As part of Crafts n Things new feature offering free online tutorials, I am showing you how easy it is to create a tea towel perfect for Autumn inspired decorating. The October 2010 features this project along with instructions. I am showing you more detailed steps in this blog post.
I used a regular inexpensive dish towel purchased from Walmart. I liked the brown stripes, they reminded me a little of the "grain-sack" look that is so popular right now.
I love using my Sizzix BigShot machine and Bigz Dies to cut wool felt for appliques. For this specific project, I used the Leaves and acorn die, along with wool felt in fall colors by National Nonwovens.
After you have fused the wool felt pieces to the fusible webbing with an iron and pressing surface, place the wool felt on the die with the paper side up.
Specific colors of wool felt I used along with a detailed list of instructions can be found in the October issue of Crafts n Things magazine. Cut pieces from the die by placing colors on desired portions of the die. Here is what you will end up with...
To create a little dimension with the dies, cut off portions of the dies and match colors together. For example, I used a dark brown cap for the acorn and light brown for the bottom.
Peel away the paper backing of each piece and position on the tea towel, leaving the towel folded in thirds to better determine where each piece needs to go. Once you decide on the position of each piece, fuse in place.
At this point, go ahead and make your frame by cutting a 2 x 2 1/2 rectangle from the brown wool felt. Fold in half long ways and use scissors to cut a small opening out of the center of the rectangle to make a frame.
Use a pair of scalloped edged scissors for fabric to trim the outer edges of the frame.
Fuse some brown ticking stripe fabric to fusible webbing and cut a 1 3/4 x 2 1/4 rectangle to go in the center of the frame.
We will wait to fuse these two pieces on the towel later. Now it is time to embroider the appliques. I used dark brown embroidery thread (3 strands) to blanket stitch the edges of the leaves and acorn. I used a backstitch to secure the stems in place.
To blanket stitch, pull knotted thread from the back side of the towel to the front side. Stitch and tie off thread at back.
Cut a 3 x 7 piece of aged script themed fabric and pin in place on the bottom of the towel. Use a sewing machine to straight stitch edges in place on the towel.
For a smoother border between the towel and fabric, glue a strip of 1/2 or 3/8 ribbon to towel. You can machine stitch this in place later if you want to.
Fuse the frame and ticking fabric in place on the towel. Use pigment ink and tiny alphabet stamps for "Autumn Blessings" or some other fall greeting or sentiment. Hope this project inspires your Fall decorating!
Live Life Creatively,
Melony
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