Project
Coordinating Mismatched Towels
Most linen closets hold a few perfectly usable but mismatched towels. You can easily unify an assortment of solid-colored towels by sewing on washable, decorative ribbon that complements all the hues.
Source
Martha Stewart Living, September 2001Get More
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Materials
- Washable decorative ribbon
- Needle and thread
- Sewing machine
- Terry towels
Steps
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Step 1 of 2
Baste ribbon onto the right side of the towel along the dobby trim that is woven into most terry towels, or at a similar distance from the edge, about 2 to 3 inches. Turn the ends of the ribbon under for a neat edge.
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Step 2 of 2
On a sewing machine, secure the ribbon in place using a small zigzag stitch. The result is a multicolor matched set that is good for more years of service.
Reviews (7)
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Martha is just so full of wonderful ideas. I don't know if they come from her or her Team, but I'm just glad they are here. This is amazing!
I did this with some towels for my new bathroom. We have a blue and yellow theme and for some quite cheap white hand towels, just so they would fit in I used pretty gingham ribbon, washed it first and then hemmed it on by hand. I am too fussy, I didnt use the machine I didnt want to see machine stitching....they are really pretty though and wash like a dream.
read the label on the ribbon package. Also pre wash the ribbon before sewing it to the towel and dry it in the dryer.
Good question. I was wondering that too.
What kind of ribbon to make sure it doesn't shrink and is color-fast?
great idea to spruce up plain cheap towels . you can coordinate the ribbons to your bathroom colors. you can do this for your kitchen also!
Those look so cute! I am definately going to do this. This would be great for brand new towels too to coordinate them with my bathroom (happens to have a cherries theme right now).