How to Sew Dish Clothes

Handmade dishcloths are inexpensive, make nice gifts, are washable and fall into the go-green aspect. To make your dishcloths, you only need the few items below along with basic instructions. Cotton fabric holds up better in the long run than linen or other fabrics. It is also more absorbent. Using cotton fabric will give you the best results.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sewing machine
• Cotton thread
• 1/4-yard heavy cotton fabric
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Chalk pencil
• Iron
• Ironing board

1. Rinse the fabric to remove any sizing. Let it dry and then lay it flat on a surface. Measure a section of fabric to 16-by-24 inches. Mark the measurements with the chalk pencil.

2. Cut the fabric and lay it flat on the ironing board. If the fabric is wrinkled, iron it smooth to make it easier to work with. Fold the shortest edges over 1/4 inch onto the wrong side of the fabric. Iron the fold flat. Do this on both of the short sides. Fold the fabric another 1/4 inch and iron that flat.

3. Sew the folded edges on the sewing machine by sewing close to the open folded edging as possible. Do this on both of the 16-inch ends of the fabric.

4. Fold the 24-inch edge of the fabric over 1/4 inch onto the wrong side of the fabric. Iron it flat and fold it once more, ironing it again. Do this to both 24-inch sides of the cloth.

5. Sew the folds at the open sides of them.

Tips & Warnings

• Try terrycloth, Egyptian cotton or woven fabrics. Appliques can be added to make these dishcloths unique. Try stamping designs onto the fabric when you are finished sewing.