It’s finally here! The 12 Days of Handmade Christmas Tutorials! Thank you for stopping by and don’t forget to grab the button to your right and let your friends know that we will be featuring 12 creative and talented guest posters today through November 12. I also have been asked several times to host a Mr.Linky after this is over so that you all can show us your homeade/handmade goodies. Let me know if you’d be interested in that.
While I wish that I could take full credit for this creation, I must admit that the idea sprouted from something I saw on the SouleMama.com blog for a bathmat that was altered to make a dish mat using recycled towels. I loved the idea and if you’re anything like me, you always place a dish towel above the dishwasher as you unload for those pesky plastics that never dry. This version is a combination of terrycloth and 2 fun fabrics. My dish mat has become a permanent fixture in the kitchen and has been put to very good use!
You’ll need:
5/8 yard of main fabric **PREWASHED**
5/8 yard of coordinating fabric **PREWASHED**
5/8 yard of terrycloth or a recycled bath towel **PREWASHED**
Instructions:
::All seam allowances are ¼” unless otherwise noted.
::Cut or tear main fabric {with grain} into (4) 5 ½” x 22 ½”
strips.
::Cut or tear coordinating fabric {with grain} into (5) 3 ¼”
x 22 ½” strips.
::Starting with the thinner coordinating fabric, piece the front of the dish mat together, sew with a straight stitch
& press seams towards/under the main fabric panels {this will build bulk and give an appearance of fabric being inset}.
Once you’ve pressed the seams. Top stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance, using a triple stitch along the inside seam of the main fabric. A triple stitch will give you a thick & substantial looking stitch. If your machine doesn’t have a triple stitch a straight stitch would work just fine, but be less “substantial”.
Note how the weight of the triple stitch makes the smaller strips look inset.
Now that you’ve pieced the top together, lay it on top of your bath towel or terrycloth {with right sides together} cut the terry cloth to size and pin together around the edges.
Using a 1/2” seam allowance, sew around the outside of the dish mat with right sides together, be sure to leave an opening large enough on one side to turn the dish mat right side out. Once you’ve sewn around the outside with right sides together, trim your seams and clip your corners.
Then you can turn your dish mat right sides out, press, and hand sew the opening shut. Finish by top stitching around the outside of the finished dish mat using about a 3/8” seam allowance.
The terrycloth does tend to pucker a little around the edges. After the first wash it will lay completely flat. These will make wonderful Christmas gifts, hostess’s gifts, and if you have time, make one for yourself– you will put it to good use, especially if sippy cups come out of your dishwasher regularly!
The {pdf} tutorial can be downloaded and printed here.