towel wrap tutorial

I made this for niece Megan's birthday and then decided to make one for each of my girls for Easter. I thought it would be a great swimsuit cover up and she could use when she goes to camp or college.   I got the inspiration from one I had when I was younger but that one was much smaller and didn't cover much.  It was a definitely a create as i went kind of project.  This is an easy project I got each of them done in an afternoon.

I have never done a tutorial so be patient with me.  this too will be a create as I go.

The materials you will need is

1 bath towel ( I bought mine from target for $4.99. Target has a lot of colors to choose from.)
1/2 yard of material
sewing machine
matching thread
scissors or rotary cutter
cutting board
20 inches of 1 1/2 inch wide elastic
 6 inches of velcro


 First I cut all the tags off my towel.

I cut
 2 3 1/2x45 inch strips for the bottom ruffle
2 4x45 inch strip to do a strip on the side of the towel
1 1 1/2X45 strip  (to cover ruffle on the under side  of the towel)
1 8X10 rectangle (for pocket)
1 8/10 rectangle of light to medium weight iron on interfacing
2 3X8 strips for straps (optional)

First, sew the two strips for the ruffle together like you sew bias strips together. 

Put the strips together right sides together in a l shape.  Sew where the solid line is inside corner to outside corer) then trip to 1/4 inch or where the dotted line is

Iron the seam to one side and when you get finished it should look like this.

I did a 1/4 inch hem on the bottom of strip and did a gathering stitch 1/2 inch on the top.  I gathered the ruffle to the length  of the towel from inside hem to inside hem of the towel, pinned to the bottom of the towel.  the top of  ruffle strip was 1/4 above the hem of the towel.  I then  sewed the ruffle to the towel, sewing  along the hem of the towel. 

with the 4X45 iron the strip on top and bottom 1/2 inch towards the middle of the wrong side .  when you get done it should look like this

Then fold and iron the strip in half so raw edges are in the middle. You are going to use this like bias tape down the hem of the short side of what will be the front of the towel towel.You will need to cut the strip to fit the towel The fold of the strip should go down the outside of towel with the edges of the strip on either side of towel.  Sew along the hem. pin and sew together making sure you are catching both sides of strip.  I don't have pictures of this part it was late at night and I forgot,  When I make another wrap like this one I will post a picture,


you will need to sew the two 1 1/2 inch strips together like you did the strips for the ruffle.You will need to iron the bottom strip like you did the side strip.This strip is going to cover the raw edges of the bottom ruffle.  the strip should look like the above picture. trim the strip to fit the towel from inside side hem on each side.  I pressed a 1/4 inch of the strip an each side so no raw edges would show.  place the strip over raw edges of hem aligning the fold with hem pin and sew as close to edge of the fold on both top and bottom.

it will look like this when you are done

The next step is the hardest I think.  Find the middle of the top of the towel (back side) find the middle of the elastic and pin together.  You are going to stretch the elastic as far as it goes and start sewing from one end to the other stretching the elastic the whole time.  Sew as close to the edge of the elastic as possible

I sewed the other side of the elastic doing the same thing but you don't have to.

The next step is figure out where you want you velcro.  its a lot easier if you sew the velcro on before you encase your elastic. You want the rough side of the elastic on top front of your towel and soft part of the velcro on 2 1/2 inches on the front of the underneath side of the wrap.  I had to do this by trying on the towel to decide where I wanted the velcor.  Pin the velcro and sew around all 4 edges.

Now turn over the top of towel 2 inches you will have to stretch and sew so you will have to measure as you go.  Again use the hem of you towel be a guide to where you sew.

Iron on the interfacing to your pocket. Iron all sides a 1/2 an inch then turn the top down another 1/2 inch on all sides, clip the corners to the first fold this will give you sharp corners. Determine where you want the pocket and sew  it with 1/4 inch seam allowance. I sew it the pocket again staying as close to folded edge as possible.  Now you are done unless you want straps. 

 For the straps fold the straps with right sides together length wise, sew a 1/4 inch seam allowance around 2 of sides, using a dowel or pencil turn right side out.  Iron flat to stitch, fold the open end inside a 1/4 inch and top stitch around the open end to close it and the long end to make it lay better.  Determine where you want your straps  pin and sew them on.  Voila your done!!

I made each of them a matching shower cap as well, more as a joke but I think they secretly like them!  Right girls?!?  If you want to make a shower cap I basically followed the instructions on this websit http://whipup.net/2011/10/20/guest-blogger-series-diy-shower-cap/.  I followed them the best that I can follow directions which is basically skim them and do it my way but i think they all turned out very nice,  Each one is a little different, Heather's I did a ruffle down the front of the towel.  Krystal I had to a bath sheet and I did a triple ruffle down the front to cover a strip in the towel and I put ruffles around her pocket.

Megan as soon as you send me a picture of you modeling your towel wrap I will add you instead of 2 of Heather.