I have a cutie new dishtowel tutorial for you today! I wanted to make something fun that would be cute in any kitchen. I love the citrus-y look to it!
It’s my So Fresh! Citrus Embroidered Dishtowel and it’s decorated with a cute little lemons and an orange embroidered on with a combination of free-motion and a little zig zag stitching. Super fun to do.
It’s finished off with the most adorable pom pom trim ever – this little gingham pom pom trim from Simplicity!!
I think it would make a fun housewarming or shower gift too!
So let’s get started on the tutorial!
Here’s your materials list:
- Fabric for dishtowel – 21″ x 28″ (or use purchased dishtowel)
This fabric is ticking I picked up at Jo-Ann’s. You’ll want to wash it first to remove the sizing in the towel. - Fabric pieces for main scrolled shape, orange and lemons and the white background
- Wonder Under
- Removable Embroidery Stabilizer – just a small piece
- Ball or pom pom trim – 21″
- Thread
- Pattern for Citrus Design
Please keep in mind that all Flamingo Toes patterns are for personal use only. Do not transfer or sell the pattern, or items made from the pattern.
Also, patterns are for Flamingo Toes followers, so please choose to follow along before downloading any pattern. Thanks!
Print out a couple of copies of the pattern. You can use one for cutting and one for tracing the embroidery.
Cut the large background design out of both the white background fabric and the printed fabric.
Cut the center oval out of the printed fabric. Cut out your lemon and orange shapes.
Iron wonder under onto the back of all your pieces. You could do that first instead if you’d like – then cut out your pieces.
Peel off the paper backing from the printed oval and fuse it to the white background. Fuse the lemons and orange to the front of the white background piece.
Fuse the white background to the dishtowel, about 6″ from the bottom edge.
Using a small zig zag stitch, sew the applique pieces to the dishtowel. The fabrics should be thick enough, along with the Wonder Under, for you to not need embroidery stabilizer.
Using your pattern as a guide, transfer the decorative accents on the oval to the fabric.
Put your free-motion foot on your sewing machine and drop your feed dogs. Sew over the marked lines four or five times to do the decorative stitching. Make sure you vary the lines a little to give it a “sketched” look.
Draw the citrus segment lines onto the orange and lemons with a disappearing marker. Because the fabric layers were so think, I wasn’t able to put the pattern behind and use a light source. I cut one of the segments out of the pattern and traced inside it, then moved it over and repeated, to trace all the segments onto the pieces.
Sew over the lines on the segments, and the inner line of the pieces. I went over these two times.
Trace your writing onto the dishtowel below the main fabric piece on the right side. You’ll need an embroidery stabilizer here – I used a sticky removable stabilizer from Pellon.
Sew over the lettering four or five times.
Admire your cute new design. Happy dance is optional but recommended.
Hem the two long sides and top short side of the dishtowel by turning under twice and sewing all the way around.
Turn the bottom edge under twice and press. Lay the pom pom trim along the bottom edge, on the wrong side. Sew the trim to the dishtowel, hemming the bottom edge at the same time.
That finished off your dishtowel. Don’t you love it?!
I think it will brighten up my kitchen – I might need to hunt up some other colors of ticking and trim to make some more of these!
I hope you like it!
Linking up at Sunday Scoop, Today’s Creative Blog, Met Monday, Tutorials & Tips Tuesday, Quilt Story, Shabby Creek Cottage, My Repurposed Life, 504 Main, Everything Etsy, and the other fabulous parties on the party page. Make sure you check them out!
Dorothee says
Oh, Bev!
I am absolutely on LOVE with this!!!
The fabric is too lovely…! If only I could find it here… Same with the trim!!!
And thanks for sharing the pattern!!
♡.
Milena Yancheva says
That is adorable! Thank you for the tutorial!
Have a great week!
Hugs!!!
Susan @SugarBeans says
Bev,
These turned out beautiful!!
I love the fabric and pom poms; thanks for sharing!
Have a lovely week.
Amy Mayen says
Oh Bev, it’s beautiful! If you gave it to me as a housewarming gift, I’d never, ever use it. It’s just so pretty it’s crossed the line from kitchen item to art. I love it, thanks for the tut!!
Judy Clark says
Bev – so CUTE!! Where did you find that darling trim? Really set it off!
Judy
Mary @ Redo 101 says
Love it, so cute, great colors! The design is perfect!
Crystal says
I love it!! It is so adorable!! The colors/abric is so pretty. Thanks for the tutorial!!
Michele @ The Scrap Shoppe says
This is ADORABLE!! I love the sketch look and the different stitches you used. And the pom pom trim just totally finishes it off! Great design and colors, as per usual!
Tracy @ Creme de la Gems says
So darn CUTE!! I want to make one. I love the pom-poms!
I cannot wait to see you at Creative Tea Time!!
Diana Sanner says
This is so so cute. Thinking this might make a great Christmas gift for someone special. Thak you for all your sharing. Love following your blog.
creativejewishmom/sara says
adorable, you are so talented Bev! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Carol says
The result is so cute! Great for display in the kitchen.
Rachel Osborn says
It WOULD make a great gift! But I don’t think the recipient would ever use it, because it is too cute. :) Thanks for sharing at the Family Joy Linkup! Hope to see you again next Sunday!
Sharon says
I just love the retro look! Great design. Bravo! But where did you get the ball or pompom fringe. I’ve got to know. So adorable and to me it just makes the towel.
Please advise. And Thank you for your expertise.
Beverly says
Thank you so much Sharon! Unfortunately I made this dishtowel a few years ago and I’m not sure the gingham trim is still available. It was made by Simplicity if that’s any help. Thanks for the sweet comment!