Step Five: Sew the Top Section On
Lay one cut piece, right side up, with the wide edge at the top. Lay the pinned towel on top of the first cut piece and then lay the other fabric piece right side down. The right sides of both pieces should be facing each other with the towel layered in between. Pin.
Sew through all the layers with a 3/8” seam. Be sure that the ends of the bias tape are out of the way so they don’t become caught in the seam. Flip the fabric pieces up above the towel and press (leave the bias tapes hanging down for now).
Step Six: Insert the Batting
Fold the top piece of fabric back toward the towel and insert one batting piece under the seam allowance so that it rests against the seam on the bottom side.
Repeat on the top and fold the top piece of fabric back over.
Topstitch 1/4” from the seam edge (the bias tapes should still be hanging down). Trim the excess batting from the top and edges.
The method to my madness: I have tried putting these together several different ways. If you sew the batting in when sewing the topper fabric on, there is too much bulk at the seam. If you just butt the batting up to the edge of the seam allowance, you end up with a visible line at the join. By doing it this way, you end up with just enough fullness right at the seam edge and the batting is stabilized by the top stitching.
Step Seven: Bind Top Edge
Fold a short piece of bias binding over the raw edges at the top of the towel topper. Pin in place and sew, being sure to capture both edges of the binding in the seam.
Trim edges even.
Step Eight: Sew Side Binding
On the ends of the ties, fold the bias tape in half so the right sides are together and stitch a seam 3/8” from the unfinished edge. Clip corners and turn right side out.
Fold the bias tapes on the sides up to cover the raw edges on the sides of the towel topper and pin (or baste) in place. You want to make sure that it is folded so that when you sew it down, both the front and back edges will be caught in the seam (in the photo, you can see the finished ends of the ties).
Sew binding on starting at the edge next to the towel. When you reach the top of the fabric topper, backstitch for a few stitches for reinforcement before continuing up the ties. Repeat on other side.
Give your towel a little shake and tie it on (or put away for later gift giving).
Here is how I tie my towel on to my oven handle so it hangs straight. Drop the ties over the handle, bring them to the front across the ties and tie a cute bow!
I hope you enjoy this project. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Happy Sewing!
