Kitchen Towel Mat Tutorial

sorry, this drawing is now closed.

Drum roll please ;)....Introducing Toad's Easy dish mat tutorial! Perfect for the countertop above the dishwasher {for those dishes that didn't quite get dry}, or for those hand-washed items!


This is the 1st tutorial in my "Trifecta" of kitcheny projects! You may have missed the dish mats big debut in my last post, but you won't miss it now!

Inspired by several other dish mats that other crafters have made--like the one Darby made on Fly Through Our Window--not only did I want one for myself, but thought it would make a great gift!

You rookies {like me} will be happy to hear that I simplified the mat so it doesn't use any fancy stitching or bias tape around the edges. It is not a hard project, and hopefully my tutorial will also be easy to follow!

The fabric I use in this tutorial is by one of my favorite fabric designers...Riley Blake. Its from her Summer Song line, and you should be able to find it on Etsy or any "Cool" fabric shop that sells designer fabric.

Before we get started let me tell you that this tutorial can be easily adapted to fit any size of towel that you have. I used a regular sized hand towel I bought for $1.50. Just be sure that whatever you use be sure to WASH it (and your fabric) before you make the dish mat.

To make sure that the material will fit on your towel, just see if strips size (16 1/2 X 5}will fit before you start cutting. You can adjust the size of your strips if you need to.
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Kitchen Dish Towel Mat Tutorial
By Emily

What you will need:

  • A dish towel {my tutorial uses a regular size dish towel}

  • 2 strips of fabric {16 1/2 X 5"}

  • 2 strips of a different fabric {16 1/2 X 5"}

  • 1 strip of a different fabric {16 1/2 X 5"}

You'll also want to use your iron and have a bunch of pins on hand. Let's do it!
























IMPORTANT TIP: Do NOT sew all the way to the bottom! You'll need to leave some material {at least a 1/2 inch} to fold under across the bottom. See step 6 for more details. {Hopefully that makes sense!}













And you know me...I have to give one of these sweet babes away!

To enter the drawing just leave me a comment and tell me what you've been "crafting" lately---or if you haven't been crafting---what you want your next fun project to be!

See you soon!

51 comments:

Melissa said...

Ive been working on my first dress (from a pattern). wish me luck!

Carly said...

This is such a cute idea! I'll have to make one if I don't win. I'm new to sewing so your tutorials are things I can actually make. Just finished one if your owls for my 3 mo old baby boy.

Daisha said...

The last thing I did was to repurpose a dress ($4 at a 2nd hand store) that was too big into a skirt for my 6 year old. It turned out pretty cute and was simple to do!

Erin said...

You are so creative! Thank you for sewing projects that self taught amatures like me can do!! Keep 'em coming:)

Donna@My Sweet Things said...

Emily, I love this AND the fabric! I have to give this a try. I finished Ms. Long Legs! I'll post about her real soon! Thanks for sharing all these wonderful projects!

cArLa said...

wow, emily! i love this tutorial... i will definitely give it a try.

metal mama said...

oh my gosh! that's super cool!
today i made a re-usable bag out of a some funky fabric from a "cover-up" :)

Joan said...

I want to make about 4 of these! So cute!
I've been working on a skirt for my daughter, my first ever. :O

swtelford said...

OH so cute Em! I love it. I have been working on these...

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/04/spring-project-burlap-flowered.html

I'm not done yet, but sewed all of the flowers yesterday!

The Rissa and Alex Family said...

This is adorable. Last thing I crafted was a baby car seat cover. Next project is unknown. Keep up the awesome and cute work!

Wic said...

absolutely stunning. I just adore it.
Since the family is sick and I don`t feel so good the only thing I made since Easter are Hair-clips with crochet flowers. A lot of them. And this as a mother of boys.

GroverFamily said...

cute idea...i love that fabric! i havent had time to craft lately...i have wanted to though!
amalgrover(at)hotmail(dot)com

Simply Domestic said...

Excellent tutorial! I love the fabic that you used. I'm new to your blog. Can't wait to look around!

Jenn @ West Sac Honey said...

I just made an apron and some twine eggs for Easter! I'm loving your tutorial. But seriously you sewed over the pin and your needle didn't break?

Stephanie said...

I'm working on my first quilting project - an H shaped scrap quilt. It may take a while though because I have a 21 month old and 6 month old. I just LOVE your blog - thanks for another fun tutorial!

Annie Lee said...

Well for the past year or so I have been "working" on a circle jean quilt.I really need to find some motivation to finish it!

The Kansas Kouple said...

I'm crafting up a coupon holder! If I ever figure out how to blog I will definately put my tutorial online. Thanks for the giveaway :)

Crystal said...

This is so adorable! Lately I've been packing and sneaking in a few fun frames.

Eileen said...

nice job...i'm going to make one of these this weekend!

chris said...

Hi Toad. Found you via One Pretty Thing. What a fabulous idea (the mat)! So nice to "meet" you. I think we've been living in parallel universes. I'm also a Jerusalem alum, an RM, and have a tute on my blog to make a ribbon belt. Hope you'll come visit. Best wishes!

Unknown said...

love your towel idea. i would like to start making a quilt for my 2 year old. no time :(.
sonia

Stephanie said...

