Cute Fabric Trimmed Towels

Add a cute trim to any towel you have. Decorate the plain ones you have or make a cute Christmas towel out of the plain red and green cloth. Simplicity shows us how to make these cute fabric trimmed towels in seven easy steps.

Materials:

• Fabric for trim
• Towels to be embellished
• Optional additional trims, such as ribbon, rick rack, etc.

Steps:

1. Measure the width of the towel. Cut the fabric strip the width of the towel, plus one inch.
    
2. Determine how deep you want the finished fabric band to be; double this measurement and add one inch. Cut your fabric strip to this length.
    
3. Turn under 1/2” on each long edge and press. Turn under 1/2” on each short edge and press.
    
4. Fold fabric strip in half, matching long pressed edges. Slide strip over the edge of the towel so that the towel end sits in the fold. Pin in place, making sure that pressed edges are in the same position on the towel front and back.
    
5. Edge-stitch along front pressed edge of strip, through all thicknesses. Tie off thread ends and trim close, or use a needle to pull thread ends back into the towel, hiding them under the fabric strip.
    
6. Edge-stitch along short pressed edges of strip, through all thicknesses, encasing towel inside. Secure thread ends.
    
7. Decorate as desired – we used rick rack, metallic braids and ribbons from Wrights for our towels, but you can use any trim or embellishment techniques you like. Some ideas:

• Stitch along the fabric design or around shapes, through all thicknesses, to give a quilted look.
• Try out fancy embroidery machine designs, or use your sewing machine’s decorative stitches to create borders, based on the recipient’s personality and décor.
• Embroider monograms by hand or machine for a classic look. Initial appliqués are available in your favorite sewing store, for a quick and easy alternative.
• Use pretty laces and ribbon rosettes for a romantic Victorian mood.
• Cut your fabric strip twice the length of your towel edge, plus one inch. Pleat or gather the strip at desired intervals, excluding 1/2 inch on either short end, until the pleated/gathered area is the same length as the towel edge. Finish edges and attach as above.
   

Courtesy of Simplicity

www.simplicity.com