tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post8666553909417740714..comments2024-03-27T17:31:58.315-07:00Comments on Home Living: Home Sewn Kitchen TowelsLydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-58212209668822855532012-12-23T19:43:59.766-08:002012-12-23T19:43:59.766-08:00I have a few thoughts on the towels; not sure if i...I have a few thoughts on the towels; not sure if it any of it proves true! <br />When you buy new bath towels, it takes a few washings and dryings to get them to absorb water. Perhaps whatever chemical they have on them to keep them "fresh" in the store takes a while to wear off, but perhaps it never really leaves all the way. Maybe, as the towel gets old, the chemicals or weird fibers Lillibethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857189417720272826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-52138306414267011542012-12-23T04:26:53.574-08:002012-12-23T04:26:53.574-08:00Lydia, I see everyone is complaining about the ki...Lydia, I see everyone is complaining about the kitchen towels that are made of terry cloth. However the same problem arises with the other kind of dish towels. They seem to have a water proof slickness to them, even after many washings (and no fabric softeners used). They wear out quickly and they are not absorbant enough to wipe up a spill, nor do they dry the dishes but just rub the water Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-5444696937085987942012-12-22T21:32:47.226-08:002012-12-22T21:32:47.226-08:00There is a fabric made for kitchen towels, that is...There is a fabric made for kitchen towels, that is not a terry cloth. I remember when the terry cloth towels were first sold for the kitchen and felt quite uncomfortable using them in the kitchen. They did not seem to dry the dishes as well. After many years of using the terry, I'm ready to go back to the original kitchen towelling fabric.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-38145625855087526282012-12-22T21:29:15.955-08:002012-12-22T21:29:15.955-08:00I never use softener on either my bath towels or m...I never use softener on either my bath towels or my kitchen towels & cloths. During the rinse cycle I add some vinegar. No dryer sheets in the dryer, either. But it's really annoying to have the water simply bead up on the fabric. Good grief!...no wonder people use paper towels.<br /><br />BrendaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-68670892308074471912012-12-22T21:06:11.434-08:002012-12-22T21:06:11.434-08:00I have never liked the terry towels for drying dis...I have never liked the terry towels for drying dishes. I prefer the flour sack towels. My daughter and I put rick rack or edge them like you do, or embroider on them. Most of ours are huge and we have had them for years. We do wash the fabric ahead of sewing to avoid shrinkage, especially of the boarder fabric. I will try out the terry though as I definitely need hand towels! :) Also as youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-64034684883324535102012-12-22T10:07:39.659-08:002012-12-22T10:07:39.659-08:00I never use softener on towels, and as I understan...I never use softener on towels, and as I understand it, the other homemakers that have noticed the slickness and wimpiness of the latest kitchen towels, do not use softeners either.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-20283585196855890042012-12-21T17:03:14.694-08:002012-12-21T17:03:14.694-08:00The towels you made are far more lovely than any I...The towels you made are far more lovely than any I've seen in the store. I'm going to try to make my own, too. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-79947081819020657042012-12-21T14:37:13.050-08:002012-12-21T14:37:13.050-08:00I use the dish towels to dry everything from pots ...I use the dish towels to dry everything from pots and pans to the knives, forks and spoons, so they have to be strong and absorbent. The new towels break down quickly until they will not hold water but just smears it around. This is why I think they are sprayed with something before they are sold, or they are made with rag quality products that are generally used for potholder. There is somethingLydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-6365573104430896322012-12-21T13:09:25.367-08:002012-12-21T13:09:25.367-08:00I do not use terry towels to dry my antique china....I do not use terry towels to dry my antique china. I use terry towels for drying hands and linen towels for drying dishes (less confusion with the children that way, also less chance of any germs or soap left on hastily washed hands ending up on the clean dishes). Usually I try to find vintage linen towels. They were made in the 1940's or 50's and are still in excellent usable condition, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-9802860974868209782012-12-21T10:36:52.600-08:002012-12-21T10:36:52.600-08:00The only place I could find terry cloth was at Joa...The only place I could find terry cloth was at Joann fabrics. It can be ordered online but one place I found it would did not list the ingredients or the width. If you decide to make one, just get half a yard and make only one, and try it out before you invest too much time and money. Also Joanns has 50 percent off coupons you can use.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-15014674031210729962012-12-21T10:22:37.567-08:002012-12-21T10:22:37.567-08:00The towels that are labelled 100 percent cotton al...The towels that are labelled 100 percent cotton also break down easily and do not clean well with detergent. Cotton, I have heard, has a derivative called rayon, which is more silky and I wonder if there are rayon products in the cotton towels, which reduce absorbancy. Rayon is used in dress fabric to make it more drapey and soft. This is just a hunch.