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| Many Uses For Dishtowels |
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Dish or kitchen towels are cute and inexpensive. Add their versatility and they become a very popular item to have around the house. The next time you spy a pack of them on the clearance rack or in the discount store, stock up and create some interesting uses for these inexpensive beauties.
Gift Wrap
Kitchen towels make interesting and waste-free gift wrap. Place a small item in the middle of the towel. Pull the sides of the towel upwards towards the center and secure with a ribbon.
Try traditionally wrapping the gift as well, but instead of using gift paper use the kitchen towel instead. This will work best with the thinner, tightly woven towels found in stores.
Create a gift basket for a bridal shower or housewarming by wrapping a few small items in dishtowels. On top of the bevy of gifts you've wrapped, the recipient also has a half dozen new towels.
Kitchen towels are made from wonderful fabric to make your own gift bags. Sew a towel at the sides and bottom to make a small gift bag for an even more creative way to present your gift.
Placemats
By purchasing the larger, waffle textured kitchen towels you can create a nice set of placemats. Depending upon the size of your towel, you may be able to cut a towel in half and make two placemats from each towel. When estimating size, measure an existing set of placemats and add an inch to each side for a seam. Sew seams on all four sides of the dishtowel and iron flat.
A friend even created a set of matching curtains by hanging the same dishtowels over a curtain rod so that they looked like a row of triangles. She then pinned them in place and sewed them together, adding a pocket for the rod to slip through. For a reasonable price and a little sewing work she had a matched valance and placemat dining room set.
Primp Them
Just because the discount store doesn't sell fancy kitchen towels doesn't mean you can't make your own. Be creative and dress up the plain towels with extra craft supplies. Using fusible web, iron on some appliqués from scrap fabrics and create holiday themed towels for less. Add buttons to create button flowers in the corners.
Create your own quilt towel. Cut a towel into four equal squares. Do this with a total of four towels. Then, piece and sew the squares back together, but mismatch the patterns for four quilt pieced towels.
About The Author: Kelly Ann Butterbaugh is a freelance writer who regularly contributes to a variety of magazines and has written a history book for middle readers. Visit her website for writing help, lesson plans, history fun, or work for hire at http://www.kellybutterbaugh.com
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