DIY Network

Dishtowel Purse Stitch up a dishy dishtowel bag. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-117

A cool dishtowel makes an even cooler bag.

Dishwashers have cut down on our dish-drying chores, but dishtowels—also called tea towels—are as pretty as ever. If you have a drawer full of unused dishtowels, or even just a few that are too pretty to swab dishes with, you can turn them into a charming purse with this how-to from Michele Beschen.

The B. Original host shows how to stitch up an easy bag from a couple of dishtowels. Add a funky clip-on earring as a clasp, and you’re ready to B. Original in style. Scroll down for details.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

• Select a dishtowel that has a nice decorative edge at one end: something scalloped, embroidered or just plain pretty. This will become the handbag flap to show off the decoration.

• Lay out your towel wrong side up on a flat work surface. Cover the towel with a flour sack dish towel; this will serve as the bag’s lining. Pin the lining in place and stitch around three sides, leaving the dish towel’s decorative edge unstitched (figure A).

  Note: You can use fusible web to adhere the bag lining instead of sewing it on.

• Turn the piece right-side up with the decorative edge facing away from you. Fold the bottom edge up about three-quarters of the way to the top and pin in place (figure B).

• If you don’t want your bag to be the same width as the dishtowel, you’ll need to trim some material from the width. Look at the right side of your fabric to see where you want to trim away, then mark and sew the sides of the bag. Trim away any excess (figure C).

• Once you know where you want to trim excess away, turn the bag inside out and pin. Sew to the width you want, then trim away the excess.

• Finish off lining the inside of the bag’s flap, and cover raw edges with ribbon.

• Close the flap and mark with a pin where the center of the flap meets the side of the bag. Stitch a clip-style earring to the front of your bag at this spot—it will clip onto the flap and act as a clasp for the bag.

Now you’re ready to step out in style with a terrific tea towel bag!