Vintage tablecloths are some of the sturdiest textiles around but they're usually badly stained or expensive. Turning them into dish towels is one way to repurpose something destined for the rag pile. Take it one step further and hand-print your own design on them to modernize them a bit and add some extra charm to your kitchen.
Find a place on your stained table cloth large enough to cut into a tea towel. This can vary in size but 16" x 28" is a generous size.
Fold your raw edges over twice (1/4" each time) and pin. Stitch on all sides, press flat with iron. You'll also need fabric paint in your desired color, foam (the thicker the better), a small paintbrush, and cardboard.
Place cardboard under your fabric before painting so it won't bleed through. Cut your desired shape from your foam and cover one side of your foam in an even layer of paint with your brush. Test this out on a scrap piece of fabric so you can see how it turns out. Adjust accordingly. Gently pick it up off your fabric starting with one side and rolling it off. Keep stamping until you're done. Be sure to follow manufacturer's instructions with drying time and washing instructions before using your dish towel.
You could also skip the stamping and use your paintbrush to add an ironic statement or design on your tea towel. Make some for house warming gifts or as stocking stuffers this Christmas. You can feel good about your thoughtfulness and pat yourself on the back for recycling, too. xo. Rachel
45 Comments
Love the geometric stamp on the pretty organic florals!
Great idea. Spray painting or stamping a doily pattern would be cool too. 🙂
rach, this is absolutely gorgeous! perfect pattern combination!
xo, elsie
ooh looks fun 🙂 i’m planning on doing a quilted pinboard soon 🙂
Cute pattern! I need to make these for my kitchen to give it a little more life! 🙂
Oh my goodness! I absolutely love this! I see a lot of old linens at estate sales and I always think, this is such a cute print but would I be able to get that stain out? Now I don’t have to worry about it!
P.S. Such a cute apron, too.
Fab, fun and quick! my kind of diy!x
That is a genius idea!
I love how creative you ladies are.
*runs off to find fabric paint*
x
Love this! Great restyling idea for old tablecloths, I’ll have to remember this when I’m go thrifting. <3
Its very pretty. It adds a “cozy and home-y” feel to it. 🙂
Our dish towels are so incredibly ugly — they were given to us as gifts a while ago, but we couldn’t just throw them away — and the only things I could think of were adding a trim or dying them, so this is another great option for us. Thank you~! 😀
I love the idea, but not the geometric/floral combo! Thanks for sharing! Xo
http://beingzhenya.wordpress.com/
Very cute. I love your tutorials. They are so easy to follow! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Very cute!! I love your D.I.Y. tutorials Elsie!buy I miss more pictures of your daily life.
Kisses!!
Nerea, not to worry! I am posting more DIYs because it’s a good season for handmade with the Holidays coming up, but I won’t stop posting personal posts as well. 🙂 XO!
I love this idea! Thanks!
–Jaclyn T
Nature Inspired Jewellery
http://www.etsy.com/shop/trickart
http://positiveponderings.blogspot.com
i seriously love this rachel and elsie!!! i’ll definitely be making some for my new kitchen! yay!
<3katie
Oh I love this idea! This really adds a modern touch to a vintage look- super cute. I’ll be making some soon, I’m sure!
<3LJ
http://littlemisslj.blogspot.com/
How adorable. Rachel always has great ideas. I can’t wait to try this one. xo, rv
http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/
This is a great idea to save pretty stained cloth! U guys are so creative!
Fang Ting
http://ftashion.blogspot.com/
i’m definitely in need of some cuteness added to my kitchen! we’re stuck in this salt lake city apartment for another year, so this would be a cute way to add a little color 🙂
Great DIY.
♥ sécia
http://www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com
SO gorgeous and simple! How nice to have a little home made touch in the kitchen!
X
Mon
mon-is-me.blogspot.com
Brilliant! I am in desperate need of some new dishtowels! Thanks!
Kacie
A Collection of Passions
Very cute 🙂
i quite like the little star shapes you picked—cute!
Pretty idea! Great way to give new life to drab dish towels!
x
culinarilychallenged.blogspot.com
such a good idea! i have so many stained tea towels!
Amazing idea! Must go on the hunt for old table cloths!
Clutching The Bow
This is a very smart way to reuse old fabrics. Love it!
Love this! Thanks for posting – I am SO trying this! x
Love this idea! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
This is such a fun and creative tip.
Great idea ~ it would be cool to have a floral tablecloth with some batman prints all over.
that’s such a cute way to customize your linens, rachel. love! xoxo
love these! your tutorials are always so great! i love it when i have the supplys around the home. weee 🙂
now i’m kicking myself for passing up stained vintage tablecloths!
Interesting DIY. Will have to try it this weekend. I do some DIY too, but it’s more to do with shoes lol… : http://tumblr.com/x1m4sg1or2
http://fuglycomesinpairs.tumblr.com/
This is a great idea. Thank you – it inspired me to make some of my own tea towels!….
Yay! Lovely tea towels, I became obsessed with printing my own but this is such a simple idea.
Do I hear perfect Xmas presents for my aunts?
I like to see Towel Collections there I can find best quality of Towel and so many different pattern of Plain Dyed Towels, Embroidered Towels, Jacquard Towels Design, Embroidered Towels for Kitchen. Your Hand Printed Tea Towel D.I.Y. Collections is also nice and atrractive.
Beautiful. I love your tutorials. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering issues
with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t join it.
Is there anybody else having similar RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
I just like the valuable info you supply for your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I am slightly sure I will be told a lot of new stuff proper here!
Best of luck for the following!