Target had some plain towels on sale last week, and I picked up a hand towel for a song, wondering if I could make an embellished towel for the powder room. A quick look through my fabric stash revealed a remnant of fabric that I used in my bedroom. Sure enough, the fabric worked well with the hand towel and with the color of the powder room walls.
Here are the easy steps for making an embellished towel:
Cut a strip of fabric six inches wide. Wash and dry the fabric and the towel to pre-shrink both of them.
Turn under a hem on both long sides of the fabric strip. Press well.
Place fabric strip on bottom of towel. Center whatever fabric design you like best, then cut away all but about one inch of the ends of the fabric strip. Press down raw ends of fabric strip.
Then comes the easy and fun part. Heat up your glue gun, and glue the fabric to your towel.
If you like, add some trim, such as this dark brown gimp, along one or both sides of your fabric strip. Glue trim securely in place.
Turn towel over. Wrap ends of fabric strip around to the back of the towel, and glue ends securely in place.
And just like that, you've created an embellished towel:
A cotton fabric works best for embellishing towels--you don't want your embellishment to impede the towel's absorbency.
As for the hot glue, I know it will work. I made some embellished towels for my kitchen several months ago, and they've already been through the washer and dryer many times. The hot glue has kept the fabric securely in place through all that use. Of course, if you're a whiz with a sewing machine, you could just as easily sew your fabric and trim onto a towel. My sewing skills are pretty slim, so the glue works well for me.
Here's my pretty little towel in its new home:
What do you think?
I'm joining these fun parties:
Hi Richella, great job on the towels, they look very expensive!
ReplyDeletehave a great day,
Regina
Love it! I have made burp cloths forever with cloth diapers and beautiful fabrics/ribbon in a similar manner to your towels. I NEVER once thought to make a towel. Thanks for the fantastic idea!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I love the fabric. I made a ruffled towel a few weeks ago for my powder room and it really seems to give the space a little extra perk :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I use fabric glue for crafts like that, because then it's designed to go through the wash.
ReplyDeleteHi Richella. Years ago when I was young and ambitious, I sewed ruffles and trim onto some of my towels, and that was fun.
ReplyDeleteNowadays I would be much more apt to just hot glue some trim on...so, thanks for the demonstration.
I love pretty towels. I found some nice ones at Big Lots...and four years later I am still loving them!
They just hang them there for decoration, and nobody uses them and once in awhile I throw them in the dryer with the little dryer balls to pound the dust out of them! ha!
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
Oh, these are so pretty! You did a great job on them.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
shelia ;)
Isn't that so pretty!!?? Smart girl you!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
I didn't know the glue gun glue would stay thru the wash!
Suzanne, I wondered about whether hot glue would hold up in the wash, too, but I've found that it really does! I've washed and dried my embellished kitchen towels at least a dozen times, and so far nothing has budged. I figure that I might have to touch up the hot glue every few months. . . but then again I might not. So far so good! And using hot glue made this easy project into a super-easy project. :)
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! What a fun and easy idea.
ReplyDelete{waving hi} to you, Richella!
i think... i LIKE! i've been wanting/meaning to embellish some for our bathroom, but i can't seem to get motivated. but hot glue? hmmm... maybe this weekend!!
ReplyDeleteYou did a fabulous job, Richella!
ReplyDeleteLove that gorgeous color combo and pattern, Richella! :)
ReplyDeleteLove that! You are so crafty! : )
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for answering my question about whether or not it would wash well. That was the first thing I thought of...glad to know it works! :)
What a quick and easy way to glam up a towel! Luv it
ReplyDeleteI love it, Richella! I hope you don't mind...I put a link to your blog in my post today. I really enjoyed getting to meet you last week. Carla
ReplyDeleteThis looks fabulous! I had no idea that hot glue would survive the washer and dryer. These would make great gifts, too!
ReplyDeleteRichella, these are lovely! I always like your tutorials because they are things domestically-challenged people like me can actually accomplish.
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great Richella! I keep meaning to do something like that with my kitchen towels.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful towel! I would have never thought that hot glued fabrics would hold up in the washer. But these would really set off an otherwise boring room in my opinion. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThose turned out so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
This is adorable, Richella! Love the little bit of pizazz it adds :)
ReplyDelete