Kitchen Cloth to Carryall: A Seven-Day Tea-Towel Tote Challenge

Why tea towels make brilliant first bags

Tea towels are beginner bag-making gold. They are usually cotton or a cotton-linen blend, they wash well, and they already have neat hemmed edges. Supermarket versions are inexpensive enough to experiment with, and the prints are cheerful without being precious. If a seam goes sideways, you have not ruined expensive fabric — you have simply made a very personal kitchen cloth with ambitions.

The six-towel formula is simple: two towels for the outside, two for the lining, and two for handles and a pocket. That gives you a sturdy, washable tote with minimal cutting and almost nothing but straight-line stitching. At Stitch Play we like a project that can be done in short evening bursts, so this is set out as a seven-day challenge. Do one step a night, or gather a friend and race through it over a weekend.

The six-towel formula

Use tea towels of a similar size. Most supermarket towels are around 45cm x 65cm, but do not panic if yours are a few centimetres different. Pick two for the bag outer, two for the lining, and two for the handles. If you want a pocket, borrow a square from a handle towel or use a leftover piece from the scrap basket.

You will also need: polyester thread, pins or sewing clips, scissors, an iron, a sewing machine with a straight stitch, and a hand needle for any final slipstitching. A walking foot is helpful but not essential. Wash and dry all six towels before you start so any shrinkage happens before you sew.

Pick a themed six

A theme makes the finished bag feel intentional rather than random. Here are six supermarket-friendly combinations to try:

• Seaside blues: two navy-and-white stripes, two plain blues, two anchor or wave prints.
• Picnic gingham: two red gingham towels, two cream towels, two strawberry prints.
• Retro florals: two vintage-style florals, two sage greens, two small polka dots.
• Monochrome kitchen: two typographic towels, two charcoal towels, two plain white towels.
• Citrus brights: two lemon prints, two orange towels, two lime or green towels.
• Charity-shop classic: two vintage linen tea towels, two checks, two plain neutral towels.

You do not need matching brands. In fact, a mix of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl finds often makes a more interesting bag. Check the tea towel aisle next time you do a shop and build your six slowly.

Day 1: Choose, wash and check

Lay out your six towels and decide which pair will be the outer, which will be the lining and which will become handles. Wash everything on a normal cycle, dry flat or tumble on low, and press while slightly damp. Check for pulled threads or stubborn stains. If a towel has a small mark, place it where a pocket or handle will cover it.

Day 2: Trim and press

Choose the neatest towel as your template. Lay it over the others and trim any that are noticeably larger so all six are roughly the same size. Do not obsess over millimetres. Press each towel flat. If your towels have a decorative border, decide whether you want it at the top or bottom of the bag.

Day 3: Make the handles

Take the two handle towels and cut each into two long strips about 10cm wide. You should have four strips. Fold each strip in half lengthways with right sides together, sew along the long raw edge with a 1cm seam, then turn right side out and press. Topstitch close to both long edges. Fold under the short raw ends by 1cm and press.

If you prefer a no-turn method, fold each strip into quarters with the raw edges tucked inside, press, and topstitch along both long edges. Either way, backstitch at the ends. These handles will take the weight, so do not skip the pressing.

Day 4: Sew the outer bag

Place two outer towels right sides together. Pin or clip the side seams and the bottom seam. Sew with a 1cm seam allowance, backstitching at the start and finish. Repeat for the other side if your bag has separate front and back panels, or sew one continuous U-shape if you are using a single folded piece. Zigzag or overcast the raw seams to stop fraying.

Turn the bag right side out and press the seams. If you want a flat bottom, you can box the corners, but for a first bag a simple flat tote is perfectly good. Leave the top open.

Day 5: Make the lining

Repeat Day 4 with the two lining towels, but leave a 15cm gap in the bottom seam for turning. This is the simple lining option. If you would rather skip the lining, turn the top edge of the outer bag under by 1cm, then another 2cm, press and topstitch. A lined bag hides messy seams and makes the tote feel much sturdier, so it is worth the extra step.

Day 6: Attach and reinforce the handles

Turn the outer bag right side out. Measure about 8cm in from each side seam and mark where the handles will sit. Pin the handle ends to the inside of the bag top, making sure the handles are not twisted. Sew a square with an X through the middle at each handle end, going through all layers. Then sew a second row of stitching just below the top edge for extra security.

This is the step that keeps library books and market shopping from ending up on the pavement. Use polyester thread and do not rush. If you have a scrap of interfacing, iron a small square behind each handle anchor before stitching.

Day 7: Join the lining and finish

Turn the lining inside out and place the outer bag inside it, right sides together. Match the side seams and pin around the top edge. Sew all the way around the top with a 1cm seam. Turn the bag right side out through the lining gap. Push the lining down inside the bag, press the top edge, and slipstitch the gap closed by hand. Topstitch around the top edge for a crisp finish.

Give the bag a final press. Test it with a stack of books or a bag of potatoes. If the handles feel loose, add another row of stitching. If the bag is a little slouchy, a rectangle of card or foam board in the base will help it sit flat.

Little extras and wash-day notes

The tote is machine washable on a cool cycle if all your towels are pre-washed. Turn it inside out and hang dry. Add a patch pocket from a leftover towel, a button-and-loop closure, or a small embroidered name tag. A bright contrast thread on the handle stitching is a lovely beginner-friendly detail.

By the end of the week you have a useful bag, a slightly tidier tea towel shelf and proof that everyday kitchen textiles are the easiest entry point to bag-making. Start with six supermarket towels, finish with a carryall, and take it to the market with a bit of swagger.