I have been attempting simple projects lately to try to improve my sewing skills. Our old dish towels that hang on the fridge have been looking pretty beat so I decided to try a sewn towel topper.
Many patterns online use a button as a fastener, but I wanted to try something easier than sewing a buttonhole. I experimented with a couple of alternate fastening methods, and I think they both turned out great!
Towel toppers only use a little bit of fabric, so if you have some scraps and you want to try an easy and useful project, it might be perfect for you.
You’ll need one 18-by-14-inch piece of fabric. Depending on how you decide to sew your topper you’ll either need a second piece of fabric, 1-by-28 inches or you’ll need a small piece of Velcro. The pattern I hand drew is here:
Tie-up Topper: Fold your fabric strip (the long piece) in half (widthwise) right sides facing each other, and press well. Sew closed, leaving only about 1/8-inch seam allowance. Using a tube-turner if you have one, or a safety pin if you’re like me, open up your tube. Press it flat. Cut the tube in half to make two long ties. Fold in one end of each tie 1/4 inch or so and sew across, finishing them off.
Cut your topper out (cut 2) Pin the right sides of your topper together, inserting the ties at the top.
Sew around 2/3 of the outside edge, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave 1/2 inch at the bottom unsewn. Also, make sure to leave your bottom end open to insert the towel. Press your seam open. Fold the bottom of your topper up 1/2 inch and press well.
Cut your towel in half. Insert the raw edge about 1/2 inch into the topper. Distribute the towel evenly, creating pleats so that it fits well into your topper. Pin into place. Stitch your topper closed, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the edge, making sure you catch all your layers. Sew a second row of stitching across the edge, this time about 1/8 inch from the edge. Your new dish towel is ready to hang!
Velcro Topper: If you don’t want to fuss with the ties, I tried an even simpler version. Sew up your topper, leaving out the ties. When it’s sewn up, attach a small piece of Velcro on the top of the tie and the middle of your topper.
Super-easy and just as nice!
