How to Sew Your Own Linen Tea Towels

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Looking for an easy sew project? Here’s how to sew your own linen tea towels.

It’s quite easy to sew your own tea towels. You could use some really lovely fabrics, like some nice cotton. But let’s go decadent – let’s sew linen tea towels.

I just finished sewing some linen aprons – I love wearing them and wanted to use up some of my leftover fabric for something else for the kitchen. Check out my post on sewing pattern reviews of this Japanese Cross Back Apron here.

Why Linen?

Linen has been a longtime workhorse in the kitchen. Linen is more absorbent than cotton and the fibres are stronger, making the towel last longer. Linen is also lint-free, so if you are drying glasses, you won’t have to worry about any fluff.

Linen is one of the oldest known fibres. Both the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks used linen fabric. Linen is also mentioned in the Bible. In some translations of the Christmas story, the baby Jesus is said to have been wrapped in linen cloths.

Linen is made from the flax plant. The flax plant is quite environmentally friendly as it uses less water than a cotton plant.

That said, linen fabric can be pricey. However, if you consider that we will be sewing 4 towels out of 1 metre or 1 yard of fabric, it is still good value, especially in comparison to buying linen towels.

You could look at linen blends. Quite often you can find linen blended with cotton. This fabric tends to be a little cheaper. It also has fewer wrinkles. If going this route, try to go with a higher linen content, than cotton content.

Linen fabric has various weaves. For kitchen use, you will want a tight weave.

There are also different weights of linen. For a tea towel, you’ll want either light or mid-weight. It’s a matter of personal preference.

Be sure to pre-wash your fabric prior to sewing. Linen tends to be wrinkly. The more you use it and wash it, the softer it becomes over time.

Supplies Needed to Sew Your Own Linen Tea Towels

This sewing project really couldn’t be any simpler. We are just cutting out rectangles and hemming the edges. You don’t need a fancy serger either – just sew these up using a regular sewing machine.

• linen fabric
• sewing machine
• sewing notions: thread, scissors/rotary cutter, etc.
• iron and ironing board

Your linen may have shrunk a bit after washing, which is why it is good to pre-wash.

Cut your fabric to size. The standard size for a tea is around 18 x 28 inches. I like to do a 1-inch hem all the way around so add 2 inches to each length. In other words, cut your fabric 20 x 30 in order to make an 18 x 28 tea towel.

This is merely a guideline. If you prefer a bigger towel, cut it bigger. I worked with some leftover fabric from when I made the Japanese cross-back aprons and so mine are not exactly this size.

If you have a full yard or metre of fabric, simply cut in half both ways to make 4 rectangles of equal size.

How to Sew a Linen Tea Towel

Now that you have the fabric cut, you just have to hem them. A good iron on the linen setting (which on my iron is the hottest) and lots of steam are a must.

I find it easiest to iron a 1/2 inch fold first. Work with opposite sides – so do both the short sides first or both the long sides first. That way, your hemming will be even. As mentioned, a good iron and pressing are key for this.

Once you have the first fold done, fold another 1/2 inch again so that the raw edges are fully enclosed. Just like before, work on two opposite sides first and followed by the other 2 sides.

I like to give each corner an extra press and blast of steam so that they stay.

Now all you have to do is sew it down. I like to sew with the fold facing upwards so that I can follow the fold line. Since it is just a straight stitch, it’s the same on the underside so it makes no difference which side is facing up.

I like to sew end to end. I don’t stop before the corner and turn. I find this way makes the corners nice and secure. When I look at my store-bought tea towels, they are all sewn like this too.

Wouldn’t these linen tea towels make a lovely gift? Wrap up some baking in it a linen tea towel. Wrap up a basket with a tea towel. Gift a couple of tea towels with an apron. There are just so many possibilities.

Ideally, I’d love to slowly convert all my kitchen towels to linen. I’ll have to keep sewing.

Want to remember how to sew your own linen tea towels? Be sure to save this to your favourite Pinterest board.