This project was done on a whim and I am very happy with the results. It was quick, easy and is cute!
I started with 5/8 yard of rustic woven cotton (fittingly enough, I chose the color “tea stain”). I cut the fabric into four pieces. A traditional tea towel is much larger (about 18×30), but I have a special purpose in mind for these towels and I wanted them smaller. I originally planned on using plain flour sack or unfolded cloth diapers, but I couldn’t find any that fit the bill.
I put a quick hem in all four sides. Just fold the fabric in on itself twice, press and run a straight stitch.
Okay, once this is done, you have completed the most difficult part. (When I say it is easy, it is ee-zee!) The rest of the supplies- typewriter key rubber stamps, a decorative stamp and a stamp pad suitable for fabric. You will also need a firm surface to back the fabric (I used an old book) and an iron. I also used a bit of tape, then some alcohol and paper toweling to clean up.
I roughly divided the towel into fourths, and decided to put my words into the third section. I placed tape about 2″ in on each side, to help me keep the words centered. I chose my quotes and started stamping.
I didn’t want my lettering to be too perfect. I purposely dropped each “e”, to mimic a real manual typewriter- they all seem to have at least one wonky letter! The “V” was a complete accident, but I like the way it turned out. I stamped it out, then realized that the letter had fallen off and I was stamping the bottom of the post! It kind of reminds me of a letter that has been corrected and re-typed.
After you finish your stamping, remove the tape and use a hot iron to heat set the ink. That’s it! I soak a little bit of paper toweling in rubbing alcohol and stamp everything into that, then onto clean toweling. Cleans like a charm and a lot cheaper than the cleaning pads.
I think they have the feel of an old manuscript. What do you think?
We link to these fine parties.
I LOVE the look of this! Stopping by from Night Owl Crafting.
Thanks for stopping by– not so bad for craft-on-a-whim!
What a brilliant idea! I too, LOVE the look!
Thanks! Feel free to drop by anytime you feel like tossing around the word “brilliant”.
Totally LOVE these! They look like something you’d find at Anthropologie. I would love to have you link up with Creative Me Monday at The Southern Institute! My linky party runs all week long. Here’s the link:
http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2011/09/creative-me-monday.html?utm_source=BP_recent
Hope to see you there!
Jenny
Ooh– Anthropologie! I’ll stop by your blog soon…
Wow! This is brilliant! Where do you find typewriter key rubber stamps? I want to steal—I mean copy—this idea right away.
Thanks very much for sharing.
Hi Ruth- I got my stamps at Hobby Lobby (with a 40% off coupon), but I’ve seen them at JoAnn’s and Michael’s, as well. All in all, I only spent about $12 on materials.
Steal away- I’d love to see pics of your finished project!
WOW So super cute.. loving your blog.. officially following ya per Idea sharing wednesday blog hop at women who do it all.. Hope you can stop in and visit me sometime.. TY.. Have a great week.
Ooohh! A new follower! Doing a little happy dance…just one follower away from another giveaway.
Oh.My.Goodness. !!!!! A-D-0-R-A-B-L-E
T-H-A-N-K-S
Great idea! I like the finished product!
Oh I just love this idea. It looks so fun and cute.
Jennifer
I love this idea. It looks so fun and cute. I hope you don’t mind if I pin it.
Jennifer
Love it! Thanks for linking up to Things I’ve Done Thursday!
Melanie
bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com
[...] However, if you comment below, you might just win your own set of upper and lowercase typewriter stamps, fabric ink pad and set of 4 flour sack dishcloths. In other words, everything you need to make your very own typewriter tea towels. [...]
I absolutely love these! They are adorable, thanks for sharing such a great idea!
Jacki
craftingmom.com
These are adorable!!
What a nice idea! I have been meaning to try stamping on fabric. Thank u for sharing
What a darling idea!! I LOVE your typewriter towels. So cute!
shannonsews.blogspot.com
I absolutely LOVE these! I really like the Agatha Christie quote you put on one of them – how perfect for dish towels!
Thanks so much for linking up to Make Yourself Monday!
Jamie
For Love of Cupcakes
How cute! I may have to try this sometime; thanks for the inspiration! I hope you don’t mind if I link this to my blog sometime =)
~Kelly @ Corner of Main
Oh WOW, I absolutely love these towels. So clever and they turned out so great. I have to try making some of my own. I really like how you added quotes to the towels.
Thanks for linking this great craft to my “All Things Wonderful Wed.Link Party”. I also loved your “Tea Party Post” you linked up as well.
Come back again,
Shauna
myshaenoel.blogspot.com
Hi Shauna-
Make sure you sign up for the giveaway and win everything you need to make your own typewriter tea towels!
-WN
Being a self-proclaimed tea towel nut, I think your towels are fabulous!!! Going to have to put this on my “to make” list for sure!!!
Great gift idea! Saw this over at Flamingo Toes and am now following you on bloglovin. As I commented over there, I love seeing DIY projects where I start thinking, “And I can do this, this and that to make this my own!”
LOVE the tea towels!! I didn’t know they made fabric stamp pads but I will be on the look out now!
Thanks for linking up to Think Pink Sundays – I featured you today!! http://www.flamingotoes.com/2011/09/crush-of-the-week-think-pink-highlights-4/
LOVE the tea towels!! I didn\’t know they made fabric stamp pads but I will be on the look out now!
Thanks for linking up to Think Pink Sundays – I featured you today!! http://www.flamingotoes.com/2011/09/crush-of-the-week-think-pink-highlights-4/
I saw this project featured at Flamingo Toes and I think it’s great! I just recently bought some stamps like this and wasnt sure what I was going to do with them but this is an awesome idea!!
~Newest follower. Stop by and give us a visit at Everything Under the Moon!
Very nice! Came over from Flamingo Toes because I have that same cutlery stamp – just used it on a set of coasters! I’d love if you stopped by to check it out!
http://envirocraftiness.blogspot.com/2011/09/stashbusting-tile-coasters.html
Ooh– I love “Misery”! Manual typewriters have great character…not that I don’t appreciate my computer, they just have the same feel.
Please come back and visit again!