Mitered Hem Tea Towel Tutorial

This weekend I found myself wondering through the magic that is Heals, namely for the past two hundred years home to most exciting and innovative contemporary furniture which you can touch, sit on and buy. It really doesn’t get any better. I went two days in a row, once with my 2.5 year old who happily lounged around near the Tom Dixon corner wanting to roll the glass ‘balls’, after all, why else have huge glass light spheres lying around on the floor? ‘ The second time I went alone, and this time I had a chance to take a very slow stroll through the kitchen wear section, with endless designs from all over the world, a great place to research and get inspired. Its not often I get to leave our north London suburbs, and especially not on my own, so this was a luxury time in disguise which I spent wisely by burying myself in Designer Guild, Mulberry and other equally exciting fabrics on the second floor and taking notes on porcelain makers. Handy.

Filled with joy of inspiration I decided to up the game a little and use the mitered hem to make some slightly more luxurious tea towels this week. The clever mitered hem gives it that slight chic look and the humble linen glows with delight saying thank you for making me look pretty. I recommend. Really. Takes no time at all once you get the hang of it and these make excellent presents. I am taking my two beauties to the seaside tomorrow to give to my son’s nana and nanny as presents. Pow.

Skill: Beginner

Time: 30 minutes

Materials for two tea towels:

19″ by 22″ piece in IL019 ‘ Bleached

19″ by 22″ piece in’ IL019 Natural

2 x 4.5 inches of twill tape in natural or ecru

Scissors

Matching tape

Ruler

Pencil

A sewing machine

1. Fold under the seam allowances (in this case 1/2″) on both raw edges.

2. Open out the pressed seam allowances and fold the corner over,’ using the crossing points of the creases as the edge of the corner fold. (Pin below showing where to fold over)

3. Iron to make a crease for a guide.

3. Unfold the corner again, turn the right sides together. Aligning the edges and the layers together. Pin down alongside your iron crease which should be at 45 degrees.

4.’ Using a straight stitch, sew from the the pin point at the folded edge to the first pressed line.

5. Lock your stitch at the beginning and the end.

6. Trim away excess triangle to 1/4 ” from the sewn stitch.

7.’ Press the seam open.

8.’ Following the previously pressed guidelines, fold the hems back into place, pushing out the corner hem.’  Pin the folded edges.

9. Repeat for remaining three corners.

10. Once all four corners are done, lay your tea towel down and slip your twill tape under the folded hem 2 inches from the top as shown below. Pin down.

11.’ Sew with a straight stitch close to the inside fold all around et voila- the joyous Linen Tea Towel. Enjoy.