A tea towel is a straightforward first sewing project

A tea towel is a rectangle of fabric with finished edges, usually hemmed on all four sides. You can make one in an afternoon with a needle, thread, and two pieces of fabric or a single folded piece. The entire project teaches you straight seams, corners, and a basic hem — skills that carry into almost every other sewing task.

The simplest version uses two rectangles of cotton fabric sewn together inside-out, then turned right-side-out and pressed flat. A second pass of stitching around the edge (called topstitching) holds the hem in place and finishes the look. No pattern is required; you measure and cut as you go.

Key Takeaways

  • Cut two rectangles of cotton fabric to the same size — 18 by 28 inches is a standard tea towel dimension, but any size works for practice.
  • Pin the two pieces together with right sides facing each other, then sew three sides with a quarter-inch seam allowance, leaving one short end open.
  • Turn the towel right-side-out through the opening, press it flat with an iron, and fold the raw edges of the opening inward before pinning.
  • Topstitch around the entire perimeter one-quarter inch from the edge to close the opening and create a finished hem all the way around.

Gather fabric, thread, and basic tools

You need two pieces of cotton fabric cut to the same size. Cotton quilting fabric or cotton broadcloth works well and is inexpensive. A tea towel is typically 18 inches wide by 28 inches long, but you can make yours smaller or larger — the technique stays the same. Buy a quarter yard of two different prints or colors if you want each side to look different, or use the same fabric on both sides.

Thread should match one of your fabrics or be a neutral color like white, cream, or gray. Polyester all-purpose thread works for this project. You also need a sewing machine with a straight-stitch setting, scissors or a rotary cutter, a ruler or measuring tape, pins, and an iron. A seam ripper is useful if you need to undo stitches, but not essential for a first attempt.

Cut and pin the fabric pieces

Measure and mark your fabric to size. If you are making an 18-by-28-inch towel, use a ruler and a fabric pencil or chalk to draw those dimensions on the back of your first piece. Cut along the lines with scissors or a rotary cutter. Repeat with the second piece so both are identical.

Place the two pieces on a flat surface with the right sides facing each other — the pretty printed or colored side should be on the inside, touching the other pretty side. The wrong sides (usually duller or blank) face outward. Pin around all four edges, placing pins about two inches apart. Pin perpendicular to the edge so the pins are straightforward to remove as you sew.

Sew three sides with a quarter-inch seam allowance

Thread your machine and set it to a straight stitch with a stitch length of 2.0 to 2.5 millimeters — this is a standard length for most machines. Sew along one long side, starting at a corner and stopping one-quarter inch from the opposite corner. Backstitch (reverse the machine) for three or four stitches to lock the thread, then remove the pins as you approach them.

At each corner, stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot, rotate the fabric 90 degrees, lower the presser foot, and continue sewing. Repeat this process on the second long side and one short side. Leave the fourth side (the other short end) completely open — this is where you will turn the towel right-side-out. Backstitch at the end of the third side to find the thread.

Turn the towel right-side-out and press

Reach through the opening and grasp the fabric from the inside. Gently pull the towel through the opening, turning it inside-out as you go. The right sides of the fabric are now on the outside where they belong. Use your fingers to push the corners out fully so they are sharp and square, not rounded.

Lay the towel flat on an ironing board and press it with a hot iron set to the temperature appropriate for your fabric — usually medium to high for cotton. Pay special attention to the edges and corners. As you press, the seams will flatten and the fabric will relax. This step makes the next step much easier.

Fold and pin the opening closed

The opening where you turned the towel has raw, unfinished edges. Fold these raw edges inward by one-quarter inch on both sides of the opening, as if you were starting a hem. Press these folds with the iron so they hold their shape. Pin the opening closed, placing pins perpendicular to the edge just as you did before sewing the first three sides.

The fold should be crisp and even all the way across. If the fold is uneven or loose, the topstitching will look sloppy. Take time to get this right — it is the most visible part of the finished towel.

Topstitch around the entire perimeter

Topstitching means sewing on the outside of the finished fabric, close to the edge. This stitch closes the opening, holds the hem in place, and adds a decorative line around the towel. Thread your machine with the same thread you used before, set it to a straight stitch, and position the towel under the presser foot so the needle will land one-quarter inch from the edge.

Start at a corner and sew slowly around all four sides, removing pins as you approach them. At each corner, use the same stop-rotate-continue technique you used for the first seams. When you reach the opening, sew across it just as you would any other edge. Continue all the way around until you reach your starting point, then backstitch to lock the thread and remove the towel from the machine.

Press the towel one final time to flatten the topstitching and remove any wrinkles. Trim any loose thread ends with scissors. Your tea towel is finished and ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I sew the opening closed by accident?

Use a seam ripper to cut and remove the stitches along that side. Pull the threads out carefully, then turn the towel right-side-out through the opening you just created. Fold and pin the edges as described, and topstitch as normal. This mistake is common and easily fixed.

Can I make a tea towel with just one piece of fabric?

Yes. Fold a single rectangle in half with right sides together, sew two sides, turn it right-side-out, fold the opening inward, and topstitch around the perimeter. The result is the same — a finished towel with no raw edges showing.

Do I have to use cotton fabric?

Cotton is easiest for beginners because it presses well and does not slip under the presser foot. Linen and linen blends also work. Avoid stretchy fabrics like jersey or knits for your first towel — they require different techniques and are harder to control.

What stitch length should I use?

A stitch length of 2.0 to 2.5 millimeters is standard for seaming cotton. Shorter stitches (1.5 mm) are stronger but harder to remove if you make a mistake. Longer stitches (3.0 mm) are weaker and can pucker. Stick with 2.0 to 2.5 for this project.

How do I keep my corners from puckering?

Slow down as you approach each corner and take your time rotating the fabric. Make sure the fold at the opening is pressed flat and even before you topstitch. Puckering usually happens when the fabric is not pressed well or when you sew too fast and pull the fabric instead of letting the machine feed it.