You might just dry your dishes with a tea towel. But I have some pretty cool ideas for tea towel crafts and upcycles.
My kitchen drawers are full of lovely colourful patterned tea towels. When I see a pretty tea towel, I can’t resist buying it! I don’t just buy new tea towels, but vintage ones, too.
Tea towels are made from hard-wearing cotton or linen. This makes them strong enough for upholstery and soft enough for other scrap fabric crafts.
Tea towels are sometimes called dish towels; both are used to dry dishes. However, unlike some dish towels, tea towels are never made with Terry cotton.
I’m English, and we always call them tea towels. I like to think that has something to do with the amount of tea we drink. Also, in my part of the world, tea isn’t just a drink; it’s an evening meal. The most asked question in my house is, “What’s for tea?”
Tea towels are approximately 18″ x 30″ in size. But it can be a little bigger or smaller than this.
They are hemmed, which can minimise the sewing involved with crafts. If necessary, the hem can be unpicked to make the fabric a little larger.
Plain linen tea towels are great for embroidery projects like this spring embroidery.
Where To Find Tea Towels For Crafting
Traditional plain tea towels that are striped or checked in neutral colours are great for farmhouse and Scandinavian crafts. IKEA and dollar/pound shops are great places to source these towels cheaply if you don’t have any of your own to re-purpose.
For something a bit more boho, pimp the plain tea towels with embroidery or stamping before crafting with them.
I find vintage tea towels the most colourful and interesting to upcycle and repurpose. The best places to find these cheaply are charity, thrift shops, and antique and flea markets. Ask your elderly relatives if they have any old, unwanted tea towels.
I’ve picked up some amazing tea towels from relatives. They had bought them initially when on vacation as a cheap souvenir. I particularly love the ones with maps on them. These are great for making statement upholstery pieces and fun pillows.
Even if vintage tea towels are well-worn, bits of their patterns can be rescued for smaller crafts, such as making bunting or pin cushions.
Another great source for beautiful tea towels is Etsy. Many independent fabric designers sell beautifully printed tea towels using their pattern designs.
The Best Tea Towel Crafts and Upcycles
A collection of the best ideas for crafting and upcycling old tea towels. From crafting with the fabric to making pillows and totes to using it for large upholstery projects. Hopefully, they will be some ideas here that will inspire you to do something with your favourite tea towel besides drying the dishes.
Tea Towel Dining Chair Upcycle
Upcycle upholstered seat pads with a colourful tea towel. A great way to repurpose that special souvenir tea towel.
Quick and easy tote bag with an old t towel
Tea towels are the perfect size to make a quick tote bag. This is a great craft for tea towels with a lovely pattern design.
Tea Towel Furoshiki An Eco Friendly way to Gift Wrap for Christmas
Repurpose bright colourful tea towels into eco gift wrap. The gift wrap can be used again and again.
How To Reupholster A Footstool With A Tea Towel
Turn the drab into fab with the right tea towel. One tea towel will be enough to upcycle a small footstool.
Easy Sew DIY Origami Bag
Use two tea towels to make this handy bag. You can make a funky bag with the right patterned tea towel.
Tea Towel Flatware Holder
This is a great idea to repurpose a tea towel into a cutlery holder/roll. These are very handy for picnics.
Simple Plaid Baskets From Ikea Tea Towels
These little baskets make fun plant pot covers and fun festive decorations.
how to frame dishtowels (a tutorial)
Turn your favourite tea towels into wall art by framing them.
How to make a tea towel apron
What a great idea making an apron out of a special tea towel.
DIY Ikea Tea Towel Farmhouse Pillows 4 Ways!!
A tutorial that shows you how to make tea towel pillows in four different ways, with minimal sewing. A great way to repurpose IKEA tea towels.
Rainbow Row Houses Tea Towel Embroidery
Add some colour to your kitchen by pimping your plain tea towels with rainbow embroidery.
Tea Towel Peg Bag
I have just the right tea towel to make one of these handy peg bags.
Fabric Advent Calendar, the easy DIY
Three tea towels are used to make this easy advent calendar. I have a pile of Christmas-themed tea towels that would look great with this Christmas sewing craft . The calendar can be used year after year.
Stocking Up: How to Make DIY Holiday Stockings with Old Tea Towels
Another festive repurpose for tea towels is to upcycle them into stockings.
Favourite Dishtowel into a Pillow
Another way to turn a tea towel into a fun pillow.
Best Dishtowel Utility Apron Pattern
As well as kitchen aprons tea towels can also be repurposed into garden aprons.
Make wall hangings from tea towels
Some tea towels are so cute they are just crying out to be hung from the walls like art.
DIY Tote Bag from a Tea Towel in Less Than an Hour
Learn how to make a DIY tote bag from a thrift store tea towel. This project is easy, cute, and budget-friendly! Makes a great gift idea.
Slouchy DIY sling bag from tea towels Free Sewing Pattern
This is another tutorial for a bag: a tea towel is upcycled into a fun slouchy summer tote.
Merry and Bright Retro Christmas Kitchen Towels
Make your Kitchen look festive at Christmas with these DIY holiday tea towels.
Valentine Tea Towel…
If you love adding a festive touch to every part of your home, consider this tea towel Valentine's Day sewing craft. It's the perfect way to bring a bit of holiday charm to your kitchen. This craft not only adds to your kitchen's aesthetic but also fits beautifully with the romantic theme of Valentine's Day, marrying practicality with seasonal decoration.
Other Ideas
Another idea for using vintage tea towels is to sew a few together to make an interesting tablecloth. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a tutorial, but it shouldn’t be hard to work out. If you don’t have enough tea towels for a whole table cloth, you could just make a table runner.
The blog has many more ideas for upcycling fabrics, including old sweaters. And if you have lots of old jeans, I have a ton of ideas for denim crafts, some of which are no-sew jean upcycles.
You should also check out these teacup craft ideas.
Penny Ledger
Saturday 26th of February 2022
Have you seen the Radical Tea Towel designs? They are inspired by political and human rights campaigners, but include some vintage Walter Crane and Suffragette designs. Well worth framing. https://radicalteatowel.co.uk/
Claire Armstrong
Sunday 27th of February 2022
That look like cool tea towels to craft with.
Rebecca Payne
Friday 25th of February 2022
So many clever ways to create these crafts.
Claire Armstrong
Saturday 26th of February 2022
Thank you so much.
LydiaF
Wednesday 23rd of February 2022
The utility aprons reminds me of the scene in Moonstruck when Cher tied a tea towel around her waist as an apron (I could do that with a Turkish towel, maybe, hahaha) before making a steak for Nicholas Cage.
Fun projects! :)
Claire Armstrong
Thursday 24th of February 2022
I remember the movie but not that scene, but it's a long time ago I watched. I'll have to give it another look. Thank you.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
Wednesday 23rd of February 2022
You have inspired me to start looking for tea towels for some projects. Thanks for sharing the ideas and links. #HomeMattersParty
Claire Armstrong
Thursday 24th of February 2022
Thank you, I'm always on the lookout for fun tea towels at flea markets. They are cheap source for unique fabric prints.
Vicky Myers
Saturday 19th of February 2022
Thanks from including my projects Claire
Claire Armstrong
Monday 21st of February 2022
Very happy too, they are great.