers.

  6. Make the Button Hole

    Make a button hole sized to your button or knob, depending on which version of the dish towel you are making.

Tips for Making a Hanging Dish Towel

  • Be creative and embellish the towel with lace or embroidery. You also can use themed fabric for a sports team, pop culture characters, and more.
  • If you are using a limp fabric, you might want to interface the fabric area.
  • Serging or zigzagging the raw edge of the towel before assembling it will add strength through many launderings.