How to Sew a Kitchen Tea Towel

How to sew a kitchen towel is a beginner friendly sewing tutorial. This simple project makes a great gift and can be made in about 20 minutes!

I was noticing the other day that my kitchen tea towels are getting low. Yes, they are fairly inexpensive but I had fabric on had already so I figured I’d just make some! Plus it adds that personal, hand-made touch to my home. There is so much satisfaction in creating things.

There is also something special about receiving a handmade gift from someone. I cherish handmade gifts because I know the time and effort that was put into creating it. This is something I’ve grown to appreciate the older I have become. I will admit that when I was younger, I did not see the value in hand-made items that I see now.

What fabric to use to sew a kitchen tea towel

You can use an array of materials to sew a simple kitchen towel. Some of my favorite options include: Cotton, Linen, Cloth diaper material, Drop cloth, and Flannel. Choose fabric that has a tight weave. Avoid any fabrics that are too stretchy or have a loose weave.

Uses for a kitchen tea towel

The first thing I use tea towels for is the obvious use of drying dishes. Secondly, I actually use these a lot when I’m fermenting grains. Often times I will drape a hand-sewn kitchen tea towel over my jar of Sourdough starter or dough recipes to allow the natural yeast in the air to ferment my grains.

Kitchen Tea Towels also make a great last minute gift. I don’t know about you but I’ve been stuck a time or two trying to figure out a gift idea for someone because I waited until the last minute. That is where handmade gifts come in handy. Not only can home-made gifts typically be made up quickly, but they usually save you money as well. Our budget doesn’t always allow for extra expenses and I love to save money whenever I can.

What you will need for this project

• A sewing machine
• 17″x21″ Piece of fabric
• Thread to match your fabric of choice
• Scissors
• Iron
• Ruler
• Rotary cutter (Optional)

Step-by-Step Sewing Instructions for a Kitchen Tea Towel

To begin, cut a rectangle out of the fabric 17″x21″. For clean cuts and ease, use a rotary cutter for this step.

Next, fold each edge in 1″. Press flat with a hot iron.

Fold each edge 1/2″ and press again with a hot iron.

Fold the edges over again to meet the 1″ seam you ironed onto the fabric, as shown below.

Place the folded edge of the right side of the rectangle into the sewing machine. Begin to top stitch all the way down the seam.

Once you get to the end, fold the next edge and continue top stitching all the way down the next seam.

Once you get to where you began top stitching, back stitch a time or two to secure the thread. This will ensure that the thread does not unravel.

And voila, there you have a hand-sewn tea towel. Continue this step-by-step process to create a pair of tea towels.

Save it for later!

Other hand-sewn projects from My abiding home:

Oven Mitts Easy DIY Tutorial

If you find this tutorial helpful, I’d love for you to come back and give it 5 stars!