One of my favorite things to do for the holidays is to fill baskets full of homemade food for friends and family, and deliver it on Christmas Eve. Homemade fudge, cookies, cranberry bread and butter are a few of my favorites, along with cinnamon and nutmeg coffee, peppermint tea, and a few hand rolled candles for good luck. One thing that has been missing in the past is a special hand made item to go along with all that goodness.

I love tea towels, I just think that they are really special and fun, and they liven up any kitchen or party. I decided to make up a few to see how they would compliment the baskets, and I was thrilled with the results. They  are extremely easy to make, and use up some extra fabric in your stash. They can be made with linen or organic cotton, and they can be dressed up with any print of your choice (I think that they would be lovely with some simple hand embroidery as well).

Materials (for two towels)

½ yard main fabric (organic cotton), or linen.

1/4 of a yard of cotton print for bottom decoration

Matching thread

Cut your main fabric to measure 19×15

Cut Coordinating fabric to measure 6×15

With right sides together, line up the 15” side of your two fabrics. Sew together using a ½” seam.  Press seams open. Repeat on the other side

Fold piece in half, right sides together, and using a ½” seam allowance, and beginning in the middle of the long side of your towel, sew down the towel, stopping 1/2 ” from the bottom. Without lifting your needle, pivot your fabric and sew the short end of your towel. Make sure to back stitch when stopping or starting your seam

Repeat the process on the other side.

Clip your corners, being sure to not cut into your stitches. Turn right side out, using a point turner or knitting needle to push your corners out. Fold opening in 1/2″, and using a hand needle and a slip stitch, sew opening closed.

Heather Fontenot lives with her family on the Front Range of Northern Colorado. She has a passion for natural and creative living, and spends as much of her time outdoors as possible. She loves to knit, sew, garden, photograph, read and home school her two sweet little ones. She writes the blog, Shivaya Naturals, where she chronicles her life as a mother, artist, and gluten free baker.