How to Make Towel Teddy Bear Animals

Add some interest to your guest bathroom with some fun folded towels.

Made famous by many cruise lines, towels folded in the shape of whimsical animals such as teddy bears delight guests to your home. The towel teddy bear is folded from several towels, and can be kept on display in a bathroom or guest room, or used as a centerpiece at a baby shower or whimsical bridal shower. The teddy bear looks cute in white or colored towels, and even patterned towels could be used for a unique look.

Things You'll Need

• 2 Bath towels
• 2 Hand towels
• 6 washcloths
• Safety pins
• Straight pins
• Pom poms
• Thick ribbon, 24 inches long (optional)

Instructions

1. Fold the first bath towel in half lengthwise, carefully keeping the edges matched up and neat. Roll the towel tightly. Fold the second bath towel lengthwise as well, and roll it right over top of the first towel, making a thick roll. Make sure the edges stay neat and lined up over top of each other.

2. Fold the first hand towel in half lengthwise, carefully keeping the edges matched up and neat. Roll the towel tightly. Fold the second hand towel lengthwise and then roll it over the first hand towel, matching up all of the edges. With safety pins, fold the small rolled towels and attach them to the rolled bath towels, with the bath towels creating the bear's body, and the hand towels becoming the head.

3. Roll up each washcloth singly, without creating the double rolls used for the head and body. Using safety pins, secure the rolled washcloths in place to make the legs, arms, and ears.

4. Use the pom poms to make eyes, and secure them to the rolled towels with the straight pins pushed into the middle of the pom poms.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, use thick fluffy towels for the body, but thinner, flatter towels for the remaining body parts.

• If desired, wrap the ribbon around the bears neck to create a scarf or bow tie.

• Remove all of the straight pins before any children are permitted to handle the towel teddy bear.

References

• The Lost Art of Towel Origami"; Alison Jenkins; 2005.
• "How to Make a Towel Monkey and other Cruise Ship Favorites"; Carol Mulanax; 2006.