How to Make Your Own Decorative Towels

Decorator towels are all the rage, especially since so many people are decorating their bathrooms now more than ever. However, decorator towels can be expensive, ranging anywhere between $20 and $50 apiece. That is, unfortunately, out of the reach of the average individual. However, with a some supplies, creativity, and a little know how, you can easily make your own decorator-look towels.

Things You'll Need

• Color scheme for the bathroom
• Design theme for the bathroom
• A budget
• Towels in the sizes and colors that you want to use in your bathroom
• Fabric glue
• Sewing machine
• Needle and thread
• Straight pins
• Lace
• Decorator fabric
• Braid
• Rope
• Beading
• Fabric paint
• Brushes
• Fabric appliques
• Transfer paper
• Embroidery patterns
• Embroidery floss

Instructions

How to Make Your Own Decorative Towels

1. Decide how you want your towels to look. Lace or beading can add a feminine touch. Braiding and/or roping can add a classic look. Beading, alone or in combination with lace, braid, or roping can take towels to a higher upscale level. Decorative fabric or appliqués can help you customize your towels with the rest of the bathroom. Embroidery (including cross stitch) can let you monogram or customize your towels however you like.

2. Map out your plan with regard to exactly what you want to do. If you are using trim (lace, fabric, braid, rope, appliqués, or beads) decide where you want to place it on the towel(s). If you are painting on your own design, determine the type of design (monogram, customized cut-out or other designs you want to use. If you plan to embroider a design, determine the colors you want to use and where you want to place the design on the towel(s).

3. Purchase towels in the style and color that you think works best for your bathroom.

4. Measure each towel to determine how much trim to purchase (if you are using that option). This will depend somewhat upon your mapped out plan with regard to "how" and "where" you will put the trim (lace, fabric, braid, rope, appliqués, or beads).

5. Decide the colors of trim (lace, fabric, braid, rope, and/or beads) you want to use (if you are using that option). If you plan to use appliqués, determine exactly what type and size you want to use. Be sure to purchase fabric glue to adhere the trim to the towels, unless you intend to sew the trim on via a sewing machine or by hand. In that instance, be sure that you have all the items on hand to do the sewing project and/or purchase the items needed to complete the design. Be sure to have alternative ideas in mind in the off chance that you cannot find your first choice(s) easily.

6. Purchase the items needed to complete your towel design. This might include trim (lace, fabric, braid, rope, appliqués, or beads), fabric paints, and/or embroidery items (needles, embroidery floss, and embroidery hoop). Don't forget to purchase patterns for paint and embroidery unless you are making your own. Be sure to keep your budget in mind in making your purchases. Also keep in mind that you need to purchase items that are as washable as the towels that they will embellish.

7. Measure out the trim (lace, fabric, braid, rope, appliqués, or beads) you need according to your decorating plan (if that is the option you have chosen). Cut and prepare each item for adherence to the towel(s).

8. Decide if you want to glue or sew the trim on to the towel (if that is the option you have chosen). Keep in mind that glue is permanent while sewing, particularly if it is done by hand, can be easily removed in the future if you want to remove or streamline the towels from their original form.

9. Pin your trim on the towels as you had mapped it out in your design (if that is the option you have chosen). It is important to make certain that the final design is what you want before adhering it to the towel. If you aren't happy with the way it looks, rethink your design and re-pin accordingly.

10. Begin gluing or sewing your trim on to the towel according to your design (if the trim option is what you have chosen). Remember that, if you use glue to adhere the trim to the towel, you won't likely be able to change your design mid-stream. If you are not certain that your outlined designed is perfect, then choose a sewing option (machine or by hand) that will allow you to remove and retack the trim in another way, if needed. Remove all of the pins as your adhere the trim to the towel.

11. Transfer your paint design on to the towel (if that is the option you have chosen). One easy way of doing that is with fabric transfer paper that can be purchased at most craft stores. If you are painting free form, however, this step can be eliminated.

12. Paint in your designs.

13. Transfer your embroidery design on to the towel (if that is the option you have chosen). One easy way of doing that is with fabric transfer paper that can be purchased at most craft stores.

14. Embroider your design on to the towel according to the transfer design.

15. If you are satisfied with the final outcome, then you are set to hang your new decorator towels in your bathroom. If you are not satisfied with the final outcome, back up to Step 1 to determine where your design may have gone awry. Then repeat the steps in the series until you are happy with the end result.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a list of items you need in order to complete your design before heading out to make purchases.

• If you want your towels to be totally washable, make certain that the trims, paints, or embroidery flosses you choose are equally so.

• You might want to wash the towels before you adhere the trim or paint or embroidery the design on to them, just to make certain that they wash properly.

• Use the sewing option if you want to be able to change your design in the future.

• Have the towels dry cleaned if you don't want to risk washing them or if the trim, paints, or embroidery flosses used are not washable.

• Be sure to remove all of the straight pins you used to pin the trim on the towel before gluing or sewing.

• Don't be afraid to mix and match design styles (trim, paint, embroidery) to make a unique design that is all your own.

• Don't go over the budget you have set or you won't experience savings or purchasing a ready-make decorator towels.

• Don't use standard or hot glue to adhere trim to towels unless you don't want the option to clean it in the future.

• Don't use dry clean only trim on towels that you intend to wash.