I started with plain white bath towels from Wal-Mart. (six-dollars) and plain white hand towels that I already owned.
With white pima cotton fabric I already had on hand from some other sewing project, I laid it out, measured and marked off two inch strips. Three for each bath towel and two for each hand towel.
I cut the strips with my favorite scalloped shears.
And then I sewed a large straight stitch down the center of each strip – leaving plenty of extra thread on each end. Do not back stitch to lock the thread. Very important!
Here you can see my “oh brother” machine settings. This ninety dollar purchase made ten years ago has saved me thousands of dollars on curtains, pillows, and decorative items for my house. “Oh brother” might just be the best investment I’ve ever made…
With the aforementioned machine settings, my machine actually ruffles the fabric itself. Oh happy day!!!
When you get to the end of your strip, cut off the thread leaving lots of extra on the back end. Again, do not back stitch at the end either.
Lay it out on the towel and adjust the ruffles (I had to spread them out) to match the width of your towel. That’s why you need all the extra thread on each end and wouldn’t have wanted to back stitch.
Next, with the following machine settings (I put mine on a slight zig zag so as not to ruffle your towel) sew your ruffled strip on the towel.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat for the rest of your ruffles and towels. For subsequent rows of ruffles, I stitched them on so that they would overlap into loads of ruffly goodness once complete. To do so, I nearly butted up the bottom of the ruffle to the seam in the previous ruffle. Like so…
And here’s the final product. Such a piece of cake. And SO cheap!
genious!
Great job! You really added a nice feminine and fancy touch! http://bresbaubles.blogspot.com
i love these, my little girl has some ruffle towels in her bathroom that i ADORE to look at.
Super cute….
What kind of scallop shears do you use? Brand? I haven't been able to find a pair I like.
Anonymous – they are fiskars brand. I purchased them at Joann's years ago.
These are lovely! Thanx for the tutorial. Ruffles still get the best of me but I am trying.
They are beautiful and I just love them! What a great gift idea, I'll remember that come Christmas time!
Michelle
http://www.newengland-style.com
These are so lovely. The ruffles are such a wonderful addition! Thanks for sharing :)
You are so right. You can never have to many ruffles. Love your towels!
I like this .So cute.I will try it.
These are darling, wish I had one of those rufflers! thanks for linking up with VIF! xo Debra
Thanks for the tutorial on the ruffled towels. Looks terrific! I am going to try it too! Thanks for sharing!
Hello…
Ahhh…you wouldn't love those pretty white ruffley towels!!! They turned out sooo pretty! Thanks for sharing them with us…and the great tutorial too!
Warmest wishes,
Chari
Pretty, cute and very cleaver!(-:
CUTE CUTE IDEA!! Thanks for sharing! I saw your post over at Tatertots and Jello! Thanks for sharing I'm your newest follower!!
xoxoxo,
Lilli
http://onestopbabygifts.blogspot.com
Sooo pretty! I love the white on white.
KK
A girl can never have too many ruffles and these are adorable. Thank you for sharing at the Open House party.
xo,
Sherry
Visiting from Tatertots and Jello. Love the towels! What a cute way to spice up a plain old towel :)
How cute! I am also in a house full of boys so I could use a few of these! Thanks for sharing :)
These are so cute! I love them! What a fun and adorable idea!
Thanks!
Melissa
http://www.sweetcoconutlime.blogspot.com
I am in love with your towels, thanks for sharing and linking up!
XO
Kristin
Great idea.
And I adorned with lace towels:
http://magicznyzakatek.blogspot.com/2011/01/zima-jak-nie-zima-wiec-pora-na-szycie.html
Greetings!
Marapuama from Magic Corner
I really need to try this. I have wanted to buy a new set of guest towels for a while now and just never found any I like. Now I have a great Idea to just make my own matching guest towels. Thanks for the tutorial.
New follower from the Creative bloggers hop.
Hope you stop by for a visit.
http://grandmabonniescloset.blogspot.com/
Love! I'm a newlywed, learning to sew, I'm taking sewing classes this fall! I can't wait to make fun projects like this! :)
I am in LOVE with those ruffled towels! I found you via My Uncommon Slice of Surburbia and I'm your newest follower! XOXO
Clydia Kay @ ThreeMangoSeeds.blogspot.com
Superb…. you made a star out of those simple towels. Great!
Thanks for linking up at Tea Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner and adding to the fun. The party for this week is going on… hope to see you there again :)
http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/tea-time-thursdays-4.html