Homemade Hand Towel Pattern and Tutorial
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Looking for a simple project that also makes a perfect gift? These Hanging Kitchen Towel Sewing Patterns are easy to sew, easy to customize, and fun to make!
Hanging Kitchen Towel Sewing Patterns
Do you suffer from a wandering kitchen towel? Somehow, it’s never where you want it, when you want it. But now we’ll be able to keep tabs on that kitchen towel – literally! We’ll be sewing a kitchen hanging towel with a tab at the top that we can use to fold over and attach the towel to a drawer handle, towel rail, or even to the oven door.
Materials Needed for the Homemade Hand Towel
(Makes 2 towels)
- Kitchen hand towel or dish towel
- 2 matching fabrics
- 2 large buttons
- The hanging dish towel pattern – (see below to download)
Get the Free Hanging Hand Towel Pattern below:
Looking for the pattern? It's free for our newsletter subscribers!
Get the Free Hand Towel Pattern
Tip: New to sewing? Check out my 7 Sewing Must-Haves List before you get started!
To sew a Homemade Hand Towel
Step by Step Directions on How to Sew a Hanging Dish Towel
Start by cutting your towel in half cross-ways so you have two pieces that are the same size.
Along the raw edge you have just cut, we need to run some gathering stitches, so set your machine to a long stitch length and sew along about 1/4 inch from the cut edge. Gather up the edge of the towel tightly. Do this for both pieces then set them aside for now.
Print and cut out your hanging towel pattern and use it to cut out 4 pieces of fabric. You can either cut them all the same or use coordinating fabrics. Both fabrics will show in your final towel.
Place the fabric pieces right sides together and sew around the edges, leaving the long edge at the bottom unsewn.
Tip: Want to keep costs low for this project? Find out Where to Buy Cheap Fabric.
Clip around the curves.
Turn the pieces right side out and press. Turn 1/2 inch to the inside at the bottom edges and press all around.
Gather up the raw edge of your towel until it will fit inside the opening. Push the towel far enough inside that your gathering stitches will be hidden and then pin in place through all the layers.
Stitch through to secure the towel in place, then stitch another line just above to be extra strong.
Now it’s time to sew the button and buttonhole that will allow you to hang your new towel. Check your machine manual for how to sew button holes, mark placement on your fabric, and stitch the button hole vertically. Never sewn a buttonhole before? It’s not as scary as it seems. You can find a tutorial on How to Sew a Buttonhole here.
Fold over the tab on your towel and mark the correct placement for your button. Stitch that in place, too, and your towel is ready to hang.
These are so quick to sew, so you can always run up more. They make pretty and practical house-warming gifts, something for Mom, or are great for changing up your kitchen for the seasons.
More Simple Sewing Projects
- Gathering Apron
- 10 minute Table Runner
- DIY Cloth Napkins and Un-Paper Towels
- Homemade Sandwich Bags Sewing Tutorial
- How to Make a Dish Towel Apron
Find more fun and simple free printable sewing patterns on Little House Living!
Where will you hang your Homemade Hand Towel?
The Hanging Kitchen Towel Sewing Patterns were originally published on Little House Living in August 2014. It has been updated as of December 2023.
Cute! I’m not much of a sewer but with these instructions, I think I can do it. Thank you for sharing
I’ve always wanted to learn how to make a hand towel. They are so handy in the kitchen. Thanks so much for the great tutorial and the pattern! -Bev 🙂
What are the measurements for the fabric cut out?
Did you ever find out what the measurements for the fabric was?
Like the style of these. Im planning on using embroidered towels. However I did not get a full size pattern when I printed The beautiful instructions. Hope you will be able to help with that. I can hardly wait to get started on the project.
I can’t even find the pattern on here.
I buy 1/4 yard of fabric and can get several cut outs from that.
I can’t find the pattern.
I love Deby’s site and find it weird that I stumbled upon your site with a tutorial by her! It’s kismet – I MUST make these!
I’ve pinned them to my sewing board so thank you for sharing!
Love these with the fabric instead of yarn. Thanks for sharing the tutorial and pattern.
Very cool! too bad I’m not very crafty 🙂
I’ve always wanted to make these for shower gifts. Thanks so much for sharing this easy method.
Love these- they remind me of the ones my grandma used to send me! Thanks for linking up to Wednesday Whatsits!
This is terrific and love all the tutorial information. Pinning to make soon. Stopping by from Great Idea Thurs. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Yikes! I want to pin, but can’t make it work. HELP please. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Do you have the Pin Extension for Chrome? That’s how I do most of my pinning. Otherwise if you hover over each picture you should see a little Pin button pop up that you can use.
