Should I wash the top of my tea towels before giving as a gift?
 

Hi. I want to make several of these tea towels for the holidays but had a question, please. I am going to use a fat quarter pack for the top of the towel ....do I need to wash and dry the fat quarters? If so, how would I do that as I am sure they would come out a mess in the machine. I did wash and dry a bunch of the "towel" parts because I know that towels will shrink. Also, the cotton top may not look as crisp.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Here is a pic. Thank youi.

They are towels. They are going to look less than crisp after washing. I would gift unwashed. The store bought ones will not be prewashed??

Your towel is adorable.
I made a bunch one Christmas and gifted them unwashed.
I've since seen them after many washings and they still look good.

I do a craft towel with matching potholder. I do not wash the towel or the fabric as I want them to look new. If washed, I think they would look used---that's me though. Good job on towel !

Nicely trimmed towel finish!

You can "crisp" it all back up with a good pressing and Best Press.
That'll give it a nice showing when gifted,
before the reality of regularly laundry happens!

Where do you get your towels PumpkinSundae? I love the lime color. All I can ever find are white ones.

And someone told me not too long ago that people don't use those type of towels anymore. I say bah hum bug. I may not technically "use" them but I do like them for decoration...

Michelle-Quilts ... Same as is often said in quilting, you have to do what works for you ... and forget the others!
Yes, Bah-Humbug! :)

So what do these people use?

I guess they meant they didn't hang then on the stove or cabinet drawers. They must just ones they buy at some store and throw them on the dish rack...

Got it! I was thinking they weren't using tea towels. Just that they weren't using the pretty & fancy hanging ones! :)