How To Sew A Ruffled Tea Towel (no pattern needed)
I love the feminine detail on these tea towels. This design would be great for a feminine/romantic, vintage, cottage core, or bohemian brand.
Pair these with ruffled potholders, pot pinchers, or other kitchen linens to create a gift set or bundle to sell.
>> How To Sew A PotHolder with Ruffle & Bow Detail (Free Pattern)
>> How To Sew a Pot Pincher with Ruffle Detail | Free Pattern
Materials
- Natural material (cotton or linen works great for more absorbent tea towels)
- Thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Serger (or use a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine)
- Iron
- Temporary fabric marker
- Ruler
Steps to sew ruffled tea towels
Video coming soon…
Step 1
Cut out your fabric pieces.
You can adjust the sizing but this pattern creates a tea towel that is 18” x 28”, which requires:
- 1 piece of fabric that is 20” x 27”
- 1 piece of fabric that is 6” x 30” (for the ruffle)
Step 2
Use a temporary fabric marker to mark lines on the wrong side of the 20” x 27” piece of fabric, that are 1” away from the cut edge on the two sides and top.
Step 3
Fold the cut edges up to the drawn lines and iron into place.
Then use the cut edge as a guide to fold the fabric over another 1/2” and press.
Step 4
Unfold your hem once, so it is only folded in 1/2″. Then fold the top edge of your tea towel to meet the side edge, right sides together.
You now have a 45-degree fold.
Fold the edge over a 1/2”.
Then again, another 1/2”.
Use a temporary fabric marker to trace the 45-degree line that the folded edge creates.
Unfold, but leave the top edge and side edge together.
Sew along the drawn 45-degree line.
Trim the seam allowance.
Repeat this step on the other top corner.
Then flip your corners right side out.
Step 5
Fold your 6” x 30” piece of fabric lengthwise, right sides together.
Using a 1/2” seam allowance, sew both short ends.
Trim the seam allowance, flip right side out, and press.
Run two lines of basting stitches (longest stitch length) along the cut edge 1/4” and 3/8” away from the cut edge, leaving the thread tails long at the start and end of your stitching. Don’t backstitch.
Grab the bobbin/bottom threads and push the fabric toward the centre to create the gathering and shorten the ruffle to the finished width of the tea towel.
Once the ruffle is the right length, tie your threads in double knots on both ends to secure and distribute the gathers evenly.
Press the top/cut edge to flatten the seam allowance.
Step 6
Place the ruffle and tea towel right sides together, lining up the raw edges.
Serge or zigzag stitch along the edge.
Then sew 1/2” away from the edge.
Flip the ruffle down and press the seam.
Step 7
Top stitch around the tea towel.