I love it! I've been working on a quilt for my daughter. (For about 2 years. Maybe this will be the summer that I'll actual learn something about quilting and get it done!!)

Pati @ A Crafty Escape said...

Thank you so much for posting this tutorial... I am so excited to make one. I always have to lay out the kids sippy cups after the dishwasher and at least this will make that look cute.

I've been working on summer clothes for my daughter. I just made her a bandana skirt today that I'll post about tomorrow- super fun!

Patsy said...

This is the cutest thing I have seen in a while. You are so creative and I love your blog. Here is what I have been working on:

http://dixielandblessings.blogspot.com/2010/04/double-door-monogram.html

Thanks for sharing!!!

Stacey said...

I haven't been working on anything lately cause I've had a sick kiddo, a new baby, and a big move from ID to CA! But I can't stand not working on something and my next project is going to be either matching dresses for my girls, OR this towel mat!! (If I don't win!)

Thanks for a great tutorial! It was awesome!

staceywalk@gmail.com

Paula said...

Ooo... how cute! I'm new to your blog... saw you on OnePrettyThing. I'm making burlap and damask handbags and pet leashes for friends (our family's only pets are teeny frogs!). Thanks for the chance. And thanks for the inspiration. I'll be back to visit. :)

Tania QT said...

I'm making a Cars Disney Quilt for my oldest son, and in some scrapbooking pages, with two boys it is no easy to find time. Very creative your ideas!!!

Christie said...

i just wish I could muster the courage to turn my machine on. :)Love the mat!

copycatcrafter said...

being a newbie crafter im trying my hand at the cute lil' magnets you make with the clear flat backed marbles and also placemat purses.

Paisley said...

Ice been working on a set of beanbags for my lil guy.

Michele said...

Such a cute idea. I love that birdy fabric. I've been working on mini quilts.

Hey Jude said...

Love this idea! I go through way too many towels drying pots and pans...this will be great.
Am working on a couple of blankies for new moms.

Max said...

Love the fabric,it looks so cheery!I have been making felt toys and waldorf dolls for the children I work with.Would love to win this bright cheery mat!

Betty aka Fudgie said...

Instead of allll those pins...use acid free glue, elmers washable glue, Roxannes glue or 505 spray glue to hold all those pins in place. If you are using the "glue in the bottle" do not "dot" the glue in the sewing line. Then, of course, before using, wash in the machine and all the glue will disappear! BTW...Love the idea and I plan on making one!

Rachael said...

I love this idea, and hope to make a few in the near future. However right now I have a bunch of ideas floating for my daughter's birthday, which is just 3 weeks away! We are making a play kitchen out of cardboard (thanks to fortytworoads on etsy) some Max & Ruby magnetic dress-up dolls, and Max & Ruby plush dolls (she loves Max & Ruby, but you can't find much other than books to buy.)

Bonnie said...

I don't know if the giveaway is still open or not but either way - this is such a great tutorial. I don't sew, never have - something about my lefthanded brain (that's my story & I'm stickin' to it) but this tutorial makes me think I MIGHT be able to actually accomplish this. 'course, I'd rather win one & save myself the time. Lately I've been painting mason jars with glue & food coloring to copy those wonderful colored glass lanterns I've seen everywhere for outside. So far - blue. And it has worked pretty well. After that, green... then red... then... well... a few other projects on my to do list for a going-away party I'm hosting this summer. Ah, the joys of DIY! Again - thanks for the tutorial!! As a sewing novice, I'm thinking I might be able to follow it!

CraftyHourMom said...

Adorable and great idea! I use a boring old faded towel... may need to do a little sprucing myself! :)

Unknown said...

I just finished making a half apron. I work at a scrapbook store and we have full aprons, but, we do not want to cover up these cool store shirts we just got. So, I took our apron home and made a half apron.

allsewnup said...

What a great idea, much prettier than another tea towel folded in half & sopping wet in no time!
Thank you for this tutorial.
I've been busy with baby quilts for our brand new grandson {not even 24 hours old}.

Carolyn

aunt choody said...

So fun! I never would have thought of that. Today I made 10 super hero capes for Isaac's tumbling class and a shirt. Whoo.

Michele T said...

You make it look too easy, excellent tutorial and fun too! I am working on a lap quilt for my sister-in-law's 60th b-day.

Michael said...

This is beautiful!!! I don't have a sewing machine but I might just get one :)
Denise

Anonymous said...

This looks awesome and I want to make one!! I also think all your "kitchen trifecta" projects are totally adorable. =D

emgpkg said...

Love the fabric you used!! So springy!

I have been working on skirts for my little girl!

Kate said...

I've been working on painting and putting together things for our play kitchen that we will have for when our niece visits and later our own children!

ificould said...

Love this!! Featured it today. http://ificould-ificould.blogspot.com/2010/04/kitchen-towel-mat.html

Anonymous said...

That was a nice tutorial that you have there. Thanks for sharing it to us.
kitchen towel bars

Angie said...

Thank you for this post!!!

Henning said...

You can adjust the size of your strips if you need to. ... towelsset.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Great post. loved it.

Lucy Carter said...

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