Let’s make a dish rug! I just love using one of these instead of a dish towel next to my sink.
Mine are usually about 18 x 20 inches.
Measure the counter space that you want it to fit if you need a smaller or bigger one.
This is a great way to use up fabric in your stash that you don’t care for anymore. Your dishes won’t care what they are sitting on. Okay, let’s get started.
Dish Rug Tutorial
Cut a piece of fabric 18 x 20 inches – this is a good use of a fat quarter.
Next get a dish towel or what I used was an old towel that I had and cut it to 18 x 20.
Choose 2 coordinating fabrics. Cut 1 strip the WOF (width of the fabric) by 2 inches from one. Cut 2 – 1 ½ inch strips the WOF from the other.
Stitch together with a ¼ inch seam allowance and press.
Take your fabric and cut 4 ½ inches off of one side – keep it handy.
Take your coordinating fabric strip and stitch it to the side as shown.
Stitch the other side. Cut the strip off so we have it for the next step,
Turn your fabric – like this.
Cut 6 inches off of one side – don’t loose it.
Take your coordinating strip and sew it to one side. (I bet you already figured that out).
Before you sew the other side turn the coordinating strip so it is at the opposite side. This makes it simple as you don’t have to match the strips.
Now trim it to 18 x 20.
Scraps can be used for another project like a mug rug.
Once it is all pressed get your towel. Your fabric will be bigger. Lay the right side up and place the towel on top and trim it even with your fabric. You have plenty of room to move it around.
Pin all around your fabric and sew with a ½ inch seam. I was able to use a 80 needle on my 15-91 Singer but if your towel is real thick you might need a jeans needle which is a 130.
Sew all the way around – don’t leave a opening.
Trim the corners. You are probably thinking I goofed……how can I turn it right side out….what we are going to do is use our seam ripper and open up a section in one of the strips.
I open the seam up about 3 ½ to 4 inches.
Close view for you.
See the opening, now carefully turn your dish rug right side out. Try not to stretch your opening.
Press and pin closed the opening. Now top-stitch and catch the opening in your stitching.
Do some straight stitching, on this one I just stitched straight lines about 1 and ½ inches apart. I just back-stitched at the beginning and ends.
Finished! Now is it a dish rug or a beer rug????? Builder Bob couldn’t resist putting empty beer cans on it. I hope you liked this. I think I will have to make a trip to Goodwill and look for towels as I’m going through our old ones. A good washing and bleach and they would be perfect for dish rugs.
My fabrics weren’t washed before I sewed them and I have already washed and dried my dish rugs. They feel so much softer and didn’t shrink very much at all.
I would love to see any dish rugs that you make! Please let me know and I will post them on my blog. I have another one that is done differently and will post it soon.
Now it is time to get ready as Builder Bob is taking me out for Lobster!
Dish Rug Tutorial
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Debra Kay Neiman
Hi Simon, tell Momma I am making this today. Getting rid of that ugly drain tray. Thanks
Fleurette
What a lovely tutorial and such a great idea. I've got to make one. Thanks
Dora, the Quilter
What a great idea, Connie! I always think I'm going to use some of my frayed towels to make potholders–my mom and aunt constantly made them with scrap fabrics–but I don't get around to it. I like your idea–and then maybe I could make some matching potholders!
Jeanette S
I didnt see the pdf button 🙁
ANudge
I finally got around to making this as a gift – it turned out great. Wonderful tutorial. I showed it to my mom and she made a whole bunch for Christmas. Everyone liked the idea. I'll be blogging about this on Applique Thursday as I put some applique on it – hehe, and I'll share your link then. Thanks, Connie!
Allison
Oh, what a great way to put the good parts of old towels to use. Thank you!
Karen
What a great idea! I just use an old dish towel. This is sooo much cuter! Thanks for sharing!!!
Yes! Yolanda
I LOVE this!! I always drag out a bathroom towel which looks sooo tacky! Can't wait to make this! I need to stop blogging- my list of projects seems to never end! GREAT post! Thanks a ton! Hope you can stop by sometime~ Your newest follower~ Yolanda
OhioMomPatriot
This is a great tut. I have been digging through my stash and found towels I had cut up. I have no memory of what I thought I was going to do with them and this looks like an adorable option. It looks much neater than my dish towel on the counter. Thanks for sharing!
blesid
This idea is just amazing. Oh of those, "Some people are so clever!" ideas! And the beer cans … the perfect touch! 😉 jules
MJ
Good idea! Thanks for the tutorial.
Suzanne
Fantastic tutorial. I will definitely give this a go. This is so much better than just using a tea towel.Thanks for the link re adding a printer friendly version or pdf to your post. I will be giving that a go!
A Left-Handed Quilter
Great tutorial, Connie! I especially like the fact that it is Left-Handed! We need more of those! ;))
And you need my button – hint – hint!!
^..^
FabricsNQuilts
Great idea & Tute! Whoop Whoop!
BunkHouseQuilts
Wow, who would have thought? Neat idea and thanks for sharing the tutorial. Even better with the PDF button!
Sarah Craig
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing your tutorial, too!! Whoop whoop!!
Diane
Cute Idea!
Marjorie's Busy Corner
nice ideas….I am going to have a look at the photo editing program eventually…lol. I have too many thing on the go right now..but it did a great job on your garden pic
Sara
wanting to make something like this for awhile!! Love yours with the beer cans on top;)
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Sewhappy
Thanks for the Tut. I will have to try make one of these as I need one badly. Thanks!
Vroomans' Quilts
Thank you for sharing the tutorial for a clever idea.
LynCC
Ahhh – now that's a good idea! We just use old, odd placemats, but they don't match the decor. . . 😀 Thanks for a tutorial
West Michigan Quilter
What a clever idea. You could match the decor in your kitchen. I'm adding this to my to-do list. Thanks for the tutorial.
Ellen
Thank you – I just printed it.
Jackie
What a fab idea!!
Geri Centonze
What a great idea and adding the Print Friendly button is perfect for tutorials!!