Easy fun gift idea

40 comments
I know the other day I talked about making kitchen towels but I wanted to give you a better idea of how easy they are to make and show you that fabric can make a linen towel special.
One of my ideas is to make the linen/cotton towels, wrap them in homemade bread and give them to friends/neighbors for gifts. I do make bread about once a week and doesn't everyone like fresh bread?
With just plain tan linen, this strip of fabric, and rick rack placed somewhere on the towel makes it special. If you look to the right you can see I bound the towel just like a quilt. And I used left over binding from a past project. Some of the towels have patchwork binding.
This one has 2 rows of rick rack with vintage fabric. This is a special towel because the fabric is special.
I got this idea from my friend (no blog) Flora. (I keep telling her she needs a blog - she is a fabulous quilter! You'd all learn so much from her. Come on Flora, get with it!). She used the Farmer's Market fabric to make a flower by fussing cutting it and I used that idea to make an apple. I machine stitched the apple with a blanket stitch and added a sketch stitched stem and a leaf that was also blanket stitched. I used a fabric stripe underneath to add extra color.
Printed linen is even easier than plain - just cut and bind. As I said before I pressed the binding really well folding it over so I could machine stitch in the ditch and finish the edge quickly.
More of the same. This fabric is one of my favorites. I think anyone would love an extra kitchen towel as a gift.
I talked before about saving dryer sheets to use with machine applique. I didn't take a picture before I tore the dryer sheet off the back but you can tell it doesn't show at all where the dryer sheet used to be.This photo from a past project shows you how to just place the dryer sheet on the back , stitch and remove - tearing it off. Simple.

Okay well share with me some of your gift ideas! I've been going through my books and magazines and I have some ideas but I'd like to see what you are doing. I like things that are fairly fast to make, of course.

(Cottages ship tomorrow!!! waiting for the last ones, dealing with glitches/subsitutions and organizing has taken longer than I thought but they are almost ready to go to their new homes. T shipped some of hers already and we'll both finish tomorrow.)

-nanette

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40 comments

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

I have made dishtowels with my plaids but hadn't thought of using up bits of my vintage fabrics for that. I like some "just for looks towels" for special occasions so that would work for my little stash of feedsack fabrics. Looking forward to receiving the cottage blocks. I have made two Halloween blocks and I am looking through my stash for some turkey type fabrics so I can make one little wallhanging with that will be a Thanksgiving cottage. :-)

Sherri said...

I love the dishtowels...such a great idea! Did you still miter the corners even though your are using the "stitch in the ditch" method for the binding?

Christina said...

wonderful Idea, I usually get Christmas plates at 75 or 90 persent off to pass cookies to the neighbors but this year I think I'll wrap them in kitchen towels. Thank you.

Des said...

Those are super cute. I'm going to sound like an ignoramous here (let alone not knowing how to spell ignoramous) is linen absorbent? I love dish towels and can't get enough of them. I've never thought of linen before.

And speaking of gifts.... :) I've got gift ideas every day this week and next week.

xxoo

MichelleB said...

The towels are really cute. What a great idea.

jacquie said...

my mom's birthday is coming up...she actually asked for dishtowels. i'm going to do this for her.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great idea's.. I love making dish towels for gifts but never used fabric like you did for the trim.

Lily Boot said...

What a lovely idea! And you could add one of your matching pot holders - mmmm.... now if I just lived around the corner from you, I could shop at your stash because I don't know where you find your divine fabric :-)

Thimbleanna said...

What a cute idea Nanette! I love cute little towels. I haven't even started to think about Christmas gifts. I think I'm going to be up late a lot this year. So sad. I need to sit down with all my books and magazines too. Thanks for sharing your fun idea.

Jana Nielson said...

Now those are a great idea!! I saw some really cute dish towels in Anna Maria Horners new book SEAMS TO ME....but, they look too hard! These I can do!

Jana Nielson said...

Now those are a great idea!! I saw some really cute dish towels in Anna Maria Horners new book SEAMS TO ME....but, they look too hard! These I can do!

Amanda Jean said...

these towels are cute! I love the addition of the ric rac. perfect!

Eileen said...

These are all so very very special. What wonderful gifts! You are right.. who wouldn't love a fresh baked loaf of bread wrapped in one of those? That one with the birds and houses is wonderful.. but I also love your etched ones. so original and creative.. and YOU.
So you just buy this linen in a fabric store? Or are they already towels?

em's scrapbag said...

