Projects

A Seamstress Tea Towel

Created By: Maureen Cracknell
Skill Level: Intermediate

A tutorial on how to create a linen tea towel for the kitchen, with special stitches, applique, a little humor, and a ticking finish!

Janome Supplies Required
  • Horizon Memory Craft 12000
Fabric and Notions Required

• 1 - piece of linen fabric measuring 21” x 26”
• 2 - pieces of ticking fabric measuring 2” x 21”
• 1 - piece of linen fabric measuring 1.5” x 6” for the tea towel tab
• A variety of colorful solid fabric scraps for flag bunting applique
• A small piece of Heatbond lite
• Water soluble or tear-away stabilizer
• Black thread
• White thread
• disappearing ink fabric pen and a regular marker (optional)
• Scissors
• Iron

 


Instructions

Tea Towel Instructions

1. Once the fabrics are cut. Prepare the tab piece of fabric by folding in both long edges a ¼” press, fold again in half, and sew along the outer edge
2. Fold in both of the long sides of the tea towel linen fabric a scant ¼”, press, fold ¼” again, press and pin along each side
3. Position the tab piece across one top corner so that it sits 6cm away from the corner on one of the top sides of the tea towel. Trim away edges and tuck under the seam allowance and pin in place.
4. Using white thread, sew along both the inner and out edge of the folded sides to create a nice hem.


5. Prepare the ticking by folding in both short ends a ½” press to keep fold in place. Fold in both long edges a ½”, press, fold ½” again and press well. Place the ends of the linen tea towel that are not hemmed inside of the folded ticking pieces, pin in place and sew along the folded edge to finish off the tea towel.

Applique Instructions : :
1. Follow Heatbond instruction to prepare the colorful fabric scraps for the raw edge applique. Using the Heatbond, or a similar product, helps ensure that the edges won’t fray. Cut out six triangle pieces, peel away Heatbond backing, and press to the bottom front side of the tea towel, where you want the applique design to be.


2. Follow the directions of your preferred stabilizer, adding a piece to the backside of the tea towel where the applique design will be. *NOTE* Before adding any applique, I highly recommend practicing out the design on scrap fabric first!
3. Using black thread and the Pictograph Spool Stitch #19, with the machine set on a slow speed, carefully stitch in one spool to the upper left side of the flag banner fabrics.


4. Turn your work, starting at the spool, use the straight stitch to sew towards and along the top of your flag banner pieces of fabric and continue around each triangle piece.


5. Bring that sewn line up to resemble a sweeping bunting, and finish with the Pictograph Needle Stitch #18.


6. Program the text “I’d rather be sewing!” into your machine. Line up tea towel where you would like the phrase to be and add your lettering.


7. Trim away the connecting threads in between each letter. Remove stabilizer on the back of the tea towel. Press and you're finished!! Enjoy!

 

Everyone is Talking about A Seamstress Tea Towel
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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