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-59972135277798477482012-12-21T10:10:51.637-08:002012-12-21T10:10:51.637-08:00To the one who noticed a residue on the cabinet to...To the one who noticed a residue on the cabinet top after wiping a spill with the current towels that are on the market: I have a glass top stove and when I use a kitchen towel, even after it has been washed several times after purchase, it just looks like it is spreading grease around. <br /><br />This morning I have used my new hand sewn towel once to dry my hands on and I can see the Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-86644828321496178222012-12-21T09:56:53.497-08:002012-12-21T09:56:53.497-08:00I ordered a bulk bag of kitchen towels from what a...I ordered a bulk bag of kitchen towels from what appeared to be a high quality catalog, and those towels were even worse in quality.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-17317515375532276722012-12-21T09:53:54.555-08:002012-12-21T09:53:54.555-08:00No. I've never used dryer sheets or softener o...No. I've never used dryer sheets or softener on them. I've been familiar with the characteristics of kitchen towels from a very young age when I used to hang my mothers towels on the line. The towels of the last few years have something wrong with them. other homemakers say the say. I'm talking about the dish towels.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-24744170411257203072012-12-21T06:15:58.788-08:002012-12-21T06:15:58.788-08:00How pretty! Home sewn is always better quality tha...How pretty! Home sewn is always better quality than store bought.<br /><br />My mother has the same problem with her towels losing their absorbancy. I don't. The difference is, she uses fabric softener in her towels and I don't. I just can't convince her to stop using it on towels so they will absorb. It feel like I just wipe the water off after a shower at her house. At my house - SharonRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16043548752523750347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-34456770624841719672012-12-21T06:02:49.914-08:002012-12-21T06:02:49.914-08:00Your towels look great! I can't believe how po...Your towels look great! I can't believe how poorly towels last. I decided not to get any at Walmart, because those seem to wear out the fastest. So I got a big package from Kohl's- thinking they would be a better quality. The first time washing them (and I hadn't even used them yet) there was a big hole in it at the seem. I think I'll have to make my own! Thanks for the great idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-54190846492309693892012-12-21T05:32:00.291-08:002012-12-21T05:32:00.291-08:00I have made towels for the kitchen in the same way...I have made towels for the kitchen in the same way that I make burp cloths, I use a high-quality quilting cotton on one side and coordinating cotton flannel on the other. After they are washed a time or two, the cotton fabrics get "fluffy" and are quite absorbent. Using holiday fabrics and the like, you can change for all seasons and holidays. I love sewing for the home!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-85443383682877161722012-12-21T04:34:19.561-08:002012-12-21T04:34:19.561-08:00I know exactly what you mean about towels not bein...I know exactly what you mean about towels not being absorbent. I get so angry when I need to wipe up a spill and the towel only moves the water around and leaves a sticky residue. I never use fabric softener, buy higher quality towels, line dry the towels and still they don't absorb moisture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-89902973556032209192012-12-21T04:30:49.346-08:002012-12-21T04:30:49.346-08:00At what store did you purchase the fabric?? DeeAt what store did you purchase the fabric?? DeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-89184617380697448122012-12-21T04:01:31.512-08:002012-12-21T04:01:31.512-08:00This is an excellent idea. I made my curtains and ...This is an excellent idea. I made my curtains and matching placemats.By doing this, I can make matching towels as well. I have always found terry cloth difficult to work with, so I might just add a fabric band to a pre-made dishtowel or tea towel. <br /><br />I remember that you wrote how when others see our work around the home, they may ask us to make things for them. A relative was so Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-86403561226448829162012-12-21T03:24:01.913-08:002012-12-21T03:24:01.913-08:00I have added a fabric border to some of my older t...I have added a fabric border to some of my older towels, but here in the UK it is the same. We just can't get good quality any more. Even 'Egyptian cotton' is of a different type than in the past. It is quite frustrating, but I will keep looking. Your towels are so pretty.Housewife59https://www.blogger.com/profile/12485051347795187632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-30478268343776872702012-12-20T22:15:31.362-08:002012-12-20T22:15:31.362-08:00I had not thought of that, Brenda, but it makes se...I had not thought of that, Brenda, but it makes sense. My towels feel slimy. The only time they really work are when they have been on the line in the summer but once water touched them, they quickly wilted into a wimpy mess. Though the label says cotton, I think there are some additives to it and that it may be a cheap, recycled fabric or something of rag-quality, like the inside of commercial Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-61635131914244591472012-12-20T21:59:28.873-08:002012-12-20T21:59:28.873-08:00These are pretty! You mentioned that some of the ...These are pretty! You mentioned that some of the towels you buy seem to lose their absorbancy...me too! I've wondered if it could be that the terry loop, or the weft of the fabric if plain, is made of cheaper (short fiber) cotton, & that breaks down quickly, leaving a polyester warp fiber, which is stronger, but not absorbant.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm sewing for Christmas too....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com