Crafts to Make With Towels

Created: Tuesday, 30 October 2018 16:32

While you can use towels you already have around the house, using new, high-quality towels will ensure you enjoy your project for a very long time. Towels made of cotton or cotton blends are extremely durable, soft and absorbent and are perfect for DIY craft projects. Just be sure you wash and dry them first — towels actually come with a bit of a sheen to make them look more vibrant on the shelf, and it keeps them from being as absorbent. Giving them a wash first removes that sheen and makes them soft, luxurious and ready to do what you want them to.

Crafts With Towels

Once your towels are washed and dried, they're ready to be put to work — or into a craft. With some careful cutting, pinning and sewing, even those with minimal sewing skills can make these creative and useful DIY towel crafts.

1. Hooded Bath Towel

Hooded bath towels are perfect for getting little ones warm and dry after bath time or a dip in the pool. They make wonderful baby shower gifts and can be crafted with your choice of towel color. Soft, thick and absorbent towels work best with this project and will make your little ones feel warm and cozy. This project is simple to make and requires a sewing machine and minimal sewing skills.

What you'll need:

• 1 large bath towel
• 1 hand towel
• Sharp scissors
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

Directions:

1. Trim the hand towel on the short side so that it measures 10 inches. Be sure to include any designs or patterns.

2. Fold the hand towel with the right sides together and the cut sides touching. Zigzag stitch the cut sides closed.

3. Zigzag stitch a small triangle (no need to measure) in the top corner of the hood. Cut off the extra fabric and turn the hood with right sides out.

4. Fold the towel exactly in half and place a pin to mark where the center of the hood is. Mark four inches in from the center on both ends of the towel. Using that point for reference, bring it into the center and pin it in place. Pin the same way on the other side.

5. Use a zigzag stitch to sew through all the layers.

6. Take the middle of the back of the bath towel and match it up with the middle of the back of the hood. Pin the hood in place at that point, then pin the rest onto the bath towel.

7. Using a straight stitch, sew on the hood and stitch through all the layers. You may go over the hood again with a zigzag stitch for reinforcement.

There you have it — a soft and sturdy hooded bath towel your little ones can enjoy for many years!

2. Bath Towel Dress Wrap

This fun and easy project is an inexpensive way to solve the problem of bath towels slipping down as you get ready. Using a plush bath towel for this project will ensure you get a soft and absorbent dress wrap that won't slip and fall down as you go about your morning routine.

What you'll need:

• 1 large bath towel
• Pins
• Safety pin
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine
• Matching thread
• Decorative ribbon (enough for one short and one long side of towel)
• 1-inch elastic (enough to fit snugly around chest)
• Velcro (1 inch, sew-on)

Directions:

1. Spread the bath towel out on a flat surface and pin the ribbon onto one short side and one long side. Sew on the ribbon using a straight stitch.

2. Flip the bath towel over with the ribbon side facing down.

3. Fold the long, undecorated side of the towel over 1 1/2 inches and pin it in place.

4. Sew the fold using a 1 1/4-inch seam allowance.

5. To measure the elastic, wrap it around your body where you'd like the wrap to sit. Be sure the elastic feels firm but not too tight. Mark the elastic and trim off the excess.

6. Use a safety pin attached to the end of the elastic to feed it through the pouch on the towel.

7. Sew each end of the elastic eight inches from the edge. It should look slightly bunched up.

8. Separate a six-inch strip of Velcro and sew one side to the spot where the elastic stops. Be sure you are sewing onto the end of the towel that has the ribbon running along the short side.

9. Turn the towel back over with the ribbon side facing up.

10. Sew the other side of the Velcro to the opposite end of the towel.

That's it! Say goodbye to tugging and pulling up bath towels that won't stay put by crafting an easy-to-create dress wrap in your favorite color.

3. Bath Towel Robe

A super comfy and absorbent robe, made from a soft and plush bath towel, is perfect for the bath, shower, beach or pool. This easy DIY project gives the kids a way to stay warm after a bath or dry off after a swim without their towel falling off.

What you'll need:

• 2 bath towels (24" x 50") or larger
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

Directions:

1. Lay both bath towels flat and use the pattern as a guide to cut out your pieces. The pattern is designed so that the decorative bands on the towels run along the hood, sleeves and bottom of the finished robe. You will need measurements for the body and sleeve lengths and waist.

2. Cut out the curved pieces for the sleeves and neck. If you're adding a hood, cut out the hood shape, leaving a few inches all around for a proper fit.

3. Lay the back piece flat and place the front pieces on top. Be sure the right sides are together. Sew the seams for the shoulders using an overlocker or zigzag stitch.

4. With right sides together, sew the sleeve pieces to the body.

5. Carefully line up the side seams of the body piece with the sleeve seams and sew together. Sew the pieces of the hood together and attach it to the robe.

6. If you're making a belt from the towel fabric, sew the two strips together and use a zigzag stitch to give the edges a finished look.

Bath towel robes can also be made for adults. Just use larger bath towels or beach towels.