This is adorable! Pinning!
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GREAT tutorial! Thanks so much for the video too! ox
Great tutorial!
–Anne
I love your tutorial! I can’t wait to go search for more now from you. Clear, precise, guiding. Thank you!!!
thank you for that , it’s beautifull !!
Thanks a lot for this! It’s really lovely. 🙂
I’ve been making these all fall for Christmas gifts. Your choice of coordinating fabric and button can really make even a plain towel look cute. I’ve been using seasonal towels, too.
I was so surprised to see your kitchen towel in my email from SewCanShe. My Mother made these towel for years (in the 60s, 70s, and 80s). Hers was a little different though. She added lace to the top and pleated the towel instead of gathering it.
Those sound so charming. The lace would be a lovely addition. Sometimes the old ideas are still the best ideas.
I just would like the measurement on the pattern? Please?
Hi Laurie, I’m happy to email you the pattern if you don’t see the download link on the post. Just shoot me an email, [email protected]
Deby, I wanted to add a picture for you to see the kitchen hand towels that my Mother (and now I make). But I couldn’t find a way to attach it to the comment. Thanks for your comment. I just love these hand towels. It was actually my husband who encouraged me to make the towels like my Mother made. Now I make them for all seasons and share them with friends and relatives. I just thought I would add a tip to share with the pleating and lace.
Love, love this pattern. Going to make one today! Thank you!
I’m making a bunch of these as Christmas gifts this year. Thank you so much for this tutorial and pattern! I decided to add a layer fusible fleece to one side of the top portion to give it some added thickness and then top stitch all the way around and am using snaps instead of buttons. They are turning out amazingly well!
I really like the hanging kitchen towels,but when I clicked on ” download pattern” nothing happened! Any ideas? I sure would like the pattern.
How much fabric is used or need to be bought for one towel?
how much material?for top and what size is it
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How do I get the pattern for the handle urgent please
Barbara, you will just need to click the link in the article above that says Hand Towel Pattern.
The site is not working. I tried 3 times and it just redirects you to your website again and again. I finally just copied the picture of the handle and will make it bigger with graft paper.
Hi Liz, which part of the website is not working? Could you send an email to [email protected]? We can help you further there.
What is the size of the pattern please urgent
Can you please send me in the email the pattern for the top of the towel so I can cut out that from the fabic.
Need the pattern for the handle. I guessed and the handle was tooo short. Need longer to go over my oven handle. Other instructions excellent but the size of the handle was not mentioned
Hi Marlene, there is a place on the blog post to put in your email to get the pattern for the handle emailed to you. If for some reason you can’t find it, please email me at [email protected] and I can send it to you.
I am unable to download the pattern
I am so thrilled to find this pattern as I have never had any luck knitting toppers. Has anyone tried velcro instead of button/buttonholes?
I loveeeeee the hand towel but I can’t seem to figure out how to download the pattern. Helpppppp pleaseeeeee. ?
SIncerely,
Theresa
Hi Theresa, The free pattern can be downloaded from the link that is located under the “What You Need” section of this article.
Absolutely adorable! I’m not much of a sewer. I do however use potholders to make a similar hanging kitchen towel. I also make crocheted hanging dish scrubbies and portable towel holders. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks,
Becky
You mentioned a 1/2 inch seam allowance at the bottom. What size seam allowance do you use for the sides and along the top curve? Thanks so much!
How do you print the pattern for the hand towel?
Hi Alisha, there should be a small place to enter your email at the bottom of this article to receive the free pattern.
I’m trying to find the pattern to download and can’t seem to find it. Can you help. I’ve registered and got the password but that’s it. Thank you!
Hi Janet, the link to the freebies page is at the bottom of each of our newsletters. If you don’t happen to have one in your inbox, just email me at [email protected] and I will get it to you!
I can’t find the cut-out pattern for the top. Cany anyone help?
Hi Shelley, if you are on my email newsletter list, all of the patterns and printables are housed in our free resource library. The link and password is at the bottom of every weekly newsletter. If you are still having trouble getting it from that page or need help with something else, just email me and let me know 🙂
Can’t find the hand towel pattern download ?
The link to all of the freebies, ebooks, and downloads is in the weekly newsletter. If you are a subscriber and still aren’t seeing how to get to the resource page just email me at [email protected]
Thank you so much for the pattern. I hope I can do justice to it. Yours look so lovely.
I cannot get the pattern can you help me
This pattern is available for free for our newsletter subscribers, do you get my weekly emails? If so, the link to all the freebies and patterns is at the bottom of each email. If not you can sign up here.
looks easy
I cannot find the printable pattern anywhere?!??
