DIY Easy Hanging Washcloth Kitchen Towel Pattern

This simple Washcloth Hanging Dish Towel is an easy project using a store-bought coordinating washcloth and towel. By sewing the washcloth to the hand towel, you can easily convert the top of the towel into a hanging towel. Use the snap closure to hang the towel from an oven handle.

This is a variation of our potholder hanging dish towel pattern, but instead of a potholder, it uses a washcloth.  A snap or button can be used to make it hang. I prefer plastic snaps because they are quicker to install, but if you don’t have snaps, you can sew a buttonhole and add a button.

These would make quick and easy hostess, housewarming, bridal shower, or holiday gifts.

Let’s get started on this fun project requiring basic sewing skills. To watch the complete video tutorial, please click the link below to our YouTube channel.

Where to Get Towels & Washcloths

I purchased these towels and washcloths from my local Dollar Store. They usually have themed towel and washcloth sets available for purchase, so they now have holiday and football-themed towels.I also like to use store-bought kitchen towels from Kohl’s because they have nice multipack towels and washcloths.  Since they are often on sale, I can pick them up very inexpensively especially if I have an additional discount coupon.

WHAT YOU NEED to make a Hanging Dish towel

• Kitchen Towel and washcloth set
• Marking Chalk or Pencil
• Ruler
• Button or Plastic Snaps and snap pliers
• Sewing Machine, pins, thread, scissors, seam ripper, and other common sewing supplies

INSTRUCTIONS to make an easy washcloth hanging kitchen towel

STEP 1: Mark A line on the towel & washcloth

Place your towel on a work surface with the right side facing up. Measure the length of your towel and mark a line at the halfway point of the towel using your marking chalk or pencil.

Also, mark a line from corner to corner on the right side of the washcloth. Set the washcloth aside.

STEP 2: Basting stitch for Gathering

The towel will be gathered before sewing on the washcloth. For a more complete tutorial on gathering, please click the link.

To gather the towel, stitch a basting or gathering stitch along the marked line, leaving long thread tails on both sides. A basting stitch is a straight stitch set at the longest stitch length your sewing machine will stitch.

STEP 3: Gather Towel

Back at your work surface, lay the towel on the table. Take the top thread on one side, gently pull while pushing the towel, and begin to gather the towel.  Gather the towel from both sides and pull on the top thread on both sides. 

Gather until the towel is approximately 6” wide.

Tie off the threads with a double knot on both sides to hold it in place. Adjust the gathers to be evenly spaced across the towel.

STEP 4: Measure Washcloth

Measure the washcloth from corner to corner. Take the measurement and subtract 6” and then divide by 2.  This is the amount to fold in the corners of the washcloth on each side.

My washcloth is 15" wide, so the calculation is:

15" - 6" = 9" then divide by 2 = 5.5"

STEP 5: fold washcloth

Lay the washcloth with the right side facing down. Fold two corners across from one another towards the wrong side and middle of the washcloth by the amount calculated.I folded my sides by 5.5".  The washcloth should be 6" wide, like the gathered towel width.

Line up the marked line to keep the points straight. Place two pins, one on each side, through two layers only. Don’t pin the fabric point underneath.

STEP 6: Cut off points

Use sharp scissors to cut off the points and leave a 1” gap in the center.

This reduces the washcloth's bulk and allows the plastic snaps to be installed through two layers of fabric. The snaps are usually not long enough to penetrate more than two layers of washcloth fabric.

STEP 7: Sew along the marked line

Sew a straight line along the marking and across the gap with a straight stitch at the normal length. Remember to backtack at the beginning and end. 

I sew across the gap, but you can stop at the end of the flap and start again on the other side.

 You can also mark the line across the gap if needed.

STEP 8: Place towel and washcloth together

Next, place the towel with the right side facing up and spread it on a work surface. Place the center stitched line of the washcloth along the stitched gathering line on the towel with the right sides together. Pin them together.

STEP 9: Sew the washcloth topper onto the towel

Once again, sew across the washcloth along the same stitching line as before through both layers.Keep the towel flat underneath. Since the gathers are underneath, you may need to help the towel feed through the sewing machine. So, give it a little push or pull as needed.

STEP 10: Place washcloth sides together and pin

Next, we will finish the washcloth topper. Place the washcloth sides together with the wrong sides facing each other.

The towel will hang down below the washcloth.

Match up the washcloth's two sides and the point's edges. Pin around the edge of the washcloth.

STEP 11: stitch around the washcloth

Stitch around the edge of the washcloth with a topstitch or edgestitch about 1/8” – ¼” from the edge.

At the corner, stop with your needle in the down position. Lift the presser foot and pivot the project.  Replace the presser foot and continue stitching around the washcloth edge.I usually stitch just inside the finished edge of the washcloth.

STEP 12: Remove Basting Stitch

If the basting stitch is showing on the front of the towel, carefully remove it using a seam ripper.Washing the towel should remove the marks from the chalk or pencil.

STEP 13: Add a Button or snap

Pick a front for the hanging towel. Some towels are printed, and one side will be upside down.  Fold the washcloth's point down like an envelope.

Install a snap near the washcloth's point, or make a buttonhole near the point and sew a button underneath the buttonhole.

Installing Snaps

Plastic Kam snaps are a great way to hang the towel for this project. Install half of the snap near the point of the towel, and the other side of the snap below it.

If you need instructions on installing Kam Snaps, click the link for our full tutorial.

Installing a Button

To use a button, sew a buttonhole near the point of the flap.

Hand-sew the button to the front of the washcloth below the point. You could also sew it on with a sewing machine. We have video tutorials on the zig-zag method and the button stitch method. 

Other Towel Projects:

• Holiday Crocheted Dish Towels
• No-Sew Snap Hanging Towels
• Yo-yo Towels
• Hanging Towel Topper Pattern