Crafts

Craft Project: Tied Kitchen Towel A hand towel hung within easy reach in the kitchen is a must. Make towels that hang over the oven handle with convenient ties to hold them in place. This project modifies new or existing kitchen towels that match your room's decor. Sew several kitchen towels to have on hand for last-minute gift occasions. Hand them out as gifts for family, friends, teachers, and coworkers. They are sure to be appreciated. Approximate Time: 30 minutes Supplies:measuring tape 1-inch-wide bias tape scissors iron sewing machine straight pins rick-rack, optional 1-yard, 1/4-inch-wide ribbon 1 large safety pin 2 small gold safety pins Instructions: Step 1: Lay your kitchen towel on your work surface with the right side up. Turn the towel with a short edge at the top. If your towel has a directional design, the top edge should be positioned at the top. Step 2: Measure the width of the towel and add a 1/2 inch. Cut two strips of 1-inch-wide bias tape using this measurement. Step 3: Fold a 1/4 inch on one end of the tape to the wrong side and press. Stitch across the folded end as close to the edge as possible. Trim off the excess of the fold on the back of the strip. Repeat on the other end of the tape and the remaining tape. Step 4: Measure down 1 inch from the top edge of the towel. Lay one bias tape strip across the towel at this measurement. Position the ends on the edge of the towel. Pin along each long edge of the bias tape. Step 5: Sew along each pinned edge of the tape as close to the edge as possible. Do not sew across the ends of the tape. The bias tape becomes a casing. Step 6: Measure down 4 inches from the bias tape. Lay the remaining tape across the towel at this measurement. Pin and sew in the same way as the first tape. **I top stitched rick-rack to the edges of each casing for an extra decorative touch. Step 7: Cut two 18-inch lengths of 1/4-inch wide ribbon. Attach a large safety pin to one end of one ribbon. Using the pin as a guide, insert the pin into one end of one casing. Feed the ribbon through the casing. Pull an even amount of ribbon out each end of the casing. Remove the pin. Repeat with the remaining ribbon and casing. Tip-Attach small safety pins to the ribbon through the center-back of the casings. This will prevent the ribbon from sliding out while tying and when washing. Step 8: Fold the top of the kitchen towel over the handle of your oven. Position one casing on the back of the handle and the other on the front. Match the ribbon ends on one edge of the towel and tie into a bow. Match the ribbons on the other edge. Pull to gather the casing. Tie the ends into a bow.