Create Two Styles of Hanging Towels (Tutorial and free pattern)

Here it is, the third week in January! That is hard to believe. It seems like just yesterday we were all in a hustle mode trying to get Christmas ready, plan menus, and figure out where everyone was going to sleep. Our four children are spread across a 350-mile-range, so holidays are always a production, and as more grandchildren are added, the production gets larger. Now, it’s always a great time once we get it figured out, but with so many families there always seems to be a glitch or two. I was still finding a few stray Christmas things this week as I was thinking that I really don’t have many decorations for Valentines Day.

That holiday always seems to slip past as we plan for Easter and the spring. Spring is a big deal here in the Midwest, even if we happen to be having a mild winter.

There are some things that I am rather compulsive about….here is where Rachel is laughing….and one of them is changing out my kitchen towels. I change my towels with the holiday or season. It is now time to tuck away the Christmas towels and switch over to something else. Now I do have a few snowmen and generally winter-themed hand towels, but no Valentines and very few Easter towels.

I like to hang them from my drawer handles next to the sink. They take a beating and really need to be replaced frequently. There are two methods of making hanging towels, both of which are pretty easy.

For both of these styles I start with a standard dish towel cut in half. This will give you two finished hanging towels.

Busting Your Scrap Stash

Using left over scraps of fabric is always fun. You can use this template for your pattern. (I’ve marked seam allowance and buttonhole)

Cut 2 and sew your pieces right sides together leaving the bottom open.

Turn. Press under the bottom edge 1/2 inch.

Fold your towel in thirds and insert into the opening. Top stitch the opening.

Make a buttonhole at the top of the tab, fold over, and sew your button on.

Break Out The Yarn

The second method is to crochet a tab directly onto your towel. Again, I begin by cutting the towel in half. I used an awl to punch a row of holes along the cut edge.

Crochet Towel Pattern

Create a row of stitching by single crochet in each hole. Then follow this pattern:

Ch 1 turn. DC in every other SC across.

Ch 1. Turn. DC in every other DC across.

Ch 1 DC in every DC across. Ch 3 .Turn.

DC in every other DC across. Ch 3. Turn.

DC in every other DC across. Ch 3. Turn.

DC in each DC across. 5 DC. Repeat this row 4 more times.

Each ch 3 at the start of the row counts as the first DC.

Bind off. Sew button on. I used a size 5/3.75mm hook.

Rachel is busy sewing up our boy look for PR &P this week. We’re excited to show it to you later this week. In the meantime, Do you have a favorite way to freshen up your everyday spaces when in the depth of the winter?

Happy Sewing,

Donna