A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had stopped by the new quilt shop in Spring Hill but didn’t know its name. I know it now since I received an email from Cari Lester regarding classes for the month of June at Bayside Stitches Quilt Shop. There wasn’t a reference to a website but she does have an email, baysidestitches@gmail.com and (352)584-3743 is the phone number. So if you are interested in classes or fabrics, you now have a contact.
You may recall that I picked up a couple of different Moda fabrics while I was there. The top was from the Chance of Flowers line and the bottom was from Mirabelle.
I still had a few charms left from the Chance of Flowers charm pack I had bought at Tomorrow’s Treasures. So I was ready to coordinate.
And this is what I made…
Okay, you are thinking that I’m totally obsessing over tea towels now! But I wanted to bring a small hostess gift to my friends in Texas and these fit easily in my bag. And they are totally adorable.
Here’s the instructions, pretty much just like I gave for last week’s tea towels (and next week’s too–yes more tea towels! Tea Towel overload!) The big difference is in the bands and the applique.
I found this pillow on Pinterest.
And followed to the website, Don’t Look Now. The tutorial includes a PDF for the shapes.
I made the basic white tea towel exactly as I did last week. And I’m going to give you the same suggestions: I wash and dry all fabrics for tea towels prior to sewing. I also press at every step. Press, Press, Press.
I cut the tea towel fabric 17″ x 20″ then hemmed three sides (two long and one short) using the tutorial for clever corners from Sew4Home.com. The towel is then 16″ x 19 1/2″ with one raw short edge.
For each tea towel, from the Moda fabrics I cut two 3″ x 17″ bands and one 5″ x 17″ band.
Sew the long side of the 3″ bands to both long sides of the 5″ band with a 1/4″ seam.
Center the unfinished edge of the towel on the band–wrong sides together. The color strip should be 1/2″ wider that the towel on each side.
Stitch together using a 1/2″ seam. Press under 1/2″ on the unfinished edge of the color band.
Fold the color band up to meet the towel seam, right sides together. The pressed edge of the color band should be on the seam.
Stitch side edges of the color border with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Clip the corners and turn right side out. I used a coordinating thread to stitch close to the edge around all four sides of the color band.
Pretty on both sides!
Now for the appliques. I cut out a bird and a bunch of flowers, centers, and leaves and used Heat n’ Bond Lite on the backs.
Placed them on the tea towel and pressed.
Did a little zig-zag stitch around all the edges.
Done and ready to go to Texas!
Other tea towels that I’ve made and you might like….
You make it look so easy !!
It is easy! As long as you have all the right “tools” set up and ready to go. I’m fortunate to have my own little sewing corner that I never have to take down.
Absolutely adorables!
What kind of fabric are you using for the towel?
It looks very thin.
I think kitchen towels are a perfect gift because we use them always.
I live across the border with Laredo, Tx
Thank you for sharing with us!
Hi Martha, thanks for your question. The fabric for the tea towel is Kaufman Essex Wide Linen that I bought from Fabric.com. The border and applique fabric is quilting cotton from Moda. I really like using the toweling fabric from Moda now. It’s finished on two sides. So much easier! Then I can just put on the borders and appliques. Quick and easy!