How to Make a Bathrobe Out of Towels
This simple robe project makes use of bath towels that might not fit the décor of your bathroom any longer. Robes adapt well to the rectangular shape of towels. It is a quick, inexpensive way to recycle what you already own.
Things You'll Need
- 3 large bath towels of the same length and style
- Dressmaker's chalk
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Scissors
- Seam binding
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure your body from shoulder to shoulder and across your neck. This is the only area of your robe that needs to fit your body. Measure from your shoulder to your waist to determine where to place your two belt carriers.
-
2
Lay out one towel open, right side up. Place the second towel right side down over the top of the first towel. Mark the center of the top with the chalk.
-
-
3
Work from the center mark and place a pin where the neck opening will be plus 1 inch on either side. Place a second pin at the shoulder measurement plus 1 inch on each side. Use dressmaker's chalk and draw a V-neck opening from the neck pins 6 inches deep to the center of the top towel. Mark a straight line from the tip of the v-neck opening to the bottom of the towel. This shapes your garment to fit your size with a V-neck opening.
-
4
Cut the top towel at the neck opening and down the front to create two sides. Sew the shoulder seams on either side of the neck. Use dressmaker's chalk to mark the side seam. Do this by dropping 12 inches down from the shoulder pin and making a straight line to the bottom of the towel. Repeat for other side.
-
5
Make drop shoulders on the robe by marking 12 inches from the top of the towel to form the arm opening. Sew straight in from the side of the sleeve to the side seam that you already marked: This creates the sleeve. Continue sewing down the dressmaker's line to the bottom of the towel: This is the side seam. Trim the excess towel from the side and underarm seams. Repeat for other side.
-
6
Finish the sleeve openings and front edge with seam binding. Cut a 6 x 42 inch strip from the third towel for a belt. Cut two 2 x 5 inch strips for belt carriers. Fold the belt in half, right sides together, and then stitch around 3 sides. Turn and hand finish the last side. Repeat this process to turn the two belt carriers. Stitch the carriers to the two side seam where you measured your waist to be. Insert the belt and your new, recycled robe is ready to wear.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you want sleeves that reach your wrists, use part of the third towel to make up the difference of where the sleeve falls and where you want it to be. Use even more of the third towel to make two patch pockets on the front of the robe.