4. Bath Towel Apron

A full-sized bath towel can be transformed into a two-in-one apron that does double-duty as a towel to dry your baby. It will help you to stay dry during bath time splashes or while doing the dishes. This project requires moderate sewing skills, is fairly easy to make and is also extremely useful. It makes the perfect baby shower gift and can be done in any color of your choice.

What you'll need:

• Full-sized bath towel
• 1 yard of accent fabric
• Matching thread
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Iron
• Sewing machine

Directions:

1. Lay the bath towel out flat on the cutting surface. Measure nine inches from the top corner (both across and down) and mark it. Do this to both sides of the top of the towel. Freehand draw a curved line that will serve as your cutting guide for the armholes. Fold the towel lengthwise and trace to the other side, so both curves are symmetrical.

2. Measure the thickness of the line across the towel and cut a strip of the accent fabric one inch thicker — leaving room to fold it under on both sides.

3. Fold both edges of the accent fabric under and iron the folds down in the same thickness as the strip across the towel.

4. Sew the strip of accent fabric on using a stitch across the top and bottom using about a 1/8 inch seam allowance. You will sew the sides on in the next step.

5. You will need about 50 inches of a strip cut on the bias to make the neck and ties in the back. You can use a width of your choice.

6. Using a technique called "Stitch in the Ditch," stitch the strip of accent fabric to the front of the towel. When sewing on to a raw edge of a towel, a deep seam allowance will prevent fraying. Once the strip is attached, roll the ends up twice and sew them.

These make great handmade gifts for baby showers or for a new bride and are useful for staying clean and dry around the house.

5. Towel Tote Bag

This project turns bath towels into an all-in-one beach mat and tote bag, complete with a comfy pillow and convenient straps. It rolls up and has handy pockets for books, snacks and sunscreen. It is perfect for taking to the beach, pool or park and can be made in many different colors and fabric patterns. This project requires moderate sewing skills but is still fairly easy to make.

What you'll need:

• 2 matching oversized bath towels
• 1/2 yard of canvas or denim fabric for straps
• 1/2 yard of fabric of your choice for pockets
• Stuffing for pillow
• A 12-inch strip of Velcro (in the color of your choice)
• Iron
• Pins
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

Directions:

1. Cut one bath towel in half. You can set aside the other half for use on another project. Fold down the short end of the towel toward the edge you cut, leaving the cut end hanging out about two inches farther than the end that is finished. Sew along all sides of the towel.

2. *Follow this step if needing to make a narrower pillow* Measure in six inches from each side of the towel and use pins to mark the lines. Sew along the lines you marked. This gives you a large middle section that will be stuffed and two smaller empty side sections. Staying close to the openings, sew along the towel's finished bottom edge. Be sure to leave about a three- to four-inch opening along the middle section to add the stuffing.

3. Fill the middle section with stuffing and sew the opening closed.

4. For covering the raw edge, cut the fabric into a strip three inches wide and one inch longer than the towel's width. Fold it in half and press with an iron. Then open it up, fold each end in toward the middle line and press again.

5. Match up one of the strip's raw edges with the pillow towel's raw edge and sew along the crease closest to the edge.

6. Turn the pillow over and fold the strip around to the other side. For neat edges, be sure to tuck under the raw edge and bias tape edges. Carefully sew on the bias tape along the folded edge.

7. Lay the edge of the pillow with the bias tape on top of your second bath towel, overlapping the edges about one or two inches. Pin the two towels together, then attach them by stitching along the bottom edge of the bias tape. Turn the towel over and stitch a second line along the edge of the bigger towel. You will now have a full-sized towel complete with a comfy pillow. Roll it up.

8. For the pockets, cut two 18 x 10" pieces of fabric and fold all of the edges over 1/4". Press and fold in another 1/4". Then press again. Trim the corners if they are too thick.

9. For the straps, cut two pieces of strap fabric about 32 x 6". Fold the straps in half lengthwise and press a crease. Open each up and fold the edges into the middle line and press a crease. Fold each strap along the middle and stitch both long sides.

10. Open the flap that sits on top and secure the Velcro with pins.

11. Pin the pockets and straps in place — pinning through only one layer. Open the towel back up and sew the pieces in place. Sew around the perimeter of the Velcro pieces.

12. Fold under the raw edges of the straps and sew each one in place. Use two lines of stitching to sew along the bottom and sides of each pocket. Each pocket can be divided into smaller ones as well by sewing a line from top to bottom. Roll the mat up, and you have yourself a nifty and useful towel tote bag.

This fun and useful bag makes a great gift. Consider filling the pockets with beach-related items such as drinks, snacks, sunscreen or a magazine.

Find Quality Towels for Your Next Project at Towel Super Center

When choosing towels for your next craft project, you want to be sure they are soft, absorbent and sturdy so that they last a long time. Look to Towel Super Center for towels that are high-quality and affordable.

We are proud to offer a large selection of sizes and colors — as well as fast shipping so that you can get started on your project right away. With our bulk pricing, you can afford to make a bunch of projects for gift giving or just to have around the house. Shop our large selection of towels that are perfect for your next DIY towel creation.