How to Make Cotton Flour Sack Towels
Flour sack towels are simplicity itself. In days gone by, it was necessary to waste nothing, and the sacks that flour came in were used to make everything from children's clothes to towels. They are absorbent and have a nice texture, making them popular even today. Though it is rare to find an actual flour sack to make your towels from, blank flour sack towels are available in most home and discount stores ready for you to personalize. Even if you don't sew, you can add a decorative touch to your own flour sack towels.
Things You'll Need
- Blank flour sack towels
- Fabric paint
- Paintbrush
- Stencils
- Masking tape
- Iron
Instructions
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1
Choose fabric paints that go on flat. The towels are highly absorbent so the paint will have a nice vintage look once applied. Avoid puffy or sparkle paints.
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2
Lay a decorative stencil, such as one used to paint designs on furniture and walls, onto the towel where you want the design to appear. Tape it in place to the towel using masking tape. Carefully fill in the stencil with the paint colors of your choice. Use at least two colors so the design does not appear preprinted.
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3
Place a strip of masking tape parallel to the bottom edge of the towel and covering approximately the first 1/2-inch of towel. Place a second strip of tape parallel to the first leaving a 1/4-inch space between them of bare towel.
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4
Paint the space between the two strips of paper a color that complements the stenciled design. You can repeat this technique if you would like to add more stripes to the border.
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5
Repeat the design on the rest of the towels that came in the pack or use a complementary on the others, such as stenciling different wildflowers on each.
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6
Cover the design with a different towel and iron-on medium heat to set the paint on the fabric. Wash and use the towel as usual.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use the fabric paint on stamps and stamp the towels for a nice design.
Follow the directions on the paint you use to set it to make sure it does not fade over time.
