Looking for a lovely last-minute gift to make, or a way to perk up your kitchen for the new year? This free printable folk-inspired 2018 tea towel calendar is the perfect project for you! You just need a few simple supplies to create a gorgeous Scandinavian folk art-inspired tea towel calendar, and you get to choose from THREE different colorways so you can get just the look you want for your kitchen. And don’t forget to download the coordinating printable card to give along with the calendar.

• This is a long post, so if desired, jump to the Calendar Download here.

Download the coordinating printable card!

About the Collaboration:

In 2010, I teamed up with talented designer Cathe Holden of Inspired Barn to create a printable tea towel calendar. She designed the printables, and I made the calendar and wrote the instructions, and then we provided the free printables to you! This year, we have a new design available — our all-new 2018 printable tea towel calendar, as well a sweet card, that you can download (click the image above), print, and make for a special handmade touch.

Now, on to the project!

Supplies for the 2018 Printable Tea Towel Calendar:

This project is simple, but you definitely need a few supplies that will make it WAY easier. Don’t skimp on these supplies, as it will save you some headaches.

Supplies Needed:

• Free Printable: 2018 Tea Towel Calendar
• A flour sack towel
• 2 Iron-on transfer sheets (buy them in a pack)
• Freezer paper
• Parchment paper
• Inkjet printer
• Iron and Ironing board
• Large wooden cutting board
• Sewing machine & thread
• Scissors, pins

Notes about the Materials:

Dollar store materials: I got the flour sack towel and parchment paper at the dollar store. I have seen iron on transfers there before, but I have never used the ones they sell, and I don’t see them there consistently. If you are using the dark fabric iron-on transfers, DO NOT SKIP THE PARCHMENT PAPER!

Tea towels: I got flour sack towels from the dollar store, but I also wanted to try something less plain, so I picked up a pack of four colored and patterned flour sack towels from Target for about $5 total. (The grey polka-dot towel used in the photo above is from the pack from Target).

Iron-On transfer sheets: I just bought a pack at my local craft store that had both transparent sheets and the type you use for dark fabric, because I wanted to experiment with both kinds. Honestly, I would not recommend the kind I used (you can see the brand in the photo), as I had many craftfails while making this project! If you are using a patterned tea towel, use the dark fabric type of iron-ons, but if you are using a white tea towel, use the transparent kind.

Freezer paper: This paper is waxed on one side, and paper on the other side, which means you can iron it onto your fabric and then easily remove it later. The freezer paper is a DO NOT SKIP supply because it stabilizes the flour sack towels while you apply the iron-ons, which is essential because of the loose weave of the towels. You can find freezer paper in the food wrap section of your local grocery store, or online (affiliate link to Amazon for your convenience): buy freezer paper.

Freezer paper is cheaper if you buy it in a store, but one roll will last you forever, and you can use it for many cool craft techniques like making iron-ons for perfect fabric stencils, or for paper piecing in quilting.

Download the 2018 Printable Tea Towel Calendar:

Phew, that was long. Let’s dive into the project!

Step 1: Download the Calendar Top & Bottom

Choose your favorite color combination, and download the files you will need for your calendar. Click on the image to be taken to Google Drive to download the printable tea towel calendar files you want.

Note: If you are using transparent (light fabric) iron-ons, you will need the REVERSED bottom calendar image. If you are using opaque (dark fabric) iron-ons, you will need the normal, readable one!

Red & Blue 2018 Tea Towel Calendar Downloads:

Click on the image to be taken to Google Drive to download the files you want.

• Download Red & Blue Calendar Top
• Download Red & Blue Calendar Bottom (Regular)
• Download Red & Blue Calendar Bottom (Reversed)

Blue 2018 Tea Towel Calendar Downloads:

Click on the image to be taken to Google Drive to download the files you want.

• Download Blue Calendar Top
• Download Blue Calendar Bottom (Regular)
• Download Blue Calendar Bottom (Reversed)

Green 2018 Tea Towel Calendar Downloads:

Click on the image to be taken to Google Drive to download the files you want.

• Download Green Calendar Top
• Download Green Calendar Bottom (Regular)
• Download Green Calendar Bottom (Reversed)

Step 2: Print the Calendar Printables on Iron-on Transfer Paper

I don’t have a recommendation for a specific variety of iron on paper at this time (because I didn’t like the type I used). Do be aware: if you are using a dark or patterned tea towel, you will need to use the dark fabric type of iron-ons.