What a cute idea. I just put my bread in a brown paper lunch sack with a strip of fabric tied around it. I'm going to have to try this sometime.

Dawn said...

What a darling idea! Question: Are the towels you are using fabric or already made towels? Can I be your neighbor?

Anonymous said...

I'm with Dawn, wishing I lived next door. These are just great. Barbara

Sandra :) said...

I'm joining the "wants to be your neighbour" group!!! Your tea towels are great fun and will make fabulous gifts - I love the fabrics you chose, and the addition of the rick rack and/or appliques is a perfect touch!

Mimi Sue said...

Great idea. Always have to come up with neighbor gifts and I like to be semi original. Mimi

Karen said...

I'm doing dish towels this year, too. I made as set with a matching dish towel and dish cloth for one of my dil's for her b-day last month. There's a picture on my blog. Can't wait for my cottages to arrive;)

Kritta22 said...

I wish I lived next to you so I could get some of that great bread and fun towels!!
I'm new to the whole quilting thing so here's a stupid question for you...why do you use a dryer sheet?

Betsy said...

lovely towels.
Thank you for sharing those. I just made some last night but I mostly applique. It is so nice to see them in a different way.

antique quilter said...

these are wonderful!
great gift ideas, love it with the rick rack
Kathie

pratima said...

Your fabric choices are just so sweet. The applique is such a cute idea! Thank you :)

Carrie P. said...

The towels are a great idea. Yes, everyone love homemade bread. Such a great gift idea.

Anonymous said...

What a terrific idea, thanks so much Nanette. I'm always looking for ideas that don't weigh too much (for postage overseas).

Nan said...

What a perfectly wonderful idea! I've been making pillowcases lately - they're always appreciated and so easy to do. Not as imaginative as your idea, though. Thanks for sharing! Oh, and I'm in LOVE with the wiener dog fabric - it is soooo cute!

Jodi Nelson said...

Those are SUPER CUTE! I love em. Geesh. Add another project to my list why don't ya. LOL. Just kidding. I LOVE discovering new stuff to make. I've seen something similar with bath towels. But the linen with the vintagy fabric and ric rac is so fantastic! I was hoping to post a few ideas this next week. So be watching. ooxx`jod

Threeundertwo said...

Everybody likes getting dish towels. These are definitely going on my list of gifts to make! Thanks for the great inspiration.

Cheryl said...

What a great idea!!!!

Candace said...

I absolutely love the daschsund fabric - wherever did you find it? Since I still work full-time, I don't have a lot of time for homemade gifts (that will be next year!)...but thanks Nanette for this idea - I can definitely fit in some towels this year! Cheers!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Well I'd like to move into your neighborhood in the hope of receiving a fresh loaf of homemade bread in a super cute tea towel. Aren't you nice!

Joyce said...

What a great idea! I wish Flora would do a blog.. wouldn't that be a fun one to read! Thanks for sharing!

Mel said...

Charming! Where do you get your linen? I found some blogs that have great easy gift ideas. You can see my list at http://melsownplace.blogspot.com/2008/11/homemade-christmas-ideas.html

I can't wait for my cottages!!!

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Oh my! Those are beautiful! And I see that pretty red birdie fabric found the perfect project. :)

I love the way you've done the binding on them. So special!

Kimberly

Nerm said...

I'll just add my Amen to all the above comments about cute, good idea, love the idea of binding the edges, etc. You continue to inspire me, girl! Nerm

Messy Karen said...

thanks for more ideas on this. i have a thing for dishtowels. that's a tall order you threw out there. most of my best ideas come at the last minute. & almost have to be wrapped up quickly w/o even a pic.

sewtakeahike said...

Hi Nanette, thank-you so much for this great idea! I love how your towels came out, simple but very pretty. I have been procrastinating on starting any gifts, been preoccupied with photoshop me thinks. I need to get off my bum. Thanks for the inspiration!

Julia said...

I love these towels! So cute! Great idea for gifts! Thanks so much for sharing. :~)

Celia said...

Amazing and helpful!
I think that would be a star gift this holidays in your neighborhood, lol...
Great post! Thanks so much for the inspiration!

Jennifer Paganelli said...

wonderful ideas as always...so refreshing here love all the colors..Jennifer