This printable pattern is available in our Free Resource Library for newsletter subscribers. There is a place near the bottom of the article to enter an email address and have the pattern sent to you.
I have signed up for the email list multiple times and have entered the password that was sent to me, but am still seeing a message to sign up where the pattern is supposed to be. Please advise.
Please email me at [email protected] if you are getting some kind of error message and I will send you step by step instructions.
Can’t figure out how to download homemade kitchen towel holder
Hi Patsy, if you receive my emails or signed up to do so, you should have gotten an email with a special link to our resource library and the password for all the downloads and printables that I have. If you did not, please email me at [email protected] and I will send it to you.
Hi, Merissa- love the towel and will make some for gifts. I have not been able to download or get a password. But, I did sign up for your newsletter. I would love the pattern for the towel holder attachment. Thanks for your help.
Sandi
I will email you!
I have signed up for your newsletter two times and have received nothing. I really want the free towel pattern to make some gifts. It is so cute! Thank you!
Hi Kathy, you may need to add [email protected] to your contacts list so the emails don’t go to your spam folder. I will email you with the pattern now!
Good morning I can not download the pattern for this hanging towel thank you for your help
Hi Yasmine, if you want to email me at [email protected] I will send the pattern to you that way 🙂
Hi,
Could you please send me the free pattern for the hanging dish towel? It is adorable! You sent it last week, but I can’t find it on my email for some reason.
Thanks,
Marcia
Where can I find a printable pattern for this kitchen towel.
Hi Michele, there should be a place on this blog post to enter your email address and the pattern download will be sent to you automatically.
I want to attach it to the loop on the apron I wear everyday. Handy. ?
That does sound handy!
Please help =)
I have signed up for the newsletter and have received nothing ~ spam has been checked. I emailed directly and have received nothing. I have purchased what I need to make this project so it would be much appreciated to receive the pattern piece to complete the project.
Thanks so much!
Hi Jennifer, I haven’t seen an email come through from you. I will try and email you from my account but it’s the same account that the pattern was sent from. You may want to ad [email protected] to your address book.
Hi I got the patHi I got the pattern and printed it but am wondering if it is the right size. It looks small an is not the size of the whole sheet of paper. could you please tell me what the size is before I cut my material. Thank you in advance.
Jean
Hello
I’d just like to tell you how wonderful and easy this towel pattern was to make.
I made them for a quick gift and they were well received.
Thank you so much. i look forward to trying another pattern.
all the best
Karenmarie
I can’t get the pattern to the download, part I have put my email in twice and it still does not take me to the pattern to download, it keeps taking me the welcome page and that’s it, its one big circle.
Hi Renee, the pattern should be delivered to your email, not popup on this article. If for some reason you haven’t received it (it should come right away), please email us at [email protected] and let us know.
Did you use any type of interfacing in the top part of the hanger?
I would love to make this but for some reason I can’t get the pattern. If somebody could email it to me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you
If you could email us at [email protected] we can send it over to you. 🙂
I know this is an older tutorial, but I just found it and made some of these adorable hanging kitchen towels for my sister for a Christmas gift. Very easy to follow instructions. My only change was to use a snap in place of the button. I have a snap kit with various colored snaps, so it was fun and pretty to accessorize them with the fabrics I used. Plus, they are very easy to apply and look very nice on the finished product. Thanks for a fun, easy, well presented tutorial!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this project!
signed up for your newsletter but nothing has come to my email and I therefore cannot print the pattern.
Hi Tisha, please check your spam folder. If for some reason you can’t find it, please email me at [email protected]
When you print the pattern piece out what scale should it be? Is it print at 100%?
It is correct at 100%, no re-sizing is needed.
Where is the pattern?
There is a section to put in your email to receive the pattern near the end of this blog post.
I would love this hand towel topper pattern please. Thank you.
When shopping for a hardwired towel warmer, you will find that there are many advantages to them. First, they require no cables or wires, and this makes them easy to move around. Many homes are already complete, so there is no need for any home improvement projects to dig up the ground and set up wiring.
I think these are adorable and I can’t wait to make some. Please email me the pattern.
I signed up for newsletter but can’t find the pattern????
Hi Lori, it should have come to your email. Check your spam folder and if you don’t have it just let me know and I can send it over again!
How wide is the bottom of the pattern? Mine looks smaller than yours. Is the pattern to scale when printing or does it need to be enlarged. Thanks
The pattern should be to scale.
Beautiful results! Gave most to a nursing home. The guys can keep one as a shaving towel in their bathroom. Ladies loved it. Am 82 so I just sew for giving.
did not get email
It might have gone to spam so double check there first. Otherwise please email me at [email protected] so I can get that sent to you!