If you are using the transparent kind of iron-ons, you will need the REVERSE image file for the calendar.

How to Make the 2018 Printable Tea Towel Calendar

Step 3: Cut & Sew the Tea Towel

1. Iron your tea towel before you start.
2. Flour sack towels are usually large and square, so cut it in half.
3. Fold the cut end over and iron it flat. This is where you will hem it to make it match the other side! Pin the hem (don’t skip this step, because this floppy fabric is hard to sew if you don’t pin it).
   

Sew the side hem.

Step 4: Freezer Paper — The Secret Weapon

Iron a piece of of freezer paper to the back of the tea towel. Place the waxed side DOWN onto the fabric, and iron over the paper side. It will stick to the tea towel and stabilize it, making it WAY easier to successfully apply the iron on transfer to the other side. When you’re all done with the process, you can easily remove the freezer paper by peeling it away. (Do that at the end of the project!)

Step 5: On to the Calendar!

Your iron-on transfer paper will come with instructions for printing and application, so follow them. I will give some general guidelines for success here:

1. Use a hard, heat-proof surface to iron on, if you can. I pulled the built-in wooden cutting board from my kitchen counters.
2. If you are using opaque (dark fabric) iron-ons, use a piece of parchment paper to iron over the top of your iron-on. My iron-ons included a piece of parchment paper that was the same size as the iron-on sheet, and since it was impossible to keep the same-size parchment paper covering the transfer while I moved the iron, it ruined my transfer.
3. Iron the top and the bottom pieces very close together. Once you’ve ironed the first one, protect it with a piece of parchment paper while you iron the second one.

Remove the freezer paper from the back by simply peeling it off!

Pin this Project!

If you enjoyed this project, I would appreciate any shares you can spare! Thank you for reading, and please let me know if you have any feedback on this project, or tips you discovered while making it!

Don’t forget to download the matching free printable card!

The post Free Printable: 2018 Tea Towel Calendar appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We love a good tea towel project, and this one is particularly cute for summer!  Sarah from Sarah Hearts used a clever combination of simple stamping and embroidery to make these fruity kitchen accessories.  If tea towels aren’t your thing, this motif would also be cute on a tote bag, a t-shirt, or any other fabric item that could use a bit of sprucing up!  [how to make citrus tea towels]

Project estimate:

• Tea towels, $1 and up
• Fabric paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Sponge, on hand or $1
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Citrus Tea Towels appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

With school back in session, it’s a good time to start thinking about teacher appreciation gifts!  It’s no secret that we love tea towels, and these notebook tea towels by Liz at Say Yes are particularly cute!  If you can sew in a straight line, you can make these – no fancy sewing skills required.  Which also makes it a great beginner sewing project, so if you are new  go ahead and give it a try!  [how to make notebook tea towels]

Project estimate:

• Tea towel, $1
• Sewing machine, on hand
• Needle and embroidery floss, on hand
• Fusible web, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Notebook Tea Towels appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Do you have a little helper who loves to assist in the kitchen?  If you have half an hour of sewing time and a spare buck or two for supplies, you can make them their very own apron!  The design even features a pocketed front for holding important things like utensils or plastic dinosaurs or whatever other items a junior chef might need to keep close at hand.  Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts whipped this one up for her son and he loved it so much that she had to plead with him to take it off when it came time to go to bed.  Too cute!  [how to make a tea towel apron]

Project estimate:

• Tea towel, $1
• Ribbon, on hand or $1
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

Do you have a 30 minute craft to share?  Don’t forget to enter it in our 30 Minute Craft Challenge – you could win a $100 gift card from Dollar Tree!

The post Make a Tea Towel Apron appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Kids love crafts of all kinds, but the best ones are the projects that serve a purpose (besides decorating the fridge).  Imagine their grins when your dinner guests compliment your lovely table linens, and your kids inform them that they made them!  Carrie from Making Lemonade started out by letting her kids go nuts decorating some inexpensive tea towels, and while she could have stopped there she decided to take it a step farther.  With some quick snipping and stitching, each towel became a pair of napkins!  [how to make dotted cloth napkins]

Project estimate:

• Tea towels, $1 and up
• Paint, on hand or $1
• Spouncers, on hand or $1
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Dotted Cloth Napkins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Around my house, we’re huge popsicle fans in the summertime.  And when Independence Day rolls around, it’s impossible to resist at least one box of rocket pops!  If you love the iconic frozen treats, check out these patriotic popsicle tea towels from Hello!Lucky.  They’re made using a freezer paper stencil based on a free template you can download from their site.  Not into tea towels?  Try putting it on a shirt instead!  [how to make patriotic popsicle tea towels]

Project estimate:

• Tea towel, $1
• Freezer paper, on hand or $1
• Popsicle template, free
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Patriotic Popsicle Tea Towels appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Two years ago, I collaborated with Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made to design a printable tea towel calendar. She provided the printable, and I designed the project and wrote the tutorial. I loved the design, and I have had some requests for a 2012 version, so I updated the calendar part so we could use it again. This is a simple project idea, great for hostess gifts, teacher gifts, and gifts for friends, neighbors, mothers, or anyone else who would appreciate a pretty folk art-inspired tea towel calendar. [For instructions on how to make the calendar, check this post: How to Make a Tea Towel Calendar]

See below for the free printable downloads!

Project Estimate:

• Flour sack towel or stash fabric, $1 or on hand
• 2 Iron-on transfer sheets, about $1 each
• Patterned tea towel (optional), $1
• Dowel (optional), $1

Total: $2 and up

For instructions on how to make the calendar, check this post: How to Make a Tea Towel Calendar

For tons of inspiration, check out Cathe Holden’s site: Just Something I Made

For the 2012 Printables:

Download Printable for 2012 Calendar:

(Hosted at Scribd):

• 2012 Printable Calendar, Page 1

Printable Tea Towel Calendar 2012 (Page 1)

• 2012 Printable Calendar 2011, Page 2

2012 Teatowel Calendar Page2

The post Printable Tea Towel Calendar – 2012 Download appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Happy Memorial Day!   It’s that time of year again already, can you believe it?  If you’re celebrating with a barbecue or picnic, you’ll surely be wishing that you had one of these.  Sibylle from Funkytime found an old suitcase that had seen better days that she redid to make a portable birthday party with a classic picnic theme.   It’s the perfect romantic accessory to bring along on a date at the beach as well as a fun novelty for a family trip to the park.  This would also make a wonderful, unique wedding gift!  [how to make a suitcase picnic basket]

Project estimate:

• Vintage suitcase, about $15
• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Elastic, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand
• Velcro, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand
• Tea towels, $1 and up
• Plastic plates/cups/silverware, on hand or $6 and up

Total:  about $16 and up

The post Make a Suitcase Picnic Basket appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Does your kitchen or dining room table need something new to wear?  If you either a) don’t have a sewing machine, b) are terrified of sewing projects, or c) are running very short on time these days, you may think that making a table runner is out of your reach.  Not so!  (Not sew?)  Madigan from Madigan Made used a couple of dollar store dish towels, some ribbon, and fusible web to make herself a festive, springy table runner that didn’t require a single stitch.  [how to make a no-sew table runner from towels]

Project estimate:

• 2-3 kitchen towels, $2 and up
• Ribbon, on hand or $1 and up
• Fusible web, on hand or about $2
• Iron, on hand

Total:  $2 and up

The post Make a No-Sew Table Runner from Kitchen Towels appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Last year, I collaborated with Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made to design a printable tea towel calendar. She provided the printable, and I designed the project and wrote the tutorial. I loved last year’s design, so I updated the calendar part so we could use it again for 2011. This is a simple project idea, great for hostess gifts, teacher gifts, and gifts for friends, neighbors, mothers, or anyone else who would appreciate a pretty folk art-inspired tea towel calendar.

Project Estimate:

• Flour sack towel or stash fabric, $1 or on hand
• 2 Iron-on transfer sheets, about $1 each
• Patterned tea towel (optional), $1
• Dowel (optional), $1

Total: $2 and up

For instructions on how to make the calendar, check this post: How to Make a Tea Towel Calendar

For tons of inspiration, check out Cathe Holden’s site: Just Something I Made

For the 2011 Printables:

Download Printable for 2011 Calendar:

• 2011-teatowel-calendar (Page 1)

• 2011-teatowel-calendar-page2 (Page 2)

if those links don’t work, try this (hosted at Scribd):

• Printable Calendar, Page 1
• Printable Calendar 2011, Page 2

linked up:

Tatertots & Jello Weekend Wrap Up

The post Printable Tea Towel Calendar – 2011 Edition appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.