DIY Tea Towel

As part of our New Year resolutions (which we are actually sticking to!), we're eating more fruits and vegetables and are being careful about washing them. I've noticed however, that some members of family aren't great about how they dry their fruit after washing it. They'll often grab a towel that's hanging up (that was used to wipe up counters, ICK!), or a paper towel (a better health option, but not great for the environment). So I whipped up a few tea towels that are only to be used for drying our fruit & veggies AND labeled them, because I know how my family operates and that's the only way they will remember which towel to use.

It's so easy (and cute) to label pretty much anything with Joy iron-on embroidered letters. You can make your own tea towel like I did (instructions below), or buy a cute towel from the store. All you have to do is iron on the letters! Here a couple of tips:

• Place the letters onto the towel, carefully lay a pressing cloth over them, then press your hot iron down. It will take about 20 seconds for the letters to adhere.  
• Allow the fabric to cool completely before you start moving it around. Remember: "Hot Forgets, Cool Sets." 
• Flip the project over and press again (over where the letters are on the other side) to ensure that you have fully adhered the letters to your fabric. 

And here's the tea towel sewing tutorial I promised:

Supplies:

•    2 pieces of 18" x 10" solid fabric. This will allow for a 1/4" seam allowance. 

•     4" x 10" piece of printed fabric

•     Basic sewing supplies and a sewing machine

•     Joy iron-on embroidered letters

Instructions:

1.   I used a linen fabric for the front and a cute, cotton print for the back. Fold the printed fabric strip lengthwise, folding each long side, one inch toward the middle. Press, then to stitch along the long edges.

2.   Pin the print onto the solid piece of your towel,  3" above the bottom edge. Stitch into place.

3.   Pin the top and back pieces, right sides facing, together. Stitch around the edge, leaving an inch or two at the top of the towel to turn it out.

4.   Turn out the towel and press. Fold the opening in and pin in place.

5.   Top stitch around the edge of the towel, making sure to close the opening.

6.   Place the letters, then follow the ironing instructions above.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial. If you are in the mood to wash a few apples after making your lovely towel,  pop over to Laura's blog for a delicious Sauteed Apple Recipe!

Joy iron-on embroidered letters are available at your local craft store in a variety of fonts, sizes and colors.