Sew: faux French linen dish towels
Take a basic Ikea dish towel and add a little cross-stitch personalization:
Super easy and fast and makes a great birthday gift!
And if the red stripes and $.79 price tag aren’t good enough these towels also come complete with a hanging loop!
Now I don’t have a hook or drawer knobs in my kitchen but a lot of folks do and they look great hanging:
Or neatly displayed on the oven door handle:
These towels are meant to be used, washed and dried and used again and again, no preserving for heirloom here:
I cross-stitched my sister’s last name and her initials:
My favorite is hanging open with the red stripes showing, ready for every day use:
Here’s how to sew faux French linen dish towels:
1. Purchase multiple Ikea Tekla dish towels:
wash, dry and cut off the tag:
2. Print out lettering.
I used Home Sweet Home font which is made to look like cross-stitch.
I printed my letters at 80 point then fold both towel and printout in half to find middle:
3. Line up lettering and pin to back of towel.
Place on a light box with towel on top:
4. Using a red ultra fine point Sharpie mark a dot at the intersection of each cross:
5. Remove paper printout and place towel in an embroidery hoop and ready needle with red embroidery floss:
I used this giant ball of red embroidery floss, much like red string:
6. Use the natural weave of the cotton as your guide for the cross-stitch.
I went 4 by 4.
And try to keep all the stitches in the same direction for a unified look.
7. The backside is not too pretty, a few knots are to be expected.
Hot wash and dry again, my red floss didn’t bleed a bit:
I’m linking up to:
SAS @ Funky Junk
Nifty Thrifty Sunday @ Nifty Thrifty Things
DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff
Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue
Pretty Things Thursday @ Scissors & Spatulas
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
SAS @ Just a Girl
Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic
inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming
Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity Now
That is a fantastic wedding gift! I love it!
Those are my favorite dish towels, thanks for the great idea on how to fancy them up a bit…
Hi! Just found you from nifty thrifty and love the dish towels! Our Ikea is about 30 miles away so I don't get there often, I'm your newest follower too!
Ikea towels…awesome! So much thriftier than the real deal and just as cute! Love the idea of using Home Sweet Home font as well.
Looks awesome! I'd love it if you would share it at my Funday Sunday party that opens up Saturday at http://www.the-crafty-cowgirl.com! Hope to see